Stal Tops Australian Young Rider Series continues at Willinga this weekend
Above: Charlie Magnier and Notre Dame De Bourguignon
The third leg of four in the 2024 Stal Tops Australian Young Rider Series will be held as part of the Jumping @ Willinga Show, this coming Sunday. The series, thanks to the generous sponsorship of five-time Australian Olympian Edwina Tops-Alexander and her husband Jan Tops is now in its sixth season. With four legs scheduled over the year, Young Rider combinations have the opportunity to score points along the way, with the highest scoring combination being crowned the series winner at the final leg, to be held at SIEC as part of the Summer Classic show in December. Previous legs this year took place at the GDP Classic Show at Boneo Park in February and the Larapinta World Cup Show in April.
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With 11 points on offer to the winning combination this weekend, there are a number of combinations within striking distance of the lead. Current leaders in the competition are Sienna Holdsworth-Rose and Oaks Kestrel on 14 points after picking up seven points from a pair of fourth placings in each of the completed legs. Tied in second place on 11 points are the winners of the two previous legs, Lorna Reilly and Bellhaven Jazz and Charlie Magnier and Notre Dame De Bourguignon.
The full pointscore after two legs is as follows
| PLACE | RIDER | HORSE | L1 | L2 | Tot. |
| 1st | Sienna Holdsworth-Rose | Oaks Kestrel | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| =2nd | Lorna Reilly | Bellhaven Jazz | 11 | 11 | |
| =2nd | Charlie Magnier | Notre Dame De Bourguignon | 11 | 11 | |
| =4th | Ashley Cutler | Powerhouse Park Ego Rock | 9 | 9 | |
| =4th | Charlie Magnier | Quinn Z | 9 | 9 | |
| =6th | Jake Tomlinson | Vinchino | 8 | 8 | |
| =6th | Skye Hosie | Athena NZPH | 8 | 8 | |
| =6th | Jack Barker | Bellhaven Calisco | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| =9th | Olivia Price | James Bentley | 6 | 6 | |
| =9th | Elkee Lang-McMahon | Lily El Mare | 6 | 6 | |
| =9th | Jack Barker | Tulara Colchic | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| =12th | Jamie Hewitt-Toms | Koko Story | 4 | 4 | |
| =12th | Cody Tincknell | Numero Too | 4 | 4 | |
| 14th | Holly Tomkins | Finch Farm Vroom | 3 | 3 | |
| =15th | Molly Lawrence | Carabel P | 2 | 2 | |
| =15th | Joel Lamb | KG Queenie | 2 | 2 | |
| 17th | Olivia Price | Lafayette MVNZ | 1 | 1 |
With $4,000 prizemoney on offer for each leg, the competition is sure to be hot.
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The winner of the series will be added to what is shaping as an illustrious honour-roll of past winners
| EAR | RIDER | HORSE |
| 2018 | Erin Buswell | Quero Quero |
| 2019 | Amelia Douglass | Cassis Z Ten Halven |
| 2020 | Not Held | |
| 2021 | Madeline Sinderberry | Keilor Bamboo |
| 2022 | Clemency Hughes | Diamond B Corvina |
| 2023 | Jack Barker | Tulara Colchic |
The action takes place at Willinga Park at Bawley Point on Sunday 15 September on the main arena.
