In a setting which is always great, the comittee of the Sale and District Showjumping and Dressage Club have again put on a fabulous show and President Ben Buys and his committee must be congratulated for this.

In a time when water is the most precious commodity in Australia, due to a severe drought, I thought it was harsh of some riders to have commented that the ground was underwatered - considering that Sale is a huge farming district and water is limited I think the place looked fabulous and the reality is that Australian horses are well used to harder ground. The horses which would be finding this year hard going would be the imported horses who would be used to jumping on the best of prepared surfaces, but they seemed to manage fine this weekend.

As always the Riders meeting was held at Sale and again as has been happening for too many years to remember there was a complaint about imported horses coming into Australia at C Grade. The talk around the grounds was about this being brought up yet again - but most riders seemed to realise that the horses coming in from Europe have a lot to get used to including, most importantly, the ground and so there was no problem. Hopefully this aggitation towards imported horses will eventually stop as it can only be good for Australian Showjumping by raising the standard of horse power, which is something many showjumpers have been using as an excuse for so many years for lack of performance internationally - this is seriously no longer a reason judging by the quality of horses at Sale this weekend!

The Scorrybreck Pty Ltd and Desailly Street Medical Centre A&B Grade Mini Prix saw 30 plus entries and Leeson Sirret was in charge of the Course Designers seat. As always Leeson built an excellent Mini Prix track which tested horses and riders without tricking the horses - lines encouraged flowing jumping and rewarded horses which were well educated and responsive to their rider.

Ten combinations made it through to the jump off and first to go was Emily Blinkworth on her import CP Argentina - pictured below right - and this young lady rode a super jump off setting a tough target for those following when she stopped the clock at 37.11secs with all fences in place.
Next out was Hilary Scott riding Oalis Pro Ratina - pictured below - another of the talented Young Riders in Australia and she currently has a super talented team of horses, produced by New Zealand's John Cottle. Hilary is based in New South Wales with John and Shelley Kelly.
Hilary took the challenge and nearly pipped Emily with a clear in 37.62secs.
Victorian Timmy Clarke and Spielberg - pictured below - were next to give it a go but things didn't quite go right this time and they finished with 12 faults in 38.80secs today.
Victorian Brook Dobbin and Woodmount Crusader
didn't have a dream round when 3 fences fell leaving them with 12 faults in 45.03secs.They are pictured below left.
Many time Olympian, Sydney based Vicki Roycroft was next to go on import Ricardo D - pictured below - , who has been successful in World Cup classes, and it was obvious from the moment Vicki entered the ring that she intended to win this class - her foot had the pedal to the metal and they blazed around the jump off track to finish with clear jumping in 35.44secs which was going to be tough to beat!
Hilary Scott returned to the jump off ring with her second one through, Indra - pictured below - but this didn't go quite according to plan I am sure and this comination left the arena with four on the floor.
Neville Cuzner and SS Turbo Rose - pictured below - were going great guns with everything looking good for place money until that dreaded Last Fence Syndrome hit this combination and when that final fence fell they came through the finish flags with 4 faults in 39.94secs.
Two to go and Vicki is still holding her lead! Second last out, another Young Rider with a lovely new 9 year old imported grey gelding, Transatlantic and Amy Graham - pictured below left - from South Australia. This combination have not been together long and today they took a cruise around the jump off track, with no pressure but this big striding fellow enjoys his job and never seems to stress and when they came through the finish flags everything was in

place with a time of 35.97secs which tucked them in to second place very close behind Vicki's first!
Last to go, and the only one who could take the win from Vicki was Queensland man, Billy Raymont and Vallota - pictured below - and this looked like a jump off which was going to take the lead until the second last fence!
It looked like Billy and the handsome bay had a slight misunderstanding at this fence and things went a bit wrong - pictured below left and right - but Billy is a true professional and he gathered himself and the horse and went to the fence again and came through the finish flags with just the four faults in 40.45secs.

So the final line up gave us a clue to the future of Aussie showjumping - first went to experience, Vicki Roycroft and imported Ricardo D.

Second place went to 20 year old South Australian Amy Graham and imported Transatlantic.

Third place went to Young Rider from Sydney, Emily Blinkworth and her import CP Argentina.

And fourth went to another Sydney based Young Rider, Hilary Scott and her import Oaks Pro Ratina.

The future looks bright doesn't it!
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