A cool blustery morning greeted riders on the first day of the Pryde’s Easifeed Australian Jumping Championships. After yesterday’s rain, Boneo Park looked immaculate with a lot of work having gone into presenting the grounds so beautifully.

A total of five classes were scheduled for today over two arenas. The action on Ring 1 started with the championship’s youngest competitors.

BEACONHILLS COLLEGE AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN’S CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 1 (1.00m)

The Australian Children’s Championship is open to riders 14 years old and younger and will be run over three rounds across the championships. Competitors travelled from Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales, as well as a strong contingent of locals, to make up a field of 45 competitors, representing the future of our sport.

Round 1 for this competition was a speed class, so raw course completion times were adjusted by adding a second for each penalty incurred, to arrive at a single adjusted time, with the lowest being the winner.

Fantastic skills were demonstrated by all riders, evident by the large number of combinations who rode clear. In what turned out to be a very close call, last year’s third placegetter, Maleah Lang-McMahon riding KS Annassi won this first round, by just over a second from another Queenslander, Holly Tomkins on Princess Annie. Local rider Charlie Dobbin riding the gelding Dreamtime Invader, came third, some five seconds off the pace. Lang-McMahon not only won the class,but set herself up for a strong challenge at the title by also riding KS Napolean into fourth place and Vakarra Champagne into fifth.

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The Beaconhills College Australian Children’s Championship, Round 1, top twelve placings are:

Maleah Lang-McMahon and KS Annassi

CHAMPAGNE POMMERY AUSTRALIAN FUTURE STARS CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 1 (1.30m)

Round 1 of the Future Stars Championship was the next class on Ring 1. This competition is open to horses with 50 points or less and aged 6, 7, 8 or 9 years and consists of two rounds and a final. Horses that were entered in the championship classes (Children, Junior, Young Rider and Senior) are not eligible for this event.

A strong field of 54 combinations entered the class and high quality jumping ensued with 27 of these combinations recording clear rounds. Fastest of these rounds was Maddison Stephen and NP November Rain II (74.11), Olivia Hamood and Knock Out 111 (75.67) and Katie Laurie and McCaw MVNZ (75.87).

After the jump off, sixteen combinations could claim double clear status, with Victorian, Melissa Froesch and Glenara Lady Bollinger winning by the barest of margins. Second place went to Katie Laurie and McCaw MVNZ, by just 0.12 seconds. Phil Lever and Diamond B Valentina filled third place.

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The Champagne Pommery Australian Future Stars Championship, Round 1, top twelve placings are:

Melissa Froesch and Glenara Lady Bollinger

Katie Laurie and McCaw MVNZ

Phil Lever and Diamond B Valentina

SAM WILLIAMS EQUESTRIAN AUSTRALIAN MINI PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 1 (1.40m)

The final class of the day in the Main Arena was the first round of the Mini-Prix Championship. The conditions for this championship are the same as the previous Future Stars class, except there are no points or age restrictions on the horses entering.

Conducted over a height of 1.40m, this competition is the second most challenging event of the championships outside of the Senior Title and has attracted a mix of very experienced riders and young riders looking to make their way to the top.

Despite substantial showers drifting across the arena for the duration of the class, the riding was fast and furious with riders making every second count. A total of 56 combinations started in the event and it was the second combination of Chris Chugg and Cera Carlina who set the early pace with a sizzling time of 66.17 seconds. They held provisional first place for an extended period, until the combination 29^th out in the draw, Jennifer Wood and Cocaine Ego Z, recorded a time of 65.27 seconds. Despite a further 27 combinations attempting to do so, Woods’ time was not to be beaten and she held on to win the class. However, a couple of other combinations went very close to her with Clem Smith and Guru (65.62 seconds) taking out second place and Russell Johnstone and Dondersteen filling third in 65.72 seconds.

This will be a fascinating championship to watch unfold.

The Sam Williams Equestrian Australian Mini Prix Championship, Round 1, top twelve placings are:

Jennifer Wood and Cocaine Ego Z

Clem Smith and Guru

Russell Johnstone and Dondersteen

Chris Chugg and Cera Carlina

EQUESTRIAN VICTORIA EMERALD SERIES – ROUND 1 (1.10m)

The first class on Ring 2 today was round 1 of the Emerald Series, which is open to horses with 16 points or less. After two preliminary rounds, the top half of the combinations will be invited to compete in a final, scheduled on the fourth day of the championship. The lower ranked half will be invited to enter a consolation final.

A massive field of 106 entered the series, with some of the top-rated riders in the country competing on some of their lesser known horses.

High class jumping was the order of the day with 68 combinations recording clear rounds. The fastest of these was Kaden Weaver and KPH Cholula (60.87 seconds), Robert Agnew and Fields of Harvest (61.34) and Sarah Beale and Lady Eros QSH (62.44).

After the jump off, there were 43 combinations who had gone double clear. Fastest of these and therefore winner of Round 1 was local rider, David Boulton and Little Arrow, in a jump off time of 41.13 seconds. Just 0.39 seconds slower and in second place was Phil Lever and Catena, with Queensland Senior Champion, Clem Smith and Quantigo 12 filling third place.

With such a large number of combinations recording double clears, the Emerald Series looks like it will be a very closely contested competition and it will be fascinating to see how it unfolds over the next few days.

The Equestrian Victoria Emerald Series Round 1, top twelve placings are:

David Boulton and Little Arrow

PACKAIR OPEN (1.10m)

Last class today on Ring 2 was the Packair Open Class over 1.10m. The top eight placings are: