Copabella Showjumping Classic

The Copabella Showjumping Classic was held over the weekend at the St Ives Showjumping grounds after being washed out a fortnight earlier.

Riders from around the country remained in Sydney after the Sydney Royal and World Cup Show, all keen to attend the prestigious event and claim their share of the nearly $30 000 prize pool. Despite an unavoidable calendar clash due to the new date with Hawkesbury Show the classes were filled to capacity, the bigger classes especially well represented with nearly 40 riders in the 1.40m Winnings Appliances Welcome Stakes on Saturday and the same in the Emcee Equestrian Mini Prix on Sunday.

In its fifth year hosted by Northside Riding Club on the Princess Anne Arena, the Copabella Classic has become one of the most prestigious events on the Australian Show Jumping calendar. This year the prize money for the feature class, the Copabella Grand Prix, was increased to $12,000, including the biggest cheque available in Australia for a Grand Prix winner. The overall prize pool for the weekend climbed to almost $30,000. The record number of entries was evidence of the high regard the Classic is held in around Australia.

Conditions on Saturday were less than ideal, with strong winds that felt like they were fresh from the Alps. The outdoor heaters in the Champagne Tent in the afternoon proved a particularly popular attraction, and the trade stands did a brisk business in gloves and jackets.

And then the gods blessed the show with an absolutely beautiful, crisp but windless day on Sunday. The VIP marquee was buzzing by late morning, and the riders were enjoying good going for the challenging Brad Longhurst-designed courses. Pleasingly, spectator attendance was up yet again and the stands were full, contributing to the bright festive atmosphere.

Lesley Hargreaves from Copabella Sporthorses was happy with the turn out, saying "Our spectator numbers continue to grow each year. We started out with no grandstands and now have stadium seating for 500, as well as 150 in the VIP marquee, and lots of people around the perimeters. A rough estimate for spectators would be around 1,500 to 2,000 over the two days."

Alan Hargreaves was encouraged by the number of entries and the quality of horses and riders at the event, "The Classic team's aim is to produce an event of international standard, and while we still pale in comparison with the Global Champions Tour rider earnings, we like to think we are heading in the right direction."

Highlights as always included Fashions on the Field, won this year by Vivian Liogas. Julia's nephew, four-year-old Harlan Stanbridge found the gold coin in the Sod Stomp before the Grand Prix, arguably a lot easier to do when you are that much closer to the ground.

The Copabella Grand Prix was a huge crowd pleaser as usual, with riders from Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales vying for the $5,000 winner's cheque. And the winner was Brook Dobbin riding Adviser (pictured - photo: Furdography) who were the only pair to go double-clear. 

Other winners from the weekend included:

• Style & Substance Amateur Qualifier - Angela Dobbin & GP Shine
• Equestrian Australia Amateur Final - Ella Avery & Yalambi Ultima V
• The Tripp Family Junior Qualifier - Rachel Spresser & Digger
• Joint Performance Junior Final - Jake Hunter & Midnight Rock
• Magic Millions Young Rider Qualifier - James Arkins & Dreamtime Invader
• Magic Millions Young Rider Final - Nicholas Sheehan & Bonaventure
• Agnes Banks Equine Clinic Shooting Stars Futurity - Nicholas Sheehan & Bonaventure
• Winning Appliances Welcome Stakes - Andrew Inglis & Amira
• Emcee Equestrian Mini Prix - Evie Buller & Yalambi's Landor

Click here for full results.

Well done to the Copabella Classic Team for another stunning event - Alan and Lesley Hargreaves, Jock and Penny Mackillop, Libby Burns, Jodi Russell, Sue Greenwood and Rosemary Allen.

The Copabella team would like to thank everyone else who helped make this show happen, including:

Officials: Brad Longhurst, Katrina Dukats, Fiona McLeod, Byron Smith, Tim Dreverman, Brett Davey, Maureen Masters and Jamie Kelly.

Sponsors: Magic Millions, Joint Performance, Equestrian Australia, Emcee Equestrian, Agnes Banks Equine Clinic, Winning Appliances, Style & Substance, the Tripp Family, Hamburg-Sud, Elmare Warmbloods, Yirkala Stud, Musto, Lisa Ho, Joh Bailey, JDC Flooring, DVW, Edinburgh Rugs and Cudgegong Warmbloods.

And all the indispensible volunteers!

Horsezone's Reflections on the Copabella Showjumping Classic:

What's Hot?

• Comentator Tim Dreverman from Cooma who has been showjumping all his life and knows everybody. Tim had his start in commentating at Copabella four years ago and he hasn’t looked back. He's very much in demand all over the country. We enjoyed his energy behind the mic - he was full of life and knew what he was talking about!
• Mini Prix - great number of clear rounds making an interesting jump off.
• Before the grand prix started Tim Dreverman interviewed George Sanna, whilst doing this you were asked to come onto the course and inspect the jumps.  This gave a good feel for the scope and size of the jumps.
• Sod Stomp Competition to find a $1 coin out on course.
• Young kids with face paint selling Glen McGrath Foundation wrist bands and raffle tickets.
• Tom McDermott being presented best Junior rider by Vicki Roycroft and Vicki giving him a great rap.
• Clean portaloos!

What's Not?

• Surfacing of the right hand turn coming up to the tripple combination in the Grand Prix, one horse slipped over and retired with other riders then riding it with caution - did cause a few problems.
• The music in between the mini prix and grand prix for the pony club riders was a bit too loud, it was hard hearing the person sitting next to you.