Slater and CP Ulixes are shaping up as one of Australia's top World Cup combinations, like many of the top finishers, they are in their first season of World Cups this year.

 

Second place went to Rory Hovell (WA) riding the lovely stallion Yalambi's Val D'Isere. This combination is also enjoying great success in their first year of World Cup competition. Hovell was unlucky to have a couple of rails down towards the end of the track in the first round, yet they showed a lot of potential for a great future in the sport.

 

3rd place went to Alison Rowland (WA) riding Bickley Brook Bella, this placing was enough for Rowland to take out top spot in the overall Australian World Cup League Standings and Bickley Brook Bella took out the Golden Grand Award for leading horse.

 

Rowland is aiming for the NZ HOY and Europe next year, and the partnership is looking strong for their international challenge.

 

4th place went to Billy Raymont (QLD), 2011 winner, riding the experienced, scopey thoroughbred, Stardom. Raymont faced particularly windy conditions in his round, with verticals swaying as he approached. Although Raymont did not take home the top prize today, he has had a very successful show and his beautiful ring turn out was noticed when he was awarded best presented male rider.

 

5th place went to Evie Buller (WA) on another Yalambi horse, Yalambi's Landor. Buller has had a remarkable season for her first year competing in World Cups and the trust and strength in her partnership with Yalambi's Landor was really on show today. Buller ended up in second place behind Rowland in the overall world cup rankings. Unfortunately one of the firm favourites, Tom McDermott was hit by a nasty stomach virus, although he attempted to jump on his first ride CP Rolex, he elected to retire and also withdraw his second ride CP Romantic Dream.

 

Paul Athanasoff had an unexpected dismount off his experienced Wirragulla Nicklaus when they misread the first part of the combination. The Summer Classic World Cup is known for being one of the most challenging on the circuit, and today's competition reinforced that reputation.

 

Arena 1 also displayed the competitive finals for the super juniors, young riders and mini prix. The Fernhill Estate Super Junior qualifier kicked off the morning’s entertainment, with 7 combinations making it through to the jump off over a solid 1.20/1.25m track. The juniors are always very competitive, but the experience of Nicole Bruggemann showed as she flew around the jump off with Master Darnley into first place. The next class on the ring 1 program was the Kingsland Australia Mini Prix Final, with over half the horses having competed at world cup level, Palacios set an extremely difficult track at 1.45/1.50m. It resulted in only one clear in the first round, coming from Billy Raymont and the recently imported big grey Carneol.

 

The young riders were next, who have established themselves as a very talented group with some wonderful horses. Again the track was very testing, and there were only 3 clears in the first round. Natalie McNeil had the advantage and was last rider out in the jump off, she galloped to the last fence to secure the 2012 Southern Cross Horse Transport young rider title.

 

In ring 2 Andrew Inglis made it 3 from 3 in the Bayer Imax Gold 1.20m A2 riding Twins Quantum, dominating all three 1.20 height classes over the show. The Ridgy Didge stables 1.30m saw an entertaining jump off with some of the great names of Australian showjumping competing, in the end it was young rider James Arkins who took the class on his careful and always competitive Dreamtime Invader.

 

The Jumping NSW JNSW Amateur of the Year Series Class was taken out by Melissa Blair riding the lovely Flying Teddy. The amateur classes are always very competitive and this class decided the series winner for 2012.

 

In ring 3 the 1m sponsored by Jumping NSW and 1.10m sponsored by Elizabeth, Joyce and Colleen Brook saw large numbers return for Sunday's action. The 1m was won by Jasmine Wayne riding Equestrian Excellence Zulu. The 1.10m A2 saw Isabelle Whatley riding Pamlet jump into the winners circle.

 

Sunday brought the 2012 Summer Classic to a close, it was a great weekend which showcased the best showjumping combinations Australia has to offer. Thanks to John, Jane and Sue from ESP for making it happen, international course builder Leopoldo Palacios for his challenging course building in ring 1, the sponsors for keeping the sport on track, all the judges, officials and volunteers for their time and effort over the weekend. Thanks to the riders for putting on such a great showcase of our sport, and of course to all the wonderful horses! Roll on 2013 and next year’s Summer Showjumping Classic CSI-W, hope to see you all there!

 

World Cup Qualifier Results- Sponsored by Equestrian NSW, Equestrian Australia, the Australian Sports Commission and Jumping NSW

 

1st Sharon Slater- CP Ulixes

2nd Rory Hovell -Yalambi's Val D'Isere

3rd Alison Rowland - Bickley Brook Bella

4th Billy Raymont - Stardom

5th Evie Buller - Yalambi's Landor

6th Nicole Bruggemann - Bluesta

7th Paul Brent - Animate

8th Matt Afford - Kaluna Thunderstruck

 

2012 Overall Leading Rider - Australian World Cup Showjumping League

 

Alison Rowland

 

2012 Golden Grand Award - Leading Horse

 

Bickley Brook Bella

 

Results: Kingsland Australia Mini Prix Final

1st Billy Raymont -Carneol
2nd Tom McDermott- SL Limerick
3rd Jess Barton - Alondra
4th Amanda Madigan- Oaks Altes
5th George Johnson - Wondaree Sprite
6th Tegan Kidner - Federer

 

Results: Fernhill Estate Super Junior Final

1st Nicole Bruggemann -Master Darnley
2nd Annabel Cowcher - Bellhaven Paris
3rd Jess Knox - Yirrakala El Rado
4th Jessica Tripp - Lovegrove
5th Izabella Stone- Kinnordy Giuliani
6th Georgie Grove - Nawarrah Park Austin Powers
7th Natasha Dickson - LH Warsaw

 

Southern Cross Horse Transport Young Rider Final

1st Natalie McNeil - Vasandra
2nd Nick Sheehan - Cortez
3rd Amelia Clarke - Diamond B Jimmy Choo
4th Nicole Bruggemann- Marine
5th Sarah McMillan - Queen of Diamonds

 

Best presented male in ring 1 sponsored by Kelvin Grove Equestrian

 

Billy Raymont

 

Best presented female in ring 1 sponsored by Kelvin Grove Equestrian

 

Kirstie Ansell

 

Results: Bayer Imax Gold 1.20m
 

1st Andrew Inglis - Twins Quantum
2nd Coco Miles - EMCEE Gwynedd
3rd Kirstie Ansell - Copabella Volcanic
4th Colleen Brook - CP Southern Cross
5th Kirrily Mann- Yandoo Aphrodite
6th Elizabeth Crosato - Koyuna Bandit

 

Ridgey Didge Stables 1.30m
 

1st James Arkins -Dreamtime Invader
2nd Vicki Roycroft - Casino Royale Noblewood Park
3rd Tom Sutherland -Nolisco
4th Chris Chugg -Diamond B Vegas
5th Colleen Brook- Valondra

 

Jumping NSW Amateur Series

 

Results Jumping NSW 1m
 

1st Jasmine Wayne- Equestrian Excellence Zulu
2nd Ellie Miller - Kaloona Grace
3rd Nicole Poetsch - Skyblitz
4th Sophia Gostelow- Caitano
5th Clint Beresford - SL Donato

 

Story: Equestrian Australia  Photo: www.furdography.com.au