Riders impress in Riddells Creek horse trials

Keen riders spent their Easter at horse trials, braved the cold weekend to compete in showjumping or joined the record entries at Mount Gambier.

Top grade: Winner of the grade one pony club section J'aime Mallon riding Irish Gem. Picture: Derek O’Leary

WHILE many people spent Easter in front of the TV eating chocolate, keen horse trials riders headed for the Riddells Creek Horse Trials to spend two days at the famous Candlebark property.

The event caters for young horses and pony club riders and has been a great training ground for young horses over good courses.

It is a favourite event for Yona Lloyd who rode Carlyle Park Bravo to win the open grade one class after an impressive dressage score was followed up with good jumping rounds.

J’Aime Mallon, the winner of the grade one pony club section on Irish Gem, has an impressive record.

She has represented Australia in the Pony Club Australia show jumping team in 2018 competing in France, the Pony Club Australia Tri-Nation show jumping team 2019 in Sydney and the Victorian national team 2019 Sydney senior eventing team.

Jazdan Spellbound ridden by Jasmyn Beasley won the pony club grade two, and Leah Simmons rode Remi Fidelio to win the open grade two class.

The open grade three was divided, with Rachel Feely’s BMS Sporacid and Sophia Pratley’s Don Juan JDS both leading right from their dressage phase, and in the pony club grade three, Rory Hamilton’s Think Alike also showed that a good dressage test makes you too hard to catch when you back it up with two faultless jumping rounds,

In grade four, the Off The Track Thoroughbreds, Bolwarrah Galileo ridden by Sarah Denning and Lauren Cocks’ Miss Skiing both showed they are enjoying their new sports with a win. Michella Woodcroft’s Thoroughbred DeGroot did the same in the pony club section.

Hannah Creevey on Glenire Quality Street won pony club grade five and Grace Bradshaw’s Trigger took out the grade six.

— FRAN CLELAND

SHOWJUMPING CLUB RUNS HOT COMPETITION ON COLD WEEKEND

WHILE Melbourne was  experiencing a wet and wild wintry blast of weather the Port Philip Showjumping club was trying to run their Autumn show at their home grounds in Lang Lang.

Although entries were excellent riders proved they were a little reluctant to compete in the cold conditions despite excellent courses and the footing remaining in top condition.

The 1.30m speed class was small in numbers but big on quality. Tori Stuckey rode her well performed Finch Farm Cab Sav to win the class from Olympic eventer turned showjumper Amanda Ross and RLE Poynstown Will. Ross also took third on RLE Cavalier Vivendi.

Zoe Boulton rode her home bred Cracker to win the 1.25m jump off class. It was a very fast jump off with just 0.2 of a second separating Boulton from Jess Kiernan and Hemsworth.

Sophie Crooke, riding Nasam Artimore, was the only double clear round when she won the 1.20m jump off class from Emily Hill and WAT Sword.

The 1.15 speed class was a case of catch me if you can. David Boulton riding Little Arrow was very early in the draw and set a cracking time that the rest of the field could not catch. Boulton won the class by over three seconds from Des Gleeson and Mingarra Vonbella.

Hamish Prime had a long trip from Rochester to compete at the show but it was certainly worthwhile. Riding Saddle Up Bella, Prime won the 1.10m speed class by six seconds from Sam McCrae and Jamieson.

The 1.05m jump off class was won by Jess Kiernan and Cera Cascaletto from Julie Sproull and Tulara Poptop.

Twenty-five people braved the elements to start in the first class on Sunday morning. Chloe Lockwood rode her Mingarra Panda to win the 95cm jump off class from Emily Kerr and Stratford Marseille.

Stewart Hay rode his RR Montaro to win the 90cm speed class once again relegating Emily Kerr and Stratford Marseille to second place.

— LIZ RICHARDSON

RECORD ENTRIES AT MOUNT GAMBIER SHOWJUMPING EVENT

THE Mount Gambier Show Jumping Club held its 38th annual Easter carnival at the Mount Gambier sporting complex where the excellent baseball fields were converted into showjumping arenas for the event.

The event is normally held in the centre of the velodrome, but this year the club opted for two rings so competition was moved to give riders more room.

The decision to go with two rings proved a huge success with record entries at the event.

Course designer Michael Haese set tough and technical tracks across the four days of competition which saw the cream of the competition rise to the top.

The City of Mount Gambier senior grand prix was won by South Australian rider Anthony Thomas riding SL Donato. It was a very close result with Kristy Howarth and Ultra Blue NZPH finishing in second place.

Phillip Lever made the long drive from the Mornington Peninsula but it was certainly worthwhile when he rode Ken and Vanessa Weir’s BP Jedak du Rouet to win the John Wilsher Memorial 1.30m Blue Lakes stakes. Lever also took third place riding Lomachenko. Show organiser and secretary Kristy Bruhn rode her James’ Bentley to take second place in this prestigious event.

The David Clarke memorial speed championship was won by Frida Lindgren and Nicolossi from Conor Reed and Leopoldo MVNZ. Lindgren also won the 1.40m jump-off class riding City Lights from Tori Stuckey and Finch Farm Cab Sav.

The 1.20m under 40 points speed class was won by Ally Wake riding Olympia MVNZ while the 1.30m speed class went to Russell Morrison and CP Quigley.

Cindy Morrison rode Moorfield Gloria to win the 1.05m under six point jump-off class from Rachel Gane and Navatrek Bella Rose while the open section went to Binni Greig and Jokerman.

The 1.15m under 15 points saw a great win to Greg Smith and Benjamin FH from Rachelle Verma and Gizella.

Samanthe Richardson and Goldplay won the 1.05m under six points speed class from Courtney deBarro and Special Ed.

— LIZ RICHARDSON

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