Reborn SA club stages first showjumping competition

Adelaide Hills Show Jumping Club held its first event with rider Susie Verco and Captivate taking home the top prize.

Cup winner: Wendy Schaeffer won the Adelaide Hills 1.25m Silver Cup. Picture Matt Turner

WHILE Victorian riders are impatiently marking time hoping to be released to compete in the not too distant future, South Australia is forging ahead.

Equestrian identity Anthony Thomas has been the driving force behind the recently resurrected Adelaide Hills Show Jumping Club, formerly the Kulpara Show Jumping Club.

Based in the Adelaide Hills, the club held its first show last weekend and will host the upcoming South Australian Showjumping Championships.

The inaugural competition was held at the picturesque Wirrina Cove Holiday Park.

Course designers Anthony Thomas and Geoffrey Pannell built some great tracks using the club’s brand new equipment giving the show an exciting and bright atmosphere.

Susie Verco riding Captivate jumped double clear to take home the impressive rug and garland for winning the 1.40m Gold Cup.

Anthony Thomas rode his relatively new SL Donato to take second place.

The 1.25m Silver Cup was won by Olympic gold medallist Wendy Schaeffer and Gitta Bella from Ashleigh Westcott and Land of the Free.

Local rider Conor Reed jumped a fast clear round to take out the 1.10m bronze cup riding Dollar Girl MS. Second place went to Rachael Verma riding Gizella.

Abigail Lewis riding MEC Gossip won the inaugural Caitlin Forrest Memorial junior jumping contest.

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