Australian Jumping marked an important milestone yesterday, with the first FEI U25 competition to be held in Australia taking place at the beautiful Kurri Burri Polo Fields, and it was Cody Tincknell and Si Si Strike who wrote their names into the history books as the inaugural winners at the inaugural event at this venue.

The CSIU25-A Kurri Burri U25 Grand Prix brought together 30 combinations for the 1.45m class on Saturday afternoon, providing Australia’s emerging young riders with an opportunity to compete in an FEI competition specifically designed for the Under 25 age group. For a generation of riders already pushing into Grand Prix and World Cup competition, the arrival of the U25 format in Australia provides another valuable international pathway and a chance to compete against their peers under FEI conditions on home soil.

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And for its Australian debut, the class certainly attracted plenty of talent.

Seven combinations produced clear rounds over the first-round track to progress to the jump-off, with Cody and Si Si Strike joined by Joel Lamb and Glenara Lord Bollinger, Molly Moffatt and Lazarus GNZ, Charlie Magnier and I’m Here, Alexander Jang and Four Roses 13, Hannah Doolan and Tulara Lady Zirocca, and Jack Barker with Cornets Prinzess.

When the jump-off was complete, just three combinations had managed to produce a second clear round, and Cody and Si Si Strike had done it decisively.

The 11-year-old grey gelding and Cody stopped the clock at 41.13 seconds, more than three seconds clear of their nearest challengers. It was an impressive way to claim a class that will now hold its own small place in Australian Jumping history, with Cody becoming the first rider to win an FEI U25 Grand Prix on Australian soil.

Joel Lamb and Glenara Lord Bollinger were the next combination to finish double clear, taking second place in 44.22 seconds after producing a first-round clear in 83.27 seconds. Molly Moffatt and Lazarus GNZ were close behind, also leaving every rail in place across both rounds and finishing third in 44.70 seconds.

Above: Joel Lamb and Glenara Lord Bollinger.

There was plenty of speed among the four-faulters in the jump-off. Charlie Magnier and I’m Here were actually the fastest combination against the clock, racing home in 39.37 seconds, but one rail left them on four faults and ultimately in fourth place. Alexander Jang and Four Roses 13 were similarly quick, recording 39.80 seconds with four faults to finish fifth.

Hannah Doolan and Tulara Lady Zirocca completed an excellent first round before recording four faults in 49.38 seconds in the jump-off for sixth, while Jack Barker and Cornets Prinzess rounded out the seven combinations who made it through to the second round, finishing seventh after an eight-fault jump-off in 41.77 seconds.

Just outside the jump-off, Kelly Bridgland and Showtym Burrow finished eighth after completing the first round without jumping penalties, with a single time fault their only addition to the scorecard. Anneliese Wansey and Texas were ninth on four faults, Liam Rutland and Glenara Chartelle M finished tenth, also on four, while Joel returned with his second mount Eagle Rock to take 11th. Zoe Willis and Koko Dusty FPH completed the top 12.

The significance of the class extended well beyond Saturday’s final placings. The field included a strong group of young riders who are already making their presence felt across Australian jumping, alongside riders who have represented Australia internationally. Charlie, Hannah and Jack, for example, were all part of Australia’s Young Rider campaign at Aachen earlier this year, while a number of those competing at Kurri Burri are already regularly contesting some of the biggest senior classes on the Australian calendar.

That is exactly what makes the introduction of FEI U25 competition to Australia so important. The years between Young Rider competition and becoming established at senior international level can represent a significant step for riders, and U25 competition creates another space in which that next generation can develop, gain FEI experience and compete against riders at a similar stage of their careers.

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Saturday’s class also demonstrated that there is considerable depth within that group. Thirty combinations came forward for the inaugural 1.45m Grand Prix, with seven clears, three double clears and a top 12 separated by relatively small margins.

There were also plenty of familiar combinations further through the results. Jack and Tulara Karash finished 13th on four faults, Cody returned with Numero Too for 14th, while Charlie and Ogano finished 15th. Alexander and Parallax SCF, Olivia Gostelow and Bellhaven Coolibah, Chase Naylor and Yirrkala Cameron, Jess Rice-Ward with both Al Fonso and Tulara Diarangol, Hannah and Takapoto Tinka, Hudson Craig and Oaks Botswana, Emily Lang-McMahon and Ellisimo and Elkee Lang-McMahon with K.S Thomas were among a field that showcased just how many young combinations are already competing around this level.

But the first name on the Australian FEI U25 honour roll belongs to Cody Tincknell and Si Si Strike.

Against the stunning backdrop of Kurri Burri Polo Fields, the pair delivered two clear rounds and the fastest time of the three double clears to secure a win that will remain a particularly special one.

Australian jumping has its first FEI U25 Grand Prix in the books, and Cody and Si Si Strike are its first champions.

Full Results: https://online.equipe.com/startlists/1311253

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