Fine weather, perfect surface and capacity fields combined with good organisation made for Geelong Showjumping Club’s two-day Spring Classic a top-class event.
Club president Paula Binnie said it was a relief to have two great days when last year’s event had to survive Victoria’s capricious weather and rain.
The event was held at Werribee Park with two rings, one outside and the other inside on the indoor arena for young horses and junior riders.
Paul Brent was back in action after a seven-month layoff with a broken leg and had a good weekend. He won the 1.30m class on Saturday with Kablesse Kavita and on the Sunday, the 1.30m championship riding the stallion Fontaine Blue VDL. He also rode the mare Kablesse Kavita to win the 140m championship.
The Ryan McCubbin memorial young rider award was won by Ava Walker on Con Brio. The award is presented each year in honour of the talented showjumper who tragically lost his life in 2007 at only 22 years of age. The event is open to young riders between 16 and 21 who compete in classes 120cm and over.
There were massive fields in the lower grades on both days with riders keen to be out and about.
At a time when so many groups are pleading for volunteer workers, it was good to see so many of the riders and their families out helping rearrange the courses between events.
In the lower height classes in ring one on Saturday, Maddison Buckner on Mt Robinson’s Ricochet took out the 1.05 class, Nellie Rogers on Valiant Star rocketed around to a win in a class of 70 horses to win the 1.10m class and Tim Clarke on Kanntango won the 1.20m class.
On Sunday, in the championship classes, Sam McCrae on Jamieson won the 1.10m class, Stuart Abrahams on Vainqueur won the 1.20m.
In Werribee’s big indoor arena, there was a good mix of senior riders with their baby horses and keen youngsters simply enjoying their sport.
Winners included Tim Clarke on Dolly in the 70cm, Ava Kennedy on My Silver Fox in the 80cm, Chloe Bell on Galaxy Sapphire in the 90cm and Charley Beecroft on Wonder Flash in the 100cm.
View and purchase MANE MEMORIES images from this event
This article appeared on The Regional on 20 September 2023.
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