The 2024 Stal Tops Australian Young Rider Series continued over the weekend, with the third leg of the four-leg series being held as part of the Jumping@Willinga World Cup Show. The Series, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Australian rider Edwina Tops-Alexander and her husband Jan Tops is now in its sixth season. With four rounds scheduled over the year, Young Rider combinations have the opportunity to score points along the way, with the highest scoring combination being crowned the series winner at the final leg, to be held at SIEC as part of the Summer Classic in December. The first leg was held at the GDP Classic at Boneo Park in February and second leg was conducted at the Larapinta World Cup Show back in April.

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The series winner will join an illustrious list of previous title winners, those being Erin Buswell and Quero Quero in 2018, Amelia Douglass and Cassis Z Ten Halven in 2019, Madeline Sinderberry and Keilor Bamboo in 2021, Clemency Hughes and Diamond B Corvina in 2022 and last year, Jack Barker and Tulara Colchic.

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With over $4,000 prizemoney on the line the third leg was an exciting affair. A total of 19 combinations presented for the competition, which saw six combinations go clear and be invited back for what turned out to be a very exciting jump off. With five of the six combinations again going clear it came down to times to sort out the placings which saw some fantastic riding as some combinations took some very tight lines to try and beat the clock. Isabelle Jameson and Delphine NZPH would have been very happy with their performance of double clear and a very rapid 39.23 second jump off round with just one combination to come, but it was not to be. The final combination on course, Charlie Magnier and Notre Dame De Bourguignon scorched around the course in just a tick over 37 seconds to claim the win.

Above: Isabelle Jameson and Delphine NZPH

Above: Charlie Magnier and Notre Dame De Bourguignon

It was a magnificent ride which combined equal measures of bravery and skill as they rode lines which may not have been though possible to claim the title. The New Zealanders were left to settle for second place with the 2023 series winners Jack Barker and Tulara Colchic back in third with a time of 42.61, which we thought was a very fast time until the top two scorched the earth in completing their jump off rounds.

Above: Jack Barker and Tulara Colchic

Fourth place went to a combination making their first appearance in the Stal Tops Australian Young Rider Series, Teigan Matthews and her mare Baloubell, with a jump off time of 43.48 seconds. Rounding out the top five was Jack Barker and Bellhaven Calisco, in 43.55 seconds. The only combination to take a rail in the Jump off, Victorians Joel Lamb and mare KG Queenie had to settle for sixth place.

Above: Teigan Matthews and Baloubell

It was a fantastic class and all the Young Riders should be commended for putting on a great class which was enthralling to watch. The future of Jumping in Australia looks very promising if this is the next generation of riders coming through the ranks.

Below is a list of the full placings in the class.

STAL TOPS YOUNG RIDER SERIES: (LEG 3) – 1.30m

The win by Charlie and Notre Dame De Bourguignon was their second win of the season, following their victory at Larapinta. They have jumped to the lead in the series and with one final leg to come, the three combinations tied in second place will be doing their best in Sydney to catch him. The full points table after the first three legs of the series is as follows: