Above: Tom McDermott and Cachassini II
Day 2 at our Australian Jumping Championships was a busy day which saw not only Round 1 action in the Senior, Young Rider and Junior Championships, but a total of almost 600 rounds scheduled across three arenas. Although cool conditions prevailed, the sun shone for most of the day and with the weather forecast improving as we approach the weekend, conditions may well be perfect by the time the Finals roll around.
Here is a summary of all the action from the classes conducted today.
HORSELAND – AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP (ROUND 1) – 1.20-1.25m
Horseland are the proud sponsors of the Australian Junior Championship which held its first round this morning to open proceedings on the Flemings Nurseries Arena 2. A total of 50 of the best Junior rider combinations in the country assembled to battle it out in a speed class.
First onto the arena were Western Australians Chloe Versteegen and Cera Quantero, who set the standard, with a clear round in 66.50 seconds. It wasn’t long before inform Queensland rider Cody Tincknell and James Continue took over at the top of the leaderboard. They were super quick and despite having four seconds added for taking a rail, they ended up with a time of 65.36 seconds. They sat at the top of the leaderboard for quite some time, until the NSW combination of Ella Hayward and Edena DP hit the arena. They cut more than a second off the time recorded by all who went before them to finish in 64.16 seconds.
However, the three final placegetters for the class came later in the draw to remove all of those mentioned above off the podium. The winners of the class were Jett Newman and Wanda from NSW, who completed the course, clear, in a very rapid 62.26 seconds. Second place also went to a NSW combination, Charlie Magnier and Quinn Z finishing in just 62.30 seconds. In third place were Chloe Versteegen and Pico Bellini in 62.69 seconds. With less than half a second separating the top three, it looks like this is going to be an exciting championship, which concludes with a final on Sunday morning. The top 12 placings in this class were as follows:
| PLACE | RIDER | HORSE |
| 1st | Jett Newman | Wanda |
| 2nd | Charlie Magnier | Quinn Z |
| 3rd | Chloe Versteegen | Pico Bellini |
| 4th | Ella Hayward | Edena DP |
| 5th | Cody Tincknell | James Continue |
| 6th | Simone Sorensen | Yalambi’s Karajini |
| 7th | Olivia Hewitt-Toms | Cererity Park LM Star |
| 8th | Chloe Versteegen | Cera Quantero |
| 9th | Jack Barker | Tulara Colchic |
| 10th | Zara Smith | Catena |
| 11th | Tilley Fair | Bella Bonita |
| 12th | Claire Zylstra | Harvey B |
PRYDE’S EASIFEED – AUSTRALIAN SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP (ROUND 1) – 1.45-1.50m
The feature competition of the show commenced this morning with the first round of the Australian Senior Championship on Fleming Nurseries Arena 2. There were 24 combinations entered, including five of the top nine placegetters from the 2021 Championship, all looking to finish as high up the leaderboard as possible, to ensure they start with the minimum number of penalties in Sunday’s Final. Conducted as a speed class, the winning rider of the 2019 Australian Senior Championship took the opportunity to remind his rivals what a formidable force he can be.
Tom McDermott showed the rest of the field a clean pair of heels by filling the top three placings in the class. He won with his stallion Cachassini II going clear in a time of 67.91 seconds. Second place was secured with the gelding, Cooley Gangster, stopping the clock at 68.08 seconds. In third place, it was Tom again, riding his 2019 Senior Championship winning mare, Elegance De La Charmille, in a time of 70.42 seconds, despite having four seconds added for a rail down.
It was a magnificent performance from McDermott and sets him up with a very realistic chance of winning the Australian Senior Title for the third time. The Senior Championship will resume on Friday with Round 2, before Sunday’s Final.
Congratulations to the winner and all the placegetters:
| PLACE | RIDER | HORSE |
| 1st | Tom McDermott | Cachassini II |
| 2nd | Tom McDermott | Cooley Gangster |
| 3rd | Tom McDermott | Elegance De La Charmille |
| 4th | Robert Palm | Jaybee Vibrant |
| 5th | Amber Fuller | Nopal Van Tallaert |
| 6th | Clem Smith | Oaks Conjurer |
| 7th | Amanda Madigan | Diamond B Vivienne |
| 8th | Olivia Hamood | Jane Fonda DVD |
| 9th | Izabella Stone | Oaks Ventriloquist |
| 10th | Sam Overton | Oaks Cassanova |
Above: Tom McDermott and Cooley Gangster
RACING HEARTS – AUSTRALIAN YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIP (ROUND 1) – 1.30-1.35m
The next class on the main sand arena was the first round of the Racing Hearts Australian Young Rider Championship. Thirty-six of the best Young Rider combinations in the country were on display, competing in a speed class, that provided plenty of entertainment for the large crowd watching on.
In the end, it was a New Zealand visitor who showed the Australians how to do it. Georgia Bouzaid and Vitess took the win by the bearest of margins, finishing clear in 66.40 seconds. In second place, with a time of 66.46, despite incurring 4 seconds added for a rail down, was Queensland rider, Cody Tincknell and the gelding Screwdriver. Third place went to Chris Holland and Elsa, who stopped the clock at 66.75 seconds. With the top 10 combinations all less than six seconds from the winner, it looks like this Championship is going to be very hard fought. Round 2 will be held on Friday, before a final on Sunday. Placegetters today were as follows:
| PLACE | RIDER | HORSE |
| 1st | Georgia Bouzaid | Vitess |
| 2nd | Cody Tincknell | Screwdriver |
| 3rd | Chris Holland | Elsa |
| 4th | Conor Reed | Alpha Activity |
| 5th | Anneliese Wansey | Kolora Stud St Patrick |
| 6th | Hayden Parker | Tulara Spangenberg |
| 7th | Clemency Hughes | Diamond B Corvina |
| 8th | Chase Naylor | Check Book |
| 9th | Conor Reed | Leopoldo MVNZ |
| 10th | Ginger Jilly | Diamond B Vancouver |
4CYTE – AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (ROUND 2) – 1.10-1.15m
The final class for today on Flemings Nurseries Arena 2 was the second round of the 4cyte Australian Children’s Championship. Forty-two combinations produced 21 clear rounds which meant that the large crowd watching were treated to an exciting jump-off.
Repeating their win in round 1 yesterday, the winners, in a time almost two seconds faster than their nearest rivals were Charlie Magnier and Master Stevie G. This combination will go into Saturday’s final on zero penalties and will have every other combination in the final chasing them. South Australian star Imogen Lindh and Blackall Park Koraleighfinished second with a jump-off time of 35.48 seconds, an improvement of two places on their fourth place finish yesterday. Imogen and Licaviv finished third (36.17 seconds) in a repeat of their performance in Round 1.
The scene is set for what will undoubtedly be a fantastic final to the 4cyte Australian Children’s Championship, scheduled for first thing on Saturday morning. Today’s placing were as follows:
| PLACE | RIDER | HORSE |
| 1st | Charlie Magnier | Master Stevie G |
| 2nd | Imogen Lindh | Blackall Park Koraleigh |
| 3rd | Imogen Lindh | Licaviv |
| 4th | Zara Adnams | Tally-Ho Primrose |
| 5th | Lucy Borrack | Mighty Tosca |
| 6th | Tanner Robinson | Cracker |
| 7th | Joel Lamb | JB Little Gun |
| 8th | Tanner Robinson | Charlie |
| 9th | Kirra Nicholls | Finch Farm Class Act |
| 10th | Sienna Holdsworth-Rose | Coolart Farm Short Torque |
TULARA WARMBLOODS ARENA 3
ADVIKA PARK – RUBY SERIES (ROUND 1) – MINIMUM 1.25m
The first round of the Ruby Series opened the day on Tulara Warmblood Arena 3. The Ruby Series is open for horses with 40 points or less at the close of entries who are not entered in any other Series. Today’s class, sponsored by Advika Park saw the rails set at 1.25m and was contested by a total of 42 combinations.
Some great jumping saw 23 of them go clear with the fastest time recorded by Taylor Robertson and Halona. A highly competitive jump-off followed which saw a massive 16 double clear rounds. However, the win, with a jump-off time of 32.31 seconds went to NSW’s Jennifer Wood and I Pod. In the runner-up position were Rebecca Jenkins and Festa D, who were just a touch slower, finishing in 32.70 seconds. Victorian rider Tori Glass and Bonnie Valley Nobuck Boriswere awarded third place after stopping the clock in 33.21 seconds.
The second round of the Ruby Series will be held on Friday, before a Final on Sunday.
Placing in this class were as follows:
| PLACE | RIDER | HORSE |
| 1st | Jennifer Wood | I Pod |
| 2nd | Rebecca Jenkins | Festa D |
| 3rd | Tori Glass | Bonnie Valley Nobuck Boris |
| 4th | Taylor Robertson | Halona |
| 5th | Emma Smith | Oaks Abracadabra |
| 6th | Carly Overton | Pabello |
| 7th | George Johnson | Wallaroo Carina |
| 8th | Charlie Eason | Oaks Coolangatta |
| 9th | Emily Hovell | Yalambi’s Geronimo |
| 10th | Jessie Rice-Ward | Denisen Park Style |
FREEDMAN RACING – EMERALD SERIES (ROUND 2) – MINIMUM 1.10m
The second round of the Emerald Series was held this afternoon on Tulara Warmbloods Arena 3 and was sponsored by Freedman Racing. Conducted as a speed class, the win today went to Queensland rider Fuschia Criss and Amazena. They were the only combination to break the 52 second mark, stopping the clock in 51.82 seconds. Second place went to the winners of yesterday’s first round, Cody Tincknell and Lady Quincella Gold, who finished in a time of 52.58 seconds. In another clean sweep to the Queenslanders, third place today saw the round 1 fourth placegetters Robert Goodwin and Caveton Park Legacy go one better, with a finishing time of 52.97 seconds. The top 50% of the riders on the leaderboard will contest the Emerald Series final to be conducted on Saturday. Placings in this class were as follows:
| PLACE | RIDER | HORSE |
| 1st | Fuschia Criss | Amazena |
| 2nd | Cody Tincknell | Lady Quincella Gold |
| 3rd | Robert Goodwin | Caveton Park Legacy |
| 4th | James Harvey | Yirrkala Celeste |
| 5th | Amie McMaugh | Pure Diamond |
| 6th | James Harvey | GC Cornate |
| 7th | Vicki Roycroft | Copabella Ventura |
| 8th | James Paterson-Robinson | Diamond B Baton Rouge |
| 9th | Jennifer Wood | Charizard |
| 10th | Charlee Dobbin | Sweet Dreams |
VERBAND HOLSTEINER GERMANY – FUTURE STARS (ROUND 2) – MINIMUM 1.30m
The third class today on this arena was the second round of the Verband Holsteiner Germany Future Stars Series. Run as a speed class, the results showed just how open this competition is, with only four of yesterday’s round 1 top 10 combinations able to back up their performance today. In fact, only one of yesterday’s top 4 appears in the round 2 top 10.
The winners of this class were Western Australia’s Tessa Lill and Yalambi’s Key Largo who were very impressive winning by almost five seconds, finishing in a time of 51.00 seconds. Last year Tess won the Australian Speed Championship and with the sort of round we saw today, another impressive showing in the Speed Championship would not surprise. Second place today went to Olivia Hamood and Diamond B Bedazzled, in 55.85 seconds, while in third, were the NSW combination of Savanna Hopkinson and Bittern Park Karmen, with a time of 56.03 seconds.
The top 50% of entrants will now be invited to compete in the Future Stars Final, scheduled to take place on Saturday afternoon. Full placings in this class were as follows:
| PLACE | RIDER | HORSE |
| 1st | Tessa Lill | Yalambi’s Key Largo |
| 2nd | Olivia Hamood | Diamond B Bedazzled |
| 3rd | Savanna Hopkinson | Bittern Park Karmen |
| 4th | Phillip Lever | Bonita |
| 5th | Tess McInerney | Quintation |
| 6th | Jamie Priestley | Team Priestley Leda Ego Z |
| 7th | Tyrone Latham | Yirrkala Harriett |
| =8th | Josh Collins | Oaks Kenya |
| =8th | Clara Palm | Tulara Lady Zirocca |
| 10th | Andrew Lamb | Oaks Ever Red |
KIERNAN PLANT HIRE – MINI PRIX (ROUND 2) – MINIMUM 1.40m
Wrapping up the action on Tulara Warmbloods Arena 3 today was the second round of the Kiernan Plant Hire Mini Prix. Just as was the second round of the Future Stars, this was a speed class and the action was certainly fast and furious. There were 44 combinations entered, all keen to ensure they were one of the top 50% of entrants who would go through to Saturday’s final.
The winners of this class were Amelia Douglass and Upper Class Z, who completed the course, clear, in a time of 52.64 seconds. In what turned out to be a complete NSW podium, second place went to Emma Smith and DF Balour Bird, who stopped the clock at 53.96 seconds. Third place today went to the combination that won the 2021 Australian Young Rider Championship, Madeline Sinderberry and Camie Z in a time of 54.59 seconds.
The top 50% of entrants will now be invited to compete in the Mini Prix Final, scheduled to take place on Saturday afternoon. Full placings in this class were as follows:
| PLACE | RIDER | HORSE |
| 1st | Amelia Douglass | Upper Class Z |
| 2nd | Emma Smith | DF Balou Bird |
| 3rd | Madeline Sinderberry | Camie Z |
| 4th | James Paterson-Robinson | Dublin |
| 5th | Robert Goodwin | Warrego Simone |
| 6th | Tessa Lill | Yalambi’s Hugo Boss |
| 7th | Emily Hovell | Yalambi’s Finnegan |
| 8th | Tess McInerney | Alpha Centauri |
| 9th | Madeline Sinderberry | Gredstedgaards Number One |
| =10th | Clem Smith | Quantico 12 |
| =10th | Tom McDermott | Warraleigh Park Cortez |
ARENA 4
EMCO EQUINE – AMATEUR SERIES (ROUND 1) – 1.20m
The first round of the Australian Amateur Series was the first class held today on Arena 4. Emco Equine were the sponsors of this first round of this series, where riders that meet the criteria to be Amateurs, will compete over two rounds, striving to position themselves in the top 50% of entrants and thereby qualify for Saturday’s final.
A total of 53 combinations lined up for today’s round, which was conducted as a speed class. Completing the course clear and in a very swift time to take the win were the Victorian combination of Jane Powell and Sorento, finishing in 56.06 seconds. Second place, despite taking a rail and having 4 seconds added were another Victorian combination, Cindy Morrison and CP Richard, finishing with 56.74 seconds. Katie Clark and Katelle Grand were awarded third place after finishing clear in 58.71 seconds.
With the top 20 combinations on the results list all finishing within 10 seconds of the winners, the race for the Australian Amateur Title looks set to be a compelling tussle. Placings from today’s class were as follows:
| PLACE | RIDER | HORSE |
| 1st | Jane Powell | Sorento |
| 2nd | Cindy Morrison | CP Richard |
| 3rd | Katie Clark | Katelle Grand |
| 4th | Giorga Gall | Along Came Polly |
| 5th | Sarah Weiss | Twins Delux |
| 6th | Jennifer Smith | Country Platinum |
| 7th | Katrina Silk | Dunrostan |
| 8th | Paige Cartwright | Kitara Boizel |
YANDOO EQUESTRIAN SERVICES – PEARL SERIES (ROUND 1) – 0.90m
The opening round of the Yandoo Equestrian Services Pearl Series was the second class conducted on Arena 4 today. The Pearl Series runs over three qualifying rounds, with the top 50% of entrants on the leaderboard qualifying for the final to be held on the last day of the Championships.
A total of 66 combinations lined up for round 1, which was a single round competition, producing 28 clear rounds. The fastest of these rounds and therefore the win went to the Queensland combination of Lorna Clifford and Ngahiwi Possum, finishing in 47.28 seconds. Proving her ability, Clifford also went on to claim second place, this time with Kahean Trooper Nelson with a time of 47.53 seconds. Completing a Queensland clean sweep of the podium were Kaya Zielinski and Lady Of Diamonds, the winning combination from the 2021 Ivory Series, with a time of 48.08 seconds.
| PLACE | RIDER | HORSE |
| 1st | Lorna Clifford | Ngahiwi Possum |
| 2nd | Lorna Clifford | Kahean Trooper Nelson |
| 3rd | Kaya Zielinski | Lady Of Diamonds |
| 4th | Kelly Fyfe | Materialism |
| 5th | Eliza Abrahams | Cody |
| 6th | Macey Rams | Chloe |
| 7th | Simone Tanis | Peter Rabbit |
| 8th | Charli Hill | Isle Of Jarroe Valley |
JPR EQUESTRIAN – OPAL SERIES (ROUND 1) – 1.00m
The opening round of the JPR Equestrian Opal Series was the final class conducted on Arena 4 today. Like the Pearl Series, the Opal Series runs over three qualifying rounds, with the top 50% of entrants on the leaderboard qualifying for the final to be held on the last day of the Championships.
A total of 90 combinations lined up for round 1, which saw 44 clear rounds and in a high-quality jump-off, 22 double clears. The fastest of these was young Victorian star, Zara Adnams and Dingmac Disco King, who stopped the clock at 26.89 seconds to take the win. Charly Robinson-Smith from NSW and Carisma II were second in a time of 28.25 seconds. A time of 29.70 was enough to secure Queensland’s Lorna Clifford and Ngahiwi Possum third place. The second round of this Series will be run on Friday afternoon. Placings today were as follows:
| PLACE | RIDER | HORSE |
| 1st | Zara Adnams | Dingmac Disco King |
| 2nd | Charly Robinson-Smith | Carisma II |
| 3rd | Lorna Clifford | Ngahiwi Possum |
| 4th | Chloe Lockwood | Mingara Panda |
| 5th | Lachlan Harvey | Patangas Hiccup |
| 6th | Stuart Abrahams | Blue Print |
| 7th | Abby Coates | Wafalu Nulla |
| 8th | Kristy Haworth | Wondaree Spice |
It was a great day of jumping and as the action heats up as we approach a weekend full of Finals, it is sure to only get better.