Imogen Lindh and Licaviv have claimed victory in the final of the 4 Cyte Australian Children’s Championship, which wrapped up this morning at the Pryde’s EasiFeed Australian Jumping Championships at Boneo Park,

It was a wonderful display of jumping from these youngsters and nobody should be in any doubt that the future of Australian jumping is in good hands.

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After the two preliminary rounds, held on Wednesday and Thursday, entrants were ranked based on their finishing positions in those classes. The top 29 ranked combinations competed in today’s final, each carrying a calculated number of penalties into the final based on their performance relative to the best performed combination in the qualifying rounds. Since Charlie Magner and Master Stevie G won both preliminary rounds, they had the luxury of starting today on zero. The top eight combinations and their penalties going into the final were as follows:

In the first round of the final, only two of this top eight were able to go clear, allowing their score to remain unchanged, while the other six combinations increased their scores by at least 4 faults. One of the combinations to take a rail were Charlie Magnier and Master Stevie G taking their total to four. By going clear Imogen Lindh and Licaviv went into the second round of the final leading the competition. A perfect round and the title would be theirs. The top 15 combinations were invited back to compete in a second round. The top combinations started this round with penalties according to the following table:

By the time we got down to the last two combinations on course, the competition leader was Lucy Borrack and Mighty Tosca, a horse that carried Jack Barker to victory in the 2021 Australian Children’s Championship. Magnier and Master Stevie G came out and produced a clear round to finish the championship four penalties and put the pressure on the final pair.

Above: Charlie Magnier and Master Stevie G

If they were feeling any pressure, it did not show. Imogen and Licaviv again went clear to claim the title to the applause of the large crowd watching on. It was a great performance to go double clear today when the stakes were so high. Making the victory even more meritorious, at the presentation Imogen explained how she had only been riding Licaviv for a little over a week, having recently purchased the mare from Vicki Roycroft.

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There was a three-way tie for third place, all finishing on 11 penalties. The fastest second round of these three were Victorians, Lucy Borrack and Mighty Tosca who were awarded third place in the championship. Special mention also goes to local rider Tanner Robinson who, in an excellent performance, managed to finish fourth with the gelding Charlie and fifth with Cracker.

It was a fantastic Championship and was a very good start to what promises to be an exciting weekend of Finals action.

Congratulations to the winners and all the placegetters detailed below:

CLASS 27: 4CYTE – AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (FINAL) – 1.15-1.20m