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Post Office Box 67 Fulham Gardens SA
Phone: 0412 208 011 |
1999
South Australian Showjumping Championships |
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 The 1999 South Australian State Showjumping Championships were once again
held at Colley Reserve at Glenelg, featuring as the finale to the Bay Sports
Festival.
Showing the same competitive spirit as last year, where she collected prizemoney in 7 of the 8 events, Becky Allen won the Senior B & C Grade in convincing fashion. In her first year as a senior rider Lorikeet sped around the jump off course to defeat renown SA rider John Patterson riding Maamur. Olympic Squad listed Anthony Thomas was third with Girraween Monte.
The senior riders were the next to try to conquer the Speed Championship course. Over the same course but slightly raised fences the senior riders also captivated the crowd although the winning time was several seconds slower than the junior class. Greg Willoughby of Keith riding St Elmo's Fire was the fourth rider to take on the course and his time could not be bettered by any of the remaining 20 competitors. Consistent Becky Allen and Lorikeet took second with SA rider Clive Reed and Special Effects third.
To complete this years championships the Presidents Cup SA Senior Championship got underway with a small but talented field. After the two rounds five combinations returned for the jumpoff with sixth placing claimed by the unlucky Anthony Thomas and Fluke who jumped clear but incurred 1/4 fault time penalty in the first round. For the second year running Paula Hamood filled the placings with Torchbearer and Oops however once again victory went to Tim Clarke (above left).
Despite the unseasonally cold conditions it was yet another successful showjumping championships with the testing courses designed by Sue Ryan proving a challenge for riders. Sue Ryan has recently been approved as an FEI course designer and is the first female to obtain this ranking in the Southern Hemisphere. A new approach to lunch breaks this year enabled two educational displays from the Side Saddle Association of SA and the local harness community. |
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The opening class on Day one was the Senior B & C Grade. Under dark skies
local rider Holly Ogden riding Outer Limits (right) claimed victory in
the jump off from Sarah Clark of Mount Gambier aboard Oliver. Kate Broad and Rooklyn
completed the trifecta for South Australia with Clive Reed taking fourth place with his
new mount Special Effects. 
Rebekka
Stubing and Willy Go won the Junior Grand Prix with an exciting ride. Despite losing a
stirrup for a fence mid round in the jumpoff Rebekka regained her balance to finish with a
double clear and quick time. Second was Victorian visitor Jodie Armstrong on
Freckles (left) with Kylie Beythien and 21 year old Koolmundool Samuel in third
place. Rebekka's sister Kimberley took fourth placing on Lucky PIerre. 
The
premier event of day one was the Mayors Trophy Senior Grand Prix. Accomplished SA rider Michelle
Clark (below right) completed a trio of victories in the event. After
previous wins in 1993 and 1996 with the now retired Murf's Max, Michelle rode 8
year old MEC Street Talk to his debut win at this level. In an impressive display
MEC Street Talk flew around the jump off course in 37.29 seconds holding off Paula Hamood
of Birdwood and Oops by 0.45 sec. Becky Allen of Victoria took third placing with a time
of 38.37sec. 
The final event of day one was the Junior Six Bar competition. Despite the
cold weather closing in it was one of the most exciting events of the day. With the final
two jumps at maximum height in the fourth round 26 year old Red Ned and Katie
Clark (left) from Victoria cleared all to claim victory. Jackson with Sarah Clark
aboard finished a gallant second with four faults at the second last. Third was Without
Remorse and Carla Cerchi with fourth placing filled by Be Sure ridden by Matthew Afford
the youngest rider competing at the carnival. Twenty three year old Devil's Idol competing
at his last show before retirement finished fifth ridden by Sharlene Cap. 
Day Two dawned with yet more overcast skies and cold conditions. The SA
Junior Speed Championship was the first event of the day. After a brilliant round by
Rebekka Stubing and Willy Go it seemed Rebekka had a second class wrapped up for the
carnival. Due to the short grass the ground was very slippery and harmless falls claimed
many favoured combitnations. When the speedy Koomundool Samuel and Kylie Beythien failed
to better Willy Go's time victory seemed likely. Last rider for the class was Melinda
Makin (right) from Keith riding the black mare Heidi. Undeterred
Melinda flew around the course the narrowly beat Willy Go and Rebekka Stubing's time.
Final placings were Melinda Makin (Heidi) 1st, Rebekka Stubing (Willy Go) 2nd and Kylie
Beythien (Koomundool Samuel) 3rd. 
The two big events of the carnival followed. South Australia's most promising
junior riders took part in the Belcrakna Cup SA Junior Championship with several in their
final competition at junior level. Due to the large number of clear rounds only
combinations who obtained no penalties were invited back for the second round. Last years
winner Ben O'Leary and Prankster were unlucky in just brushing a rail to not make the jump
off. Devil's Idol finished his career on a spectacular note throwing on the brakes at the
last fence to catapult Sharlene Cap onto his neck (and then a harmless fall) while landing
into and demolishing the fence itself. In the final round (third round jump off) it was Tim
Clarke (left) riding Spielberg in his final event as a junior
who proved victorious. It was his second win in this event after winning in 1995 on
Harvest Moon. It also completed a family double after sister Katie's win in the Junior Six
Bar. Carla Cerchi overcame an asthma attack in the Speed Championship to ride Without
Remorse inot second place ahead of Jackson and Sarah Clark. 
Tim riding Harvest Moon created history in becoming
the first rider to claim the junior and senior titles double. Paula went clear in the
jumpoff on Torchbearer in a time of 55.38 but hopes for the victory disappeared when Tim
and Harvest Moon sped over the ground in 47.93. Paula tried to match the time on Oops but
had a rail down to drop to third place. Fourth was Becky Allen riding Batman with MEC
Street Talk enhancing his future promise finishing fifth for Michelle Clark. Tim is
scheduled to travel to Belgium in the coming year to gain overseas riding experience.