George Sanna and CP Aprilla - 2010 Australian Jumping Champions

George Sanna and CP Aprilla - 2010 Australian Champions
Photograph: Julie Wilson Story: Nicola Turner/Equestrian Australia

George Sanna claimed his third Australian Jumping title on the weekend at the 2010 IVECO Australian Jumping Championships in Canberra.

George was riding 9-year-old imported mare CP Aprilla. George, who has previously won the title in 1990 and again in 2003, acknowledged the talent of his horse and thanked Charles Blinkworth, co-owner for his continued support.
“This is a lovely horse and I couldn’t be more pleased with her. I would like to thank Charles Blinkworth. Charles has been a great supporter of Jumping and also of mine over many years,” said George and the prize-giving.

The Championship title is decided by results from three classes run over the four days of competition.

South Australia’s Anthony Thomas riding his new acquisition kiwi-bred Levitation NZPH (formerly ridden by Billy Raymont) were leading after the first two classes, on a score of 0 and George was in second place with 1 penalty.

George posted two clear rounds on the final day of competition over Peter Cooke’s course putting lots of pressure on Anthony.

It was an exciting finale as Anthony could not afford a rail. He all but had it in the bag - until a rail at the second last fence crushed his 2010 Australian Championships dreams and relegated him to runner-up.

Third in the Senior Championship was Brook Dobbin (Vic) and Advisor.
Also finishing Sunday’s competition with two clear rounds were Julia Hargreaves, on the lovely nine-year-old Indoctro gelding Vedor, and Cathy Graham on the extravagant Davinci’s Pride.

This resulted in a three way tie for the class. Julia finished =4^th overall in the Championship and Cathy was 6^th.

CP Aprilla , a Belgian Warmblood by Heartbreaker, was imported from Europe in 2006.

Due to the type of class competitors ride two full rounds, a jump-off is not held in the case of a tie (unless the scores for the overall championship are tied).
It was a good day for ‘CP’ horses which won three classes on Sunday; the Young Rider Championship (CP Rolex), the futurity (CP Ulixes) and the Senior Championship (CP Aprilla). The prefix denominates the horses as part of (or formerly part of) ‘CP Sporthorses’.

Tom McDermott from Wagga Wagga, NSW won both the Junior and Young Rider Championships. He was also runner-up in both classes! This is Tom’s third Junior Championship.

Tom, 17, is eligible to ride in both age divisions, Junior is open to riders 13-18 and Young Riders 16-21-years-of-age.

Tom jumped double clear in Sunday’s Junior class to finish the Junior Championship on a score of 1 on both Capone and SL Eclipse. Tom was asked to choose which horse he would like to win the class. He chose 15-year-old Capone, Paula Hamood’s former World Cup horse, now owned by Letita Langbecker.

Finishing third and fourth in the overall Junior Championship was Gemma Creighton of Queensland, riding It’s Mitch and Zanimo.

Sarah-Louise McMillian and Sarah Boulton also jumped double clear in what was a very significant track for the juniors (1.40m) to make it a 4-way tie for first in Sunday’s class.

“I am really pleased with how they jumped it,” commented course designer Peter Cooke.

Tom’s reign continued when he won the Young Rider title aboard CP Rolex. 21 combinations took part in the Young Rider Final. Tom was also runner-up on Statford Delight.

In third place in the Young Rider Championship title was Western Australia’s Pascale Young on Pico Bello, formerly ridden by David Dobson.

Tom jumped double clear on CP Rolex on Sunday’s Young Rider Final to win the title on a score of zero. Pascale Young also had two clears on Sunday and tied with Tom for the class honours.

Tom had four faults on Statford Delight, the only faults the horse had in the three Young Rider classes.

Sharon Slater enjoyed a victory in the Futurity on her recent purchase CP Ulixes (Lux). Ulixes, stable name Bono (obviously destined for fame) was imported by CP Sporthorses in 2006 . Vicki Roycroft was second on Casino Royale and Jamie Kermond 3^rd on 8-year-old BWS Lincoln (also by Indoctro).

Congratulations to the ACT Showjumping club for successfully hosting the 2010 Iveco Australian Jumping Championships which welcomed 302 riders and a huge 2676 entries in 41 classes.