Camping bans put axe to Bega Showjumping Cup

Tightening travel restrictions have forced the cancellation of the 2020 Bega Showjumping Cup.

Bega Jump Club treasurer Melinda Armstrong said it was a restriction on camping that had essentially put the nail in the coffin of hosting the annual jump meet.

"Restrictions have been in place for about two weeks on camping, so even if we have a comp, no one can come and stay," Ms Armstrong said.

Officials believed the border closure with Victoria would have also impacted entries, while it was also a blockade for course designer Gavin Chester, some sponsors as well as some of the ring judges.

Regional sporting bubble requirements would also drastically impact the ability of jumpers from across NSW making the trip to compete.

"And the laws are different in the ACT as well," Ms Armstrong said. "It's a big unknown at the moment, we didn't want to get to September 30 and have the restrictions on camping still in place."

Ms Armstrong said it was a really unfortunate close to the event as the club had been planning for months with a program aimed at being able to attract families and juniors during the school holidays.

Organisers were also hopeful the iconic week of jumping could have brought a cash injection to the Valley following the bushfires and droughts.

However, Ms Armstrong said the club were working on a calendar for locals to get back in the saddle and were also hopeful to provide a reduced two-day spring show type of meet in lieu of the Cup late in October.

"It will be a bit more low key, but people are just a bit all over the place and don't know if they should continue jumping or just put their horses back in the paddock and we want to provide something for them."

"We're working out a calendar just so people have something to look forward to," she said.

Meanwhile, pony club members will be able to tackle a local competition early in October, but test their results against the rest of the state with a special event.

There will be a zone event for local competitors held on October 3, but Ms Armstrong said the results will be tabulated against the rest of the state in a kind of virtual state wide competition.

Article courtesy of Australian Community Media and the Bega District News website