Grand National Showjumping Challenge - Results & Photos

Copabella Visage, ridden by Brooke Campbell, owned by Lesley Hargreaves (All Photos: Rachel Smith - Furdography.com.au)

Melissa Blair riding Flying Teddy, Winner of the Amateur Final, which was sponsored by Bayer

A very happy Jamie-Rose Torzillo took out the Gow Gates Junior Final with Flash Az, who looked very flash in his new rug! GO TO GALLERY TO SEE MORE FURDOGRAPHY PHOTOS

The exquisite grounds of the Sydney Polo Club at Richmond, NSW, nestled on the banks of the Hawkesbury River hosted the Grand National Showjumping Challenge on 8 - 9 September. The event, designed to showcase the best horses and riders in Australia who battled it out for their share of the $30 000 prize pool, attracted large crowds that were treated to two days of perfect weather and the thrill and excitement of the fast, action packed world of showjumping.

Four competition arenas were set up side by side on the polo field and all sides of the arenas were lined by trade stands, sponsor tents and spectator seating. The VIP marquee and Public Bar were positioned directly in the centre of the grounds and the jumping action was held nonstop around the social centre of the event.  The public was up close to the action and each rider in the Bronze, Silver and Gold Finals drew the name of a spectator to compete for, maximising viewer involvement. The first, second and third place getters won a TV from Big Brown Box for their spectator. The WOW factor that is synonymous with show jumping in Europe was unquestionably a component of the weekend.

Saturday's classes in the Young Rider, Amateur and Bronze divisions were qualifying rounds for Sunday. The top twenty went straight into the finals and the remaining riders had a last chance to qualify on Sunday morning in a consolation class with the top five moving through to the final. The draws for the final's in all divisions were in reverse order based on the places from Saturday ensuring the best riders were out last in classes making for hot competition right to the last jump.

The Oaks Sport Horses Young Horse Classes have been gaining momentum in the past few years and the current status of Australian sport horse breeding is very impressive.  The leading sire of the Grand National Show Jumping Challenge with 8 progeny across the 5, 6 and 7 year old classes was Vivant who was recently sold by Helen and Chris Chugg to the Ukraine.  The Vivant legacy were well placed with six of the top 12 placed 7 year olds carrying his line, including first placed Volador ridden by Jess Barton.

Copabella Visage, who finished in second place in the Bronze Final with Brooke Campbell, was also well represented in the Young Horse classes, with David Cameron's Copabella Vienna winning the 7 year old class on Saturday and the striking Copabella Vindication placing second in the 5 year old class on Sunday behind Bridget Jones ridden by James Hetherington. Maddison Stephen won the 6 year old final on Sunday with Yalambi's Cambridge sired by Hattrick. The final Young Horse event for 2012, the Oaks Sport Horses Young Horse Gala Day, will be held at the Summer Classic in December.

The Gow Gates Junior division also showed great promise for the future of Australian Show jumping with 30 talented under 18 year olds vying for the top spot. Suzy Willis won Saturday's class on Witzcellar just ahead of Elizabeth Crosato and Koyuna Bandit. Jamie-Rose Torzillo qualified in 17th place on Saturday but was one of just two double clear combinations on Sunday winning the Gow Gates Junior Final 2 seconds in front of Savanna Hopkinson and Bittern Park Darcey. Jamie-Rose spoke eloquently on the microphone in the presentations thanking her coaches David Cameron and Tallara Barwick, both of whom she also identified as her idols.

The Calibre Equine Young Rider division was dominated by the Sarahs on both days. Sarah Beale won the class on both Saturday and Sunday with Alpha Centauri. Her time in the final was a blistering four seconds ahead of Milly Clarke and Greenbah who improved on their 20th spot from the day before. Sarah McMillan and her greys were second and third on Saturday and third and fourth on Sunday, a rail stopping Queen of Diamonds winning the class with the fastest time of 39.81. Sarah Beale placed 5th with her last chance qualifying horse Briar Rose to top off her wonderful weekend.

The Bayer Australia Amateur qualifier had 40 starters on Saturday with 16 of these jumping a clean first round. Clare Watkinson and Yandoo Mistique were the fastest in the second round winning the class in a time of 41.22 seconds, just ahead of Rebecca Seckold and Cool Decision. Cec Staples and Power Ranger were third. Melissa Blair and Flying Teddy improved on their fifth place in the qualifier to win the Amateur Final ahead of Amanda Eltringham and Kelstar. Clare Watkinson was third and fourth with The Love Bug and Love Chocolate NZPH.

The biggest division of the weekend was the Agnes Banks Equine Clinic Bronze Section with over 50 riders entered in Saturday's qualifier. 29 of these combinations jumped clean in the first round. George Johnson, freshly back from his honeymoon won the class on the consistent Wondaree Sprite in a time of 41.20 seconds. Less than a second separated second placed Daniel Engbers on Boston MVNZ, third placed Chris Chugg on Diamond B Vegas and fourth placed Jess Barton on Alondra with Vicki Roycroft and Noblewood Park Casino Royale in fifth.

Sunday's ABEC Final was an exciting one. The flashy little mare Wondaree Sprite took down the last fence in the jump off to finish 6th. Brook Dobbin won the class on Silvo, one of just three riders to leave up all the fences in a great time of 47.59 seconds. Brooke Campbell and the stunning stallion Copabella Visage were second ahead of another lovely stallion Pico Bello ridden by Pascale Young. Jess Barton and Alondra were fourth and Stephen Hill on Yalambi's Bellini Star finished in fifth.

The Horse Power Silver Qualifier had just three combinations clear into the second round. Sharon Slater on CP Ulixes won with a double clear after Lachlan Manuel who posted a great time, dropped a rail with Congranda. David Goodwin and Warrego Jericho was third. 

The Horse Power Silver Final again only had three clear combinations in the first round but the four faulters were also invited back for the second round.  Jamie Winning added two rails to her zero on Yandoo Zenzel HBC finishing with 8 penalties in fifth place. Olivia Hamood and GH Eternal Flame had four penalties from both rounds in a time just faster than Jamie to finish fourth. Sharon Slater added nothing to the four she carried through from round one to finish in third place with CP Ulixes. David Goodwin was clear jumping on Warrego Jericho but couldn't beat Jamie Kermond's amazing time of 51.03 seconds with ASB Caracas.

The Winning Appliances Gold Qualifier had 19 riders jumping a 1.50m track designed by David Sheppard. Nine combinations went clear over the first round and returned to the arena to battle it out for line honours for the Gold Final. Four of these combinations left the rails up in round two and just 2.64 seconds separated first placed Jamie Kermond and Valhalla from fourth placed Yandoo Laughton's Legacy, also ridden by Jamie. Vicki Roycroft on Kartoon De Breve was second and Jon Berry on Ocean Beach NZPH was third. Hilary Scott rounded out the places with Oaks Miss Scarlett, the fastest of the four faulters.

The Winning Appliances Gold Final moved into the Red Arena on Sunday to jump a 1.55m course designed by John Vallance. The double at five and the triple at nine took their toll and only Gabi Kuna and the lovely Diamond B Jimmychoo made it through to the second round with zero penalties.  Ten riders returned to the ring a second time, five of these were clear adding zero to their first round scores. Yandoo laughton's Legacy took out the wall in spectacular fashion completing the class with a combined score of eight in fifth place. Gabi Kuna had an unlucky rail after riding carefully and ended up with a slow time to finish in fourth. Jamie Winning was clear in the second round with Yandoo Congo Z finishing with four penalties in a time of 57.38 in third place. David Dobson and Akon finished with their four penalties from round one in a time of 52.11 seconds in second place. Jamie Kermond and Valhalla repeated their performance from the day before, winning the class with four penalties in a time of 51 seconds.

Kerrie Winning from Yandoo Equestrian Services worked tirelessly alongside Rebecca Higgins from The Sydney Polo Club to provide a wonderful show.

"Our aim is to promote show jumping and produce shows for spectators in the hope of attracting future sponsors to our sport here in Australia.  It is important that we make a big impression as not only the rider’s are on show but also the whole sport in general, we are all ambassadors for our sport."

Thank you to the sponsors that helped make the Show Case of Show Jumping a huge success - JK Williams, River Ridge Equestrian Park, Santa Vittoria, Kelvin Grove Equestrian, Pulse Solutions, Discount Veterinary Supplies, Giddiup Fencing, Razor Equine Wormer, Horse Power, Agnes Banks Equine Clinic, Calibre Equine, Oaks Sport Horses, Bayer Australia, The Classic Safari Company, Tuff Rock, Antares, Equus Artistry, Bombers Australia, Lisa Ho, Pryde's, Gow Gates, Total Eden, Equissage, Yandoo Park, Equestrian NSW, Sydney Polo Club.

Planning is already underway for the Australian Horse of the Year Show to be held at the stunning Sydney Polo Club in 2013. Sponsors who are keen to be involved in this prestigious show are encouraged to contact the organisers to discuss their options.

Quick Links

• View results of the finals at www.jumpingnsw.equestrian.org.au
• Check out more Furdography photos in the gallery
• See showjumpers for sale on Horsezone

Story & Photos: Rachel Smith - Furdography.com.au