The 2024 Australian Jumping Championships wrapped up this afternoon at Willinga Park on what was an absolutely gorgeous spring day, where conditions could not have been better for Jumping. It has been a wonderful championship, expertly organised by Edwena Mitchell and her team and when combined with this exquisite equine facility, these championships will surely go down on record as one of the best.

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The action started on Arena 1 early with the Ruby Spectacular finals, run in both a Young Horse and an Open Division. Howden Equine were the sponsors of the Young Horse Class where 29 combinations presented to the Ring Marshall, producing just the three clears creating what turned out to be an exciting jump off. After the jump off, there were still two combinations with a clean sheet. Although there was no difference in their penalties, there was a big difference on time. Coming home exactly 5.50 seconds quicker than their nearest rivals, the win went to Jennifer Wood and Crackenback B, which coincidentally was sired by the horse on which she won yesterday’s Riders Cup, Cocaine Ego Z. In second place, also double clear, were Emma Collins and Diamond B Chatterbox. After taking a single rail in the jump off, third place went to Rachael Lee and her gelding Neil Diamond VBT.

Above: Jennifer Wood and Crackenback B

In the Completely Equine Open Division there as a five way jump off before Rosie Oliver and Loreen made the trip over from Western Australia all the more worthwhile by taking the win, double clear, in 46.38 seconds. Second place went to Sarah Dodd and mare Oaks Carmine in a jump off time of 52.66 seconds. Sue Coman and Marine Park Kanndoo came in third, also double clear, but with a time of 53.10 seconds. They were two very interesting classes to watch as the crowd readied themselves for the major classes which were coming up.

The third class on the main arena was the 4Cyte Futurity Spectacular. Comprising of some of the best riders in the country, as well as some of the most promising up-and-coming horses, it was a wonderful class to watch. A total of 29 combinations hit the arena and being a competition over two rounds, the top 10 performers were invited back for a second round, carrying their first round penalties with them. There were only two combinations that could put together a pair of clears and they found themselves at the top of the leaderboard at the conclusion of the class. With a scintillating second round ride of just 49.97 seconds, the win went to Jamie Kermond and Yalambis Lord Byronwith, Sarah Duggan and Bellhaven Toulon Blue second in 55.46 seconds. Chris Chugg and Edelweiss were the best of the rest, finishing third having accumulated just three time penalties over the two rounds.

The first of today’s big finals was the final of the MRX Group Australian Children’s Championship. Harley McNaughton and Glenbrooke Archie Bunker came into the final in the lead on zero penalties having blitzed the opposition in the preliminary rounds. They were not the only combination to put in a pair of clear rounds today, but by doing so, they added nothing to their starting score and in doing so, secured the Championship win. Valentina Hercus and Carousel GV came to today’s final on just two penalties and there they stayed, keeping the pressure on Harley to the end and finishing in second place. Olivia Curtain and Ngahiwi Lady Blue also went double clear today, staying on seven penalties to finish third. It was a richly deserved win for Harley as he and Glenbrooke Archie Bunker had five rounds across the Championship and did not incur a single a single jumping or time penalty in any round.

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The final class of the show was the JPR Equestrian Australian Junior Championship Final, where the conditions allowed the top 50% of combinations after the two preliminary rounds to enter the final. A total of 32 combinations warmed up for the big final held over two rounds, which saw Joel Lamb and KG Queenie come into the final on zero, leading Hannah Doolan and Tulara Lady Zirocca by a single penalty. While Hannah and Tulara Lady Zirocca managed to put together a pair of clear rounds to stay on the single penalty, Joel and KG Queenie took just a single rail in today’s first round which cost them dearly. Hannah and Tulara Lady Zirocca were crowned the new Australian Junior Champions finishing on just one penalty and Joel and KG Queenie were second on a total of four. Jack Barker, who yesterday was crowned as Australian Young Rider Champion was third aboard Tulara For Quinar after adding a single rail to the four penalties they carried into the final. The result was also a coup for Mark Fraser’s Tulara Warmbloods whose products finished first, third and also seventh with Tulara Pop Top.

Above: Hannah Doolan and Tulara Lady Zirocca

The Jumping action was not just restricted to Arena 1. There were four classes held on the final day on the Yandoo Equestrian Services Arena 2, which provided great entertainment for the crowd watching on. The first class decided was the Evans Park Small Junior Tour Spectacular which required a very interesting seven way jump off before the judge could determine the winner. Sienna Pullar and Gringo emerged the winners with young Victorian rider Sienna Holdsworth-Rose filling second and third place riding Beau Balou and Eminem DP respectively.

The Willinga Park Veterinary Hospital Small Adult Tour Spectacular followed with just a three-way jump off required to establish the placings. No one could go double clear but it was Steffi Whittaker and Finch Farm Boss with a single jump off rail and a time of 35.10 seconds who took the win. Second place, also with a rail down but a time of 37.63 seconds, were Abby Coates and her chestnut gelding ARCS Kato. Mackenzie Patterson-Holllibone and her mare Honieke came in third.

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The second to last class on the second arena was the Sandran Property Group Amateur Spectacular which attracted only a small start list of fifteen combinations, yet produced eight first round clears. After the jump off there were still four clears with the win going to Lori James and Bond Girl SHP, which for Lori, was her third class win of the show. Their jump off time of 34.38 seconds just beat the 34.72 seconds recorded by the second placed Alisa Williams and Willybling. Third went to Kate Lee and Team Priestley Kitara Lanson with a time of 35.38 seconds.

The final class of the week on Arena 2 was a consolation class held over a single round, with the rails set from 1.05 to 1.10m. Jada Burgun and LG Amarillo secured the win with a fast clear round, with Jameson Bush and Gordex Bin second. Third place went to Nakita Willis and Statford Narnia.

And so the Australian Championship are done for another years. We saw five days of exhilarating action and new champions crowned across the various categories. It was a celebration of the sport hopefully, everybody gets to go home happy, regardless of weather they won or lost. There were many successes to celebrate and we look forward to seeing what the 2025 edition of the Championships will bring.

Congratulations to all the winners and placegetters on day 5 of the Championships, all of which are listed below.

SUNDAY RESULTS

SHOWJUMPING ARENA

CLASS 33A: HOWDEN EQUINE: YOUNG HORSES RUBY SPECTACULAR – 1.30m

CLASS 33B: COMPLETELY EQUINE: OPEN RUBY SPECTACULAR – 1.30m

CLASS 34: 4CYTE: FUTURITY SPECTACULAR – 1.40m

CLASS 35: MRX GROUP: AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (FINAL) – 1.05-1.15m

CLASS 36: JPR EQUESTRIAN: AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP (FINAL) – 1.25-1.35m

YANDOO EQUESTRIAN SERVICES ARENA 2

CLASS 37: EVANS PARK: SMALL JUNIOR TOUR SPECTACULAR – 1.10-1.15m

CLASS 38: WILLINGA PARK VETERINARY HOSPITAL: SMALL ADULT TOUR SPECTACULAR – 1.10-1.15m

CLASS 39: SANDRAN PROPERTY GROUP: AMATEUR SPECTACULAR – 1.20m

CLASS 40: OPEN – 1.05-1.10m

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