A massive field comprising 56 of Australia’s top horse and rider combinations entered the Rowville Competition Arena for Round 1 of the Horseware Australia Jumping Prelude, the first of a number of jumping competitions at EQUITANA. With such a large and experienced field, it was always going to be a competitive class and we were not to be dissapointed. The course, designed by acclaimed course builder Gavin Chester, certainly did its job to seperate the field and we ended up with 11 combinations going clear and qualifying for the jump-off.

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The third combination out, Queenslander Merrick Ubank riding Warango Landidon were the first to record a clear in a good time of 47.40 seconds to take the lead.

Merrick Ubank and Warango Landidon

This lead was short-lived however, when one of Australia’s showjumping icons, Chris Chugg, came out and expertly manoeuvred KG Queenie around the course in 45.20 seconds, to take the lead off Ubank.

Chris Chugg and KG Queenie

Chris Chugg and KG Queenie

It all came down to the last combination, Tom McDermott and Alpha Activity and although recording a clear round, their excrutiatingly close time of 45.49 seconds was not enough to push Chugg out of first place and as it turned out, this lead was to remain for the remainder of the competition, to give Chugg the win.

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Tom McDermott and Alpha Activity

Clay Simmonds and Oaks Castanza went clear, in 46.03, to take them into third place, Ally Lamb and Eagle Rock, current Victorian State Champions, also had a textbook round in 46.67 to secure fourth.

Clay Simmonds and Oaks Castanza

Ally Lamb and Eagle Rock

Rounding off the place-getters were Russell Johnstone and Dondersteen in fifth. Merrick Ubank and Warango Landidon, the first of the clears, ending up having to settle for sixth place.

A great start to the jumping here at EQUITANA, and we look forward to more tonight and tomorrow.

Russell Johnstone and Dondersteen

The top six for the Horseware Australia Jumping Prelude were as follows. Full results can be downloaded HERE.