After a fantastic Day 1 of the Pryde’s Easifeed Australian Jumping Championships yesterday, the competition really swung into action today, with fifteen classes decided over four rings. After overnight rain, Boneo Park put its best foot forward, looking brilliant under sunny but cool conditions. While the afternoon saw a couple of light showers, it did not deter a very enthusiastic gathering of spectators who appreciated the high standard of jumping on display.

Below is Australian Jumping’s wrap of all the action from Day 2 of the championships.

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HORIZON SHOW JUMPS AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 1 (1.15m)

The first class today on Ring 1 was Round 1 of the Australian Junior Championship. A high-class field of 64 combinations assembled, which included representatives from all mainland states as well as the first four placed riders from the 2017 championships.

The third combination in this speed class, Sally Simmonds and Oaks Chifley, recorded a clear round in a time of 65.02 seconds to take the early lead.  The next 59 combinations all attempted to better Simmonds’ time, however one by one they failed to do so. With just two combinations remaining, Simmonds must have felt quietly confident about her chances of winning, however, it was not to be. Winner of yesterday’s Round 1 of the Australian Children’s Championship, Maleah Lang-McMahon, absolutely sizzled around the course aboard KS Sovereigns Cadel, almost 1.5 seconds faster than Simmonds to finish in 63.56 seconds. This was a great performance from Lang-McMahon who is competing in an age group higher than above her own. Australia’s representative at the recent World Youth Games in Argentina, Madeline Sinderberry, riding JT Valentina took out third place. To emphasise her strength in this division, Lang-McMahon also took out fourth place, riding KS Capulet Ego Z.

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With a second round of this championship scheduled tomorrow and a final on Sunday, we look forward to seeing how this competition unfolds.

The Horizon Show Jumps Australian Junior Championship, Round 1, top twelve placings were:

Maleah Lang-McMahon and KS Sovereigns Cadel

Sally Simmonds and Oaks Chifley

Madeline Sinderberry and JT Valentina

Maleah Lang-McMahon and KS Capulet Ego Z

HORSELAND AUSTRALIAN SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 1 (1.45m)

The Australian Senior Championship kicked off in style this morning in Ring 1. Bringing together the best jumping combinations in the country, this event is one of the highlights on the Australian Jumping calendar.

As with the preceding class, this was conducted as a speed class and the action was fast and furious from beginning to end, with all riders keen to finish as high up the finishing order as possible to maximise their chances of taking the title.

First to tackle the course was NSW Senior Champion, Tom McDermott and Diamont, who absolutely flew around the course in a super fast time of 67.28 seconds, however two rails meant an adjusted time of 75.28 seconds. He only held the lead briefly until third out Katie Laurie, who finished second in the Senior Championship last year, and Esteban MVNZ went clear in 69.47 seconds. Laurie held the lead until Chris Chugg and PSS Levilensky, out 20^th, went clear in 69.26 seconds.

Chugg’s position in the lead was short lived as the very next combination out, Emily Riley and her mare, Rhapsody in Blue went clear just 0.07 seconds quicker. Riley held the lead until just eight combinations from the end, when the Queensland Senior Champion, Clem Smith on the talented Alite, went clear in 69.01 seconds. Just when it was looking like Smith would take the win,  fellow Queenslander Hayley Morris and Miss Money Penny rocketed around the course in 68.36 seconds. With none of the following combinations doing well enough to challenge, this was enough to secure the win for Morris. Tom McDermott and  Elegance De La Charmille finished in sixth, just 1.5 seconds behind the leader, but including 4 extra seconds for a rail down.

With less than four seconds separating the top twelve placegetters, the Senior Championship is sure to provide plenty of entertainment before the title is determined on Sunday afternoon.

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The Horseland Australian Senior Championship, Round 1, top twelve placings were:

Hayley Morris and Miss Money Penny

Hayley Morris and Miss Money Penny

Clem Smith and Alite

Clem Smith and Alite

Emily Riley and Rhapsody in Blue

Emily Riley and Rhapsody in Blue

Chris Chugg and PSS Levilensky

Chris Chugg and PSS Levilensky

IRT AUSTRALIAN YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 1 (1.30m)

The third class on Ring 1 was the first round of the Young Rider Championship. A class field of 35 combinations attempted what proved to be an extremely challenging course, with representatives from all mainland states competing. The field also included the first six placed riders from last year’s Young Rider Championship.

After the first two combinations were eliminated, third combination out, Jessica Tripp and Diamond B Verona completed the course clear in 72.41 seconds. She was immediately overtaken by the very next combination out, Jessie O’Connell and Cassis Z Ten Halven, who despite taking a rail, recorded an adjusted time of 69.53 seconds. O’Connell held the lead for a while, until the eighth combination out, the reigning title holder Madeline Sinderberry, and Oaks Cosmo went clear in 66.99 seconds. It was starting to look like Sinderberry might take out the class, until Jessie Rice-Ward and CP Southern Cross rode clear in a scintillating 65.63 seconds to snatch the lead. With a further twelve combinations to come, it was a nervous time for Rice-Ward, however, none of the remaining challengers were able to eclipse her time and she was declared the winner. This meant that the first seven placings were filled by riders from NSW.

What an exciting group of young riders we have in Australia and it is going to be enthralling to see how the rest of this championship division pans out over the next few days.

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The IRT Australian Young Rider Championship, Round 1, top twelve placings were:

CHAMPAGNE POMMERY AUSTRALIAN FUTURE STARS CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 2 (1.30m)

The final class up for decision in Ring 1 today was Round 2 of the Future Stars Championship. Once again this was conducted as a speed class. With every position in the finishing order having an impact on each combination’s penalty standing going into the final, the action made for a wonderful display of jumping.

First out was the Western Australian combination of Maddison Stephen and Benson’s Femme Fatale, taking one rail on the way to an amended time of 76.59 seconds. She held the lead briefly until the third out combination of local rider, Brook Dobbin and Gabrielle MVNZ went clear in 74.23 seconds. Dobbin must have thought he was home as it took until the combination 51 in the order, Maddison Stephen and NP November Rain II before he was ousted from first place. They went clear with a time of 73.53 seconds with Sam Williams and Commander NZPH taking third. Dobbin showed his class by also finishing fourth and fifth on Leopoldo MVNZ and Gina MVNZ respectively. 

It will be interesting to see how Dobbin’s form in Round 2 translates to the final to be held on Saturday.

The Champagne Pommery Australian Future Stars Championship, Round 2, top twelve placings were:

MARTIN COLLINS AUSTRALIA RUBY SERIES – ROUND 1 (1.25m)

Round 1 of the Ruby Series was the first class today on Ring 2. The Ruby series is open to horses with 40 points or less. The series will be determined over 2 rounds and a final. After the two preliminary rounds, the top half of the combinations will be invited to compete in a final, scheduled on the final day of the championship. The lower ranked half will be invited to enter a consolation final.

A quality field of 50 combinations attempted the course and of these exactly half recorded clear rounds with the fastest being South Australian rider Nicole Bruggemann and Diamond B Centurian.

The jump off proved to be an exciting affair with 14 of the 25 combinations again going clear. As with the preliminary round, South Australia again excelled taking first and third placings. First went to Geoff Bloomfield and Warnie in 37.13 seconds. They took the win by just 0.01 seconds over Jamie Priestley and Oaks Diamantina. Bloomfield, this time riding Tenacious Red, was placed third. 

Round 2 of the Ruby Series will be held tomorrow on Ring 2.

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The Martin Collins Australia Ruby Series, Round 1, top twelve placings were:

Jamie Priestley and Oaks Diamantina

David Cameron and Thea

SAM WILLIAMS EQUESTRIAN AUSTRALIAN MINI PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 2 (1.40m)

Next class on Ring 2 was Round 2 of the Mini Prix Championship. With Jennifer Wood and Cocaine Ego Z taking out Round 1 yesterday, the rest of the field would be looking today to rank as highly as possible in the results, to ensure carrying as few penalties into the final as possible.

A total of 56 combinations entered the class, 22 of which recorded a clear round to qualify for a jump off, the fastest of which was Chris Chugg and KG Queenie, just ahead of James Arkins and Da Vincis Pride.

Chugg and KG Queenie went on to prove their class once again, by taking out the jump off some 2 seconds faster than second placed Katie Laurie and Cera Caruso. Third place went to the Clem Smith and Guru who, after coming second in Round 1, will be well placed going into Saturday’s final

The Sam Williams Equestrian Australian Mini Prix Championship, Round 2, top twelve placings were:

ELGEE PARK OPEN (1.25m)

The final class in Ring 2 today was the Elgee Park Open over 1.25m

The Elgee Park Open top eight placings were:

BAILLIEU VINEYARD AUSTRALIAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 1 (1.15m)

The first class decided on Ring 3 today was Round 1 of the Australian Amateur Championship. Conducted as a speed class, 37 combinations faced the starter in what turned out to be a very competitive event. 

Victory went to the sole Queenslander rider in the field, Morgan Daniel and Aladino, with a clear round of 60.13. Victorians filled the next four placings with Tammy Goff and Southern Alabama taking second place over 1.5 seconds slower. Third placegetter, Adelyn Fallon and Winnermaker, who despite recording the fastest raw time, took a rail, to register an adjusted time of 62.80 seconds.

With only a handful of seconds separating the first twelve placegetters, this looks like it will be a highly competitive championship, with the second round to be held tomorrow and the final on Saturday.

The Baillieu Vineyard Australian Amateur Championship, Round 1, top eight placings were:

EQUESTRIAN VICTORIA EMERALD SERIES – ROUND 2 (1.10m)

Round 2 of the Equestrian Victoria Emerald Series was the next class on Ring 3. This highly competitive class, which saw 43 out of 106 combinations go double clear in Round 1, was the last chance for riders to rank themselves in to top half of the field to qualify for Saturday’s final.

With a couple of combinations not competing in round 2, which was conducted as a speed round, only 102 combinations were left in the competition. The Victorians came to the fore, by filling six of the first seven placings. 

Clear winner, with a time of 60.15 seconds was Tyrone Latham and Contino. Demonstrating his class, Tyrone Latham also took out second place, this time riding Ellesmere Amici. Amy Cleland and RSB Morse Code came in third. Winner of yesterday’s Round 1, David Boulton and Little Arrow finished in seventh place today, so will be well positioned going into Saturday’s final

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The Equestrian Victoria Australian Championship Emerald Series Round 2, top twelve placings were:

ICEPAK OPEN (1.10m)

The final class in Ring 3 today was the Icepak open class over 1.10m

The Icepak Open top eight placings were:

On Ring 4 today, Round 1 action took place in the Ivory Series, the Pearl Series and the Opal Series. Both the Ivory Series and the Pearl Series have a Pony and an Open division. All placegetters are listed below.

FLEMINGS NURSERY IVORY PONY SERIES – ROUND 1 (0.80m)

Top six placings were:

MPC EXCAVATIONS IVORY OPEN SERIES – ROUND 1 (0.80m)

Top eight placings were:

PEARL PONY SERIES – ROUND 1 (0.90m)

Top six placings were:

WELLINGTON LIVESTOCK PEARL OPEN SERIES – ROUND 1 (0.90m)

Top eight placings were:

CLOROY PARK OPAL SERIES – OPEN – ROUND 1 (0.90m)

Top eight placings were: