The second championship decided on Ring 1 today was the IRT Australian Young Rider Championship.

After two preliminary rounds earlier in the week, all combinations were ranked, with the top 25 invited to compete in today’s final. Remaining combinations were invited to participate in a consolation final, also scheduled for today.

Combinations in today’s final carried forward penalties (CFP) based on their performance in the preliminary rounds. Click HERE for an explanation of how these CFPs were calculated.

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Below is a reminder of these starting positions for the best placed combinations going into today’s final:

RIDER	HORSE	RD 1	RD 2	TOT.	DIFF.	CFP
Madeline Sinderberry	Oaks Kosmo	32	34	66	0	0
Erin Buswell	Quero Quero	26	31	57	9	4
Clay Simmonds	Oaks Calypso	29	25	54	12	6
Jessie Rice-Ward	CP Southern Cross	34	17	51	15	7
Brooke Langbecker	Beijing LS La Silla	21	30	51	15	7
Jessie O’Connell	Cassis Z Ten Halven	30	20	50	16	8
Caitlin Clarke	Wyuna Park Stella	22	27	49	17	8
Jessica Tripp	Diamond B Verona	28	19	47	19	9
Isobel Guinness	Oaks Donatello	24	21	45	21	10
Jacob Wells	Cobra De Capello	20	24	44	22	11
Jessie O’Connell	Eyecatcher	15	28	43	23	11
Kate Hinschen	Kaluna Salute	27	16	43	23	11
Emma Isbister	Lafayette MVNZ	14	29	43	23	11
Jamie Priestley	KS Optimus	31	12	43	23	11
Jessica Trip	Finn MVNZ	19	23	42	24	12

Madeline Sinderberry, crowned earlier today as the Australian Junior Champion, went into this final as the clear leader, with a rail in hand over second placed Erin Buswell and Quero Quero.

As with the earlier Junior Championship, the Young Rider final today was held over two rounds. In the first round, all combinations were entitled to ride in an attempt to improve their rankings and to qualify for the second round, where only the top 15 ranked combinations would compete.

With most of the leading combinations riding clear rounds, there was little change to the leaderboard. However, with Sinderberry and Oaks Kosmo taking a rail, their lead evaporated and they entered the second round as equal leaders with fellow Queenslander Buswell and Quero Quero.

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The following 15 combinations qualified for the final round and came out in reverse order where practical.

RANK	RIDER	HORSE	CFP	R1 PEN	TOTAL
1	Erin Buswell	Quero Quero	4	0	4
2	Madeline Sinderberry	Oaks Kosmo	0	4	4
3	Jessie Rice-Ward	CP Southern Cross	7	0	7
4	Brooke Langbecker	Beijing LS La Silla	7	0	7
5	Jessie O’Connell	Cassis Z Ten Halven	8	0	8
6	Jessica Tripp	Diamond B Verona	9	0	9
7	Isobel Guinness	Oaks Donatello	10	0	10
8	Jamie Priestley	KS Optimus	11	0	11
9	Jessica Trip	Finn MVNZ	12	0	12
10	Caitlin Clarke	Wyuna Park Stella	8	4	12
11	Jacob Wells	Cobra De Capello	11	4	15
12	Emma Isbister	Lafayette MVNZ	11	5	16
13	Amelia Douglass	Sirius Du Granit	17	0	17
14	Samuel Robertson	Al Nemo	17	0	17
15	Kate Hinschen	Kaluna Salute	11	8	19

As Gavin Chester and his team reset the course the clouds broke and Boneo Park was bathed in brilliant spring sunshine.

During the early stages of this final round, many riders went clear, however, with no way to really make up ground, all they could do was wait to see if the leaders faltered to give them a chance at the championship.

Soon we were down to the business end of the championship, with a number of combinations all within two rails of the lead.

Jamie Priestley and KS Optimus went clear to consolidate their place on 11 penalties, as did Jessica Tripp and Diamond B Verona who remained on 9 penalties. Unfortunately, Jessie O’Connell and Cassis Z Ten Halven took a rail to slip out of contention, moving to 12 penalties.

Finally, we were down to the top four combinations to battle it out. Of these, the two combinations on 7 penalties Brook Langbecker and Beijing LS La Silla and Jessie Rice-Ward and CP Southern Cross both went clear to each remain on 7 penalties. Second last out was the equal leader Erin Buswell and Quero Quero and by going clear, they remained on 7 penalties. Just as this morning in the Junior Final, Madeline Sinderberry was the last rider out in what would be another extreme test of her nerve and skill. If she and Oaks Kosmo could record another clear round, we would require a 2 way jump off, however, if she incurred just a single penalty, the title would go to Buswell.

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As with this morning, by now, an even larger crowd had gathered and the atmosphere was intense as Sinderberry rode into the arena. However, this morning’s fairy tale did not repeat itself. This time when her mount hit a rail, it fell and with it went her chances of double glory. She finished on 8 penalties, securing fourth place, leaving Buswell and Quero Quero alone in first place.

It was a sweet victory for Buswell, who had finished 6th in this title last year behind Sindeberry, who was not able to defend her title.

Australian Jumping extends its congratulations to all the placegetters in what has been an exhilarating Championship

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

	RIDER	HORSE	PEN.	PRIZE
1st	Erin Buswell	Quero Quero	4	$1,500
2nd	Brooke Langbecker	Beijing LS La Silla	7	$1,200
3rd	Jessie Rice-Ward	CP Southern Cross	7	$900
4th	Madeline Sinderberry	Oaks Kosmo	8	$600
5th	Jessica Tripp	Diamond B Verona	9	$420
6th	Jamie Priestley	KS Optimus	11	$360
7th	Jessie O’Connell	Cassis Z Ten Halven	12	$300
8th	Jessica Tripp	Finn MVNZ	12	$240
9th	Isobel Guinness	Oaks Donatello	14	$120
10th	Caitlin Clarke	Wyuna Park Stella	16	$120
11th	Samuel Robertson	Al Nemo	17	$120
12th	Amelia Douglass	Sirius Du Granit	17	$120

Erin Buswell and Quero Quero

Erin Buswell and Quero Quero

Erin Buswell and Quero Quero

Brooke Langbecker and Beijing LS La Silla


Brooke Langbecker and Beijing LS La Silla

Jessie Rice-Ward and CP Southern Cross

Madeline Sinderberry and Oaks Kosmo