The fourth and penultimate day of the 2024 Australian Jumping Championships has wrapped up at the beautiful Willing Park Equestrian centre at Bawley Point on the NSW South Coast. The day concluded in the early evening when the Peachester Lodge Australian Speed Championship was decided, however, it was not before the Senior Championship final provided one of the most exciting afternoons of jumping in recent memory.

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The day got off to a cracking start on arena 1 with the final of the Trailrace Saddlery Australian Young Rider Championship. Charlie Magnier and Notre Dame De Bourguignon came into the final on the best possible score of zero after having finished second in both the preliminary rounds. However, as fate would have it, a single rail in the first round today saw Charlie finish in second place in the championship overall. The winner of the Young Rider Championship was the only combination that produced a pair of clear rounds today and that feat was achieved by Jack Barker and Tulara Colchic. They carried just a single penalty into today’s final and that is the total which they finished on. Charlie and Notre Dame De Bourguignon were next on four penalties with Jack Barker coming in third, this time aboard Cornets Prinzess on a total of six. It was a wonderful effort from these two young men. Between them, they filled the podium in the Young Rider Championship when both of them are still eligible for Juniors and in fact, they will both be back in action tomorrow in the final of the Junior Championship.

Above: Jack Barker and Tulara Colchic

The next class was the final of the Rider’s Cup which was an exciting affair. A total of 21 combinations were on the start list, of which, there were just the three double clear performances to fill the podium. To rapturous applause, the win went to Jennifer Wood and her long-time companion, Cocaine Ego Z, who got around the second-round course in just 57.54 seconds. Second place went to the Victorian visitors, Kate Rowe and Tulara Konnekta who finished in 59.15 seconds. Amelia Douglass, who has recently returned from competing in Europe was third, aboard Quel Filou 16, with a time of 61.04 seconds.

Jennifer Wood and Cocaine Ego Z

Next was the feature class of the show, the final of the Australian Senior Championship. Phillip Lever and Billionaire NZPH came into the class on zero and stayed that way after their first-round ride. Coming into the final on four penalties were Gemma Creighton and Dada Des Brimbelles Z, who also had a clear round to stay on four. In the second round, Gemma produced her second clear of the day to put some real pressure on the last combination to come, Phillip Lever and Billionaire NZPH. Unfortunately for them, they managed to collect their first rail of the show, which put them also on four penalties, leaving us with a tie for first place. A quick check of the rule book was made by those that matter and to the gasps of the crowd, it was announced that we were going to see a two-way jump off!

Above: Phillip Lever and Billionaire NZPH

The course was quickly re-arranged and we were ready to witness something that only the oldest heads around the sport had seen before. Firstly, out came Gemma and Dada Des Brimbelles Z, who gave it an almighty shot. They had a near perfect round except for just a single brick, nudged off the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge wall. When and Billionaire NZPH came out, they knew exactly what they needed to do to take the title, but could they do it? Off course they did! Riding under great pressure, they came out and completed a perfect round, collecting zero penalties, but claiming the title on the way. It was a fantastic competition and one that will live long in the memories of those they to witness it. For the record, Billy Raymont and Caprino were third, on a total of just seven penalties.

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After a break, the riders, horses and spectators reconvened at 7:30 pm to watch the running of the Peachester Lodge Australian Speed Championships. With Willinga Park’s lights ablaze we saw some fast and furious riding, with a few mishaps along the way, which created an exciting spectacle for the large crowd who had gathered to cheer on the riders. It was experience that won the class with the most senior of riders mastering the course to take the win. Clem Smith and Quantico 12, who had already won a heat of the Riders Cup on the opening day of the Championship scorched around the course, clear in just 67.99 seconds to take the win. Second place went to Shimona Fraid and Cassina, also clear in 72.32 seconds. In a remarkable performance, Tom McDermott and Krescendo completed the course in the quickest time of the night (64.48 seconds) but had eight seconds added due to a couple of rails down, to finish in third place.

Above; Clem Smith and Quantico 12

The Yandoo Equestrian Services Arena 2 also had its fair share of action on Saturday. The Spira Family Emerald Open Spectacular opened proceedings, where a two-way jump off was required before Lily Short and Hecanrockmetook the win as the only double clear combination. In the Yandoo Equestrian Services Emerald Young Horse Spectacular, Michael Short and Belle Phlynn Park Calisto were the winners leading home a foursome of double clear combinations.

The Ouverture Sport Horses Opal Young Horse Spectacular saw Anneliese Wansey and Glenara Bacarat take the prize by just a half second margin over the only other double clear combination, Frida Lindgren and Tulara Bellino.

There were two more Opal Spectaculars to come. In the Anneliese Downing Equine sponsored class for adults, Charlotte Inglis and Palm Beach were victorious, before the Queensland Family Pools and Spas Junior class wrapped up the day. It was won buy Alexander Jang and PPP Seductor, double clear and almost seven seconds faster than their nearest rival.

It was a fantastic day of jumping and sets us up for Sunday where among a range of classes to be decided, will by the Futurity Spectacular, as well as the Finals of the Australian Junior and Children’s Championship. We can hardly wait!

Congratulations to all the winners and placegetters on day 4 of the Championships, all of which are listed below

SATURDAY RESULTS

SHOWJUMPING ARENA

CLASS 24: TRAILRACE SADDLERY: AUSTRALIAN YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIP (FINAL) – MINIMUM 1.35m

CLASS 25: THE RIDERS CUP – 1.45m

CLASS 26: AUSTRALIAN SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – 1.50-1.60m

CLASS 27: PEACHESTER LODGE: AUSTRALIAN SPEED CHAMPIONSHIP

YANDOO EQUESTRIAN SERVICES ARENA 2

CLASS 28: THE SPIRA FAMILY: EMERALD OPEN SPECTACULAR – 1.20m

CLASS 29: YANDOO EQUESTRIAN SERVICES: EMERALD YOUNG HORSE SPECTACULAR – 1.20m

CLASS 30: OUVERTURE SPORT HORSES: OPAL YOUNG HORSE SPECTACULAR – 1.05m

CLASS 31: ANNELIESE DOWNING EQUINE: OPAL ADULT SPECTACULAR – 1.05m

CLASS 32: QUEENSLAND FAMILY POOLS & SPAS: OPAL JUNIOR SPECTACULAR – 1.05m

Full results at https://online.equipe.com/shows/67097