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| Return to Events Index | *Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 (video) | |
| Australian Showjumping Championships Canberra - 9th Oct 2008 | |
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Canberra Showgrounds 9th – 12th October. By Anna Sharpley The ACT Showjumping Club have been organising the National Championships for quite some time and were ready to run last October, the competition scuppered by the outbreak of Equine Influenza. They eventually got the Championship in the air and if showjumping is your game, Canberra was the place to be last weekend. The showgrounds themselves provided the perfect venue. Stabling for 700 horses and all the infrastructure necessary to run a horse show. Canberra is central and easy to access by horse transport and the National Capital turned on four perfect sunny days. The magnificent well watered arena providing great footing, was divided into three rings, with the show ring, ring one, big enough to delight course designer, Leeson Sirett. The ring, enclosed by wonderful surplus from the Sydney Olympics, safe, plastic and portable post and rail fencing, which really added a sophisticated horse show look to the arenas. Leeson from Central Victoria has been much in demand in the Northern Hemisphere, designing in Europe, England and Ireland for much of the last 12 months. Relishing the big arena, Leeson designed as always, interesting and testing tracks, subtly picking up the degree of difficulty as the show progressed. The final Senior Championship track was a genuine 1.50m course, with the oxers just that bit wider than we generally see locally. Leeson set the scene for quality jumping and he got it from all three sections. Reining Australian Champions (2007 Champs conducted at SIEC last April) Chris Chugg and the Australian Sporthorse Breeders' wonderful imported stallion, Vivant, were never seriously challenged, producing winning form right from the start, with victories in the first two qualifiers. Literally just out of quarantine after a European tour and Hong Kong reserve, Vivant has an exciting programme worked out for the next few years. (Listen to Chris Chugg interview.) Becky Allen did not help her chances by missing a fence in the second qualifier, but she and her super Brilliant Invader gelding, Koyuna Ted were firing on all cylinders to win the final qualifier, outpacing the usually speedy Chugg. Becky and Chris were the only two to jump a double clear over the testing track. Becky and Ted finished the Senior Championships in overall ninth place and the popular Victorian also won the Rydges Hotels and Resorts Futurity riding the impressive in every way, Metall (by Ferro) mare, RSB Jacana. The Runner Up Senior Championship award went to 21 year old Jamie Winning riding her mother Kerri's imported Alcatraz gelding, Yandoo Vangelo. Jamie represents a talented group of young and junior riders that bode well for the future of Australian showjumping. Vangelo looks a dream, (probably due to being well ridden), careful, cute and with a back end to die for. Fourth, third and sixth in the three qualifiers, Jamie and Vangelo were 12 points behind Chugg and 9.5 ahead of third place. In her last year as a Young Rider Jamie finished in equal sixth and eighth place with the Quick Star stallion, Quincy Z and Yandoo Drought. Emily Blinkworth has worked her way back to the top taking a quinella in the Young Rider Championship with her imported pair, CP Romantic Dream and CP Rolex. The Young Rider class was busting with talent, but those who are unable to afford an import, must surely have been heartened by Hayley Coman and Just Lately's resounding victory in the last Young Rider qualifier. Just Lately, owned by eventer, Scott Keach, was ridden beautifully and proves that the imports can be beaten. Steven Hill and Kelstar, fifth overall and Jessica Brown with Last Drop equal sixth also demonstrated the local talent. No matter how good the horse, it has to be ridden well, but the imported horses are only going to improve the standard of competition and in the long term improve the local pool of suitable jumpers. Fifteen year-old Tom McDermott dominated the Junior Championships, qualifying four for the final 25. Third, first and first riding Merriwah, Tom finished 20 points ahead of his nearest rival, Olivia Hamood riding her mother, Paula's successful and well named, Buck's Bunny. Tom is a real talent and rides beautifully and is one of just a few boys to shine amongst a bevy of girls. Tom demonstrated his precocious talent, taking out the Junior Championship in 2006 as a 12 year old and is of course helped by his father and former Olympian, Greg McDermott. The Junior Championship had its share of hard luck stories, and perhaps it is well for the Juniors to understand early on that life with horses is not always lived in the winners circle. 2007 Australian Junior Champion Monique Barrett, won the first qualifier with her sensational Snow River Ginger Meggs and was at short odds to claim back to back titles. However, a mishap in the practice ring before the final qualifier, saw the always wonderful to watch combination retire from the competition. They were placed seventh overall with Monique also eighth riding her promising Deo Juvante. Hard luck stories however, don't come much harder that that of Queensland Junior Rider Gemma Creighton. The 15 year old daughter of former international rider, Olympian and four time Australian Senior Champion, Guy Creighton, qualified three horses for the Junior Final of 25. Luck was looking the other way when Gemma had a simple fall and fractured her collarbone, which ended her 2008 Junior Championship campaign. Fortunately Gemma has a few more years to try for the National Junior title. The only problems on the weekend were caused by the very success of the event. The huge numbers, 156 in the D Grade and a staggering 100 plus in the Junior Championship do cause a dilemma. The novice ring is the money maker, but large number of Juniors posed a timing problem, with the Senior Championship riders not starting until quite late in the evening on Thursday and Friday. Limiting numbers is a fact of life elsewhere in the world and having too many entries is rather a good problem to have, but it is a problem. But the organisers should be well pleased with their considerable efforts for their gala National Championship weekend, complete with a Championship Ball on Friday night and the customary beautiful Sunday lunch, on this occasion provided by Edwina Mitchell. For the local showjumping enthusiast, it was as good as it gets. First Senior Champ Qualifier A2 1 Chris Chugg & Vivant 2 Chris Chugg & Alondra 3 Paula Hamood & Randlab Capone 4 Jamie Winning & Yandoo Vangelo 5 Wendy Shcaeffer & Kayuna Sunset 6 Amy Graham & Transatlantic Australian Young Rider Champ First Qualifer A2 1 Emily Blinkworth & CP Romantic Dream 2 Hillary Scott & Oaks Miss Scarlett 3 Hillary Scott & Oaks Altes 4 Emily Blinkworth & CP Rolex 5 Jessica Brown & Last Drop 6 Jamie Winning & Yandoo Quincy Z 1st Round Australian Junior Champ A2 1 Monique Barrett & Snowy River Ginger Meggs 2 Gemma Creighton & It's Mitch 3 Tom McDermott & Merriwah 4 Tom McDermott & He's Classy 5 Tom McDermott & BP Jaguar 6 Debra Cupitt & Pipsqueak | |
| Downloads |
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Chris Chugg.WMA (708 KB) |
| Interview with Chris Chugg - Senior Australian Showjumping Champion | |
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Emily.WMA (462 KB) |
| Interview with Emily Blinkworth, Champion and Reserve Champion Young Rider |
| The Gallery |
Nicole O'Shannessy and 'Nordic Fox' make a super jump during the first ISS Young Rider Qualifier.
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Just out of quarantine having returned from Hong Kong as Olympic Team Reserve, Chris Chugg and 'Vivant' made their intentions quite clear. The reining Australian Champions won the first ACI Insulation Services Championship Qualifier. There is short money on back to back titles for the talented pair.
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Jamie Grant and 'The Player' during the first ACI Insulation Services Senior Championship Qualifier.
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Rachael Vella and 'Spice Thyme' give this fence plenty of room during the first ISS Young Rider Championship Qualifier.
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Victorian combination, Megan Joyce and 'Lady Invader' during the first round of the ISS Australian Young Rider Championships.
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Jessica Brown, daughter of former Australian coach and international rider, Rod Brown,, lived up to the family reputation. Jess rode 'Last Drop' to a stylish clear round for fifth place in the first ISS Young Rider Championship Qualifier.
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Canberra Agricultural Society Councillor and Championship organizer, Grant Hughes with his 'Yakity Yak' during the first ACT Insulation Services Senior Championship Qualifier.
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Melissa Julius was out early in the Canberra Motor Works (first of two) Junior Championship Qualifier riding her 'Captain Watanga'. One hundred Junior riders contested the first qualifier with 25 qualifying for the Championship Final on Sunday.
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Melissa Robinson and her 'Silver Mist' look safe over this oxer during the first round of the Canberra Motor Works first Junior Championship Qualifier.
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Hilary Scott back from time spent training in Europe rode Alice Cameron's imported 'Oaks Miss Scarlett' to second place in the first ISS Young Rider Championship Qualifier. Hilary also took third place riding 'Oaks Altes'.
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Emily Blinkworth literally almost flew around the course riding her imported mare, 'CP Romantic Dream' to win the first ISS Young Rider Qualifier. Emily and 'Romantic Dream' bettered the opposition by three seconds.
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Victorian Young Rider, Sam Williams, no doubt inspired by his brother Matt's great performance at the Beijing Games, looks good with his 'Isla of Rahn' during the first ISS Young Rider Qualifier.
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Rachael Vella is a little girl on a big horse. However, she jumped a good round with her scopey 'Emmaville Discovery' in the first ISS Australian Young Rider Championship Qualifier.
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Jamie Winning's imported Quick Star stallion, 'Quincy Z' is well and truly back in action. After a lay off, 'Quincy' jumped a super round to take sixth place in the competitive first ISS Young Rider Championship Qualifier. As all the Championship Qualifiers today the class was run as a Table A2.
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Clint Beresford looking good with his 'Belcam Atlantic' during the first round of the ISS Young Rider Championship Qualifier.
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Shannon Young's 'Flash Top Hat' made a colourful addition to the first ISS Young Rider Qualifier. They also look pretty 'flash' over this fence.
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1985 Australian Showjumping Champion, Colleen Brook, clearly still has what it takes. Colleen is pictured with 'No Secrets' during the first ACT Insulation Services Senior Australian Championship Qualifier.
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Sophie Miller is pictured in the Canberra Motor Works first Junior Championship Qualifier riding the former Vicki Roycroft mount, the imported 'Ricardo D'.
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Victorian Young Rider, Steven Hill jumped a good clear round aboard his 'Kelstar' to be just out of the money in the first ISS Australian Junior Championship Qualifier.
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Back from maternity leave after giving birth to daughter, Sophia last July, Paula jumped a great round aboard her 'Ranlab Capone' to take third place in the first ACT Insulation Services Senior Championship Qualifier.
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South Australian combination, Amy Graham and her 'Transatlantic' jumped a good four penalty round to take sixth place in the first ACI Insulation Services Senior Championship Qualifier.
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Wendy Schaeffer is pictured during the first ACT Insulation Services Senior Championship Qualifier riding her well performed Four Star Eventer, 'Koyuna Sun Magic' that jumped and impressive four penalty round. Earlier Wendy jumped a fast four penalty round with her Melbourne World Cup winner, 'Koyuna Sunset' to take fifth place.
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Debra Cupitt jumped clear in the Canberra Motor Works first Junior Championship Qualifier to take sixth place riding her 'Pipsqueak'.
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Veteran combination, David Robertson with his 'Sharpe Seal' during the first ACI Insulation Services Senior Championship Qualifier.
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Tom McDermott , Australian Junior Champion in 2006 began his 2008 campaign well. Tom rode 'Merriwah' (pictured) to third place, 'He's Crafty' to fourth place and 'BP Jaguar' to fifth place in the fist Junior Championship Qualifier.
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Nicola Hayes' 'Irish Apollo' looks very careful during the First Junior Qualifier. They incurred four penalties, but still remain in the Championship hunt.
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NSW rider, Sarah McMillan looks a picture of concentration with her 'Lanarkshire Lad' (also very attentive). They jumped a safe clear to be just out of the money in the Canberra Motor Works first Junior Championship Qualifier.
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Victoria Liarakos from Victoria rode the ex Tom Smith horse, 'Arctic Warrior' in the Canberra Motor Works first Australian Junior Championship Qualifier.
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This picture of Monique Barrett and 'Snowy River Ginger Meggs' says it all. The reining Australian Junior Champions look keen to hold on to the title. And keen they were winning the first Junior Championship Qualifier, conducted as a Table A2 competition, by a cool eight seconds.
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Gemma Creighton's dad, Guy Creighton has been Senior Australian Champion four times. Gemma is keen to start her showjumping history. She rode 'It's Mitch' to take second place in the first Junior Championship Qualifier this morning, getting her ambition off to a good start.
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| Photographs Supplied By | |||||||||
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Julie Wilson Equestrian Photography PO Box 167 Warburton Victoria 3799 Phone 03 59 662668 Mobile 0408 547 378 juliewilson@bigpond.com http://www.jwep.net |
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