Despite attracting many of the best showjumping competitors from throughout Australia, it was local riders who took many of the honours in the major classes at last weeks Showcase of Showjumping held on the polo fields at Ridges Lane, Richmond.
Pitt Towns Sharon Slater won the feature event, The Winning Appliances World Cup Qualifier- the most highly internationally ranked showjumping event in Australia.
Course designer Frank Rothenberger (Germany) set a challenging track that eventually saw only two riders able to manage faultless rounds, Slater on board CP Aprilla and Bega's Clint Beresford on Emmaville Jitterbug.
However Slater managed to shave almost a second off her opponents jump off prize to take the title.
Being relatively early in the order of go in the first round, Slater said it worked to her advantage.
“I actually expected when I walked it they may have been a couple more clear in the first round, so I pleased I was early to go and didn’t realise it was actually riding a little tougher than I first thought.”
Joining Slater on a clear first round was Beresford, while Tamworth’s James Hetherington on Jaybee Caribus jumped clear, but incurred one time penalty.
In the final round Beresford jumped clear again, and forced the pressure onto Slater.
“I was quietly confident I’d done enough, but you never know with Sharon, she such a competitive rider,” Beresford said.
Slater on the other hand, watched her opponents round and saw an opportunity where she could better his time.
“I just thought he left a little bit turning to the blue oxer after the first line,” she said.
“So I just tried to turn up a little shorter there to make up some time.”
And make up time she did shaving almost a second of Beresford’s time to take the title, winning the most highly ranked international showjumping Grand Prix in Australia, with Beresford in second place.
Local riders continued to shine in other divisions with Dave Cameron of Wilberforce winning the Silver tour final in an exciting jump-off, edging out Stephen Dingwell from Murrumbateman.
Amber Fuller of Glossodia finished in third, and in fourth place, Cameron's fiancé Tallara Barwick.
The five day event saw over 200 horses from all over Australia converge on the Hawkesbury to take part in the competition.
Competitors and spectators alike were full of praise for John and Kerrie Winning for organising the competition, which many referred to as the best Showjumping event in Australia
