Above: Charlie Magner and Quinn Z. 

The Group D (Junior) section at the 200th Anniversary Sydney Royal Easter Show was decided this morning in a cracking two-round Grand Prix, following three previous days of fierce competition. What these junior riders might lack in experience, they certainly make up for in skill and confidence. The win went to Charlie Magnier and Quinn Z, with a fantastic double clear performance in today’s final, the only one of 18 combinations to do so. Let’s look back on how the action unfolded.

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The competition started on Friday in very wet conditions, which did little to phase these talented youngsters. In a speed class, where only three of 19 combinations didn’t incur faults, the competition unfolded as a race between those who took  just a single rail. In an adjusted time of 70.07 seconds, the win went to Charlie Magnier and Quinn Z, a new mount for him in Australia, but a horse that he rode with some success during a European sojourn in late 2021. Second place, just over a second slower were Queensland based Maleah Lang-McMahon and Royal Talisman. She also has just returned from competing in the United States in early 2022. Third place went to Ella Hayward and Edena DP, who back in February were placed ninth in the Australian Junior Championship at Boneo Park.

ROUND 1 RESULTS

PLACE	RIDER	HORSE
1st	Charlie Magnier	Quinn Z
2nd	Maleah Lang-McMahon	Royal Talisman
3rd	Ella Hayward	Edena DP
4th	Emily Lang-McMahon	Glenara Mudslide
5th	Alexandra Gostelow	Caprico
6th	Alexandra Inglis	Diamond B Babybel

Saturday saw drier conditions and a win going to Claire Zylstra and a gelding previous ridden by Jennifer Wood, Harvey B. It was a well-deserved win by this combination as they were the only competitors to record double clear rounds. A single rail in the jump off relegated Alexandra Inglis and Diamond B Babybel into second place, with third place going to the fastest four fault first round combination of Emily Lang-McMahon and Glenara Mudslide.

Above: Claire Zylstra and Harvey B

ROUND 2 RESULTS

PLACE	RIDER	HORSE
1st	Claire Zylstra	Harvey B
2nd	Alexandra Inglis	Diamond B Babybel
3rd	Emily Lang-McMahon	Glenara Mudslide
4th	Charlie Magnier	Quinn Z
5th	Aria Baker	That’s Limo
6th	Maleah Lang-McMahon	Royal Talisman

Sunday’s third round saw three double clear performances who filled the podium. Fastest in the jump-off were Round 1 winners Charlie Magnier and Quinn Z in a time of 42.36 seconds. As in Round 2, second place went to Alexandra Inglis and Diamond B Babybel in 43.97 seconds. Recording their third top-six finish in three days, third place went to Maleah Lang-McMahon and Royal Talisman, over 2 seconds slower than second place.

Above: Alexandra Inglis and Diamond B Babybel

ROUND 3 RESULTS

PLACE	RIDER	HORSE
1st	Charlie Magnier	Quinn Z
2nd	Alexandra Inglis	Diamond B Babybel
3rd	Maleah Lang-McMahon	Royal Talisman
4th	Emily Lang-McMahon	Glenara Mudslide
5th	Ella Silk	Redgum Conan
6th	Claire Zylstra	Harvey B

Going into today’s final with wins in two of the three lead-up rounds, it would have been a brave person to discount the chances of Magnier and Quinn Z and in a front running performance they lead the way. After the first round, there were just five clears, and they were the only combination to break the 80 second mark, breaking the beam in 79.91 seconds. However, it was in the second round where Magnier blew the opposition away. They were the only combination of the five first round clears that were able to repeat the performance and while their time was bettered by others, their two-round total of zero faults could not be beaten.

Above: Charlie Magnier and Quinn Z.

Second and third place turned out to be a battle of the sisters. Younger sister Emily Lang-McMahon and Glenara Mudslide went clear in round 1 then took a single rail in round 2 in an identical performance to older sister Maleah Lang-McMahon and Royal Talisman. However, Emily’s round 2 time of 68.64 seconds was enough to push older sister Maleah (70.03 seconds) down into third. For good measure and to make the event a real family affair, Emily’s twin sister Elkee and her mount Ned O’Reilly finished in sixth place, after going into round 2 on zero, but taking two second round rails.

Above: Emily Lang-McMahon and Glenara Mudslide

JUNIOR GRAND PRIX RESULTS

PLACE	RIDER	HORSE
1st	Charlie Magnier	Quinn Z
2nd	Emily Lang-McMahon	Glenara Mudslide
3rd	Maleah Lang-McMahon	Royal Talisman
4th	Ella Hayward	Edena DP
5th	Claire Zylstra	Harvey B
6th	Elkee Lang-McMahon	Ned O’Reilly

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After four days of competition, a pair of prestigious awards were announced. It was no surprise that The Maurice Gordon Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Mr and Mrs D Gordon, for the Most Successful Boy Rider in Group B Jumping Contests was awarded to Charlie Magnier. Also, The Helen Rose Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by the late Mr K C Murchison, for the Most Successful Girl Rider in Group B Jumping Contests went to Emily Lang-McMahon.

This pair are two of the best junior riders in the country and can be sure that these two names are ones which will be much repeated in the future.