By Trish Joyce

Team Joyce had a fantastic four days of jumping at the Elms Spring Showjumping Classic held at Sale last weekend. This event is definitely one of the grandest showjumping shows held in Victoria and is one nobody should miss. The Sale Showjumping Club have really created a top class showjumping classic and attract most of the inter-state competitors. I had a chat to some of the riders and asked them why they make the effort to come back every year, because it would be a very long trek and cost quite a bit in fuel. All of them had the same answers, the jumping arenas are immaculate, the facilities are conveniently close and the organisation each day is spot on. Every day the committee put through over 200 rounds in each ring and the gate stewards are very astute making sure every rider has their turn on time and draw order is a rule to be adhered to, which makes people feel like they know when their turn is up next.

Thursday is the first day of jumping and starts right on at 9.30am and Friday, Saturday and Sunday all start spot on 7.30am. The minimum heights start at 90cm and work up to 1.50m-1.60m and the prize money was a draw card this year as there was a lot to go around, they even created two divisions in the Sapphire Section that had over 100 combinations to try and make sure a good percentage could achieve some prize money and a lovely sash along with rugs and even a fantastic prize like a Ratbarrow awarded to the Sapphire Series winner which was Billy Raymond riding Miss Filante.

As for Team Joyce’s results, we placed in the Open 1.20m Sale Saddleworld Speed class, Wes achieved a 4^thon Bolereo de la Vie Z and 5^th on For Fly Hendenlaan Z. Ulouve BZ also jumped a lovely clean round and was just out of the placings. Tiffany rode her favourite LH Johnny and placed 2^nd in the Signtorque Open 1.10m Speed out of 105 combinations.

Tiffany and LH Johnny

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Wes on Bolero with his two ribbons presented by the lovely judge Anne Garner in pink

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Saturday was the main day full of great jumping action starting very early and finishing very late. The Mini Prix Sponsored by Baillieu Holst kicked off about midday and the starting height was about 1.35m and with a strong field of 41 horses, Tom Mc Dermott placed 1^st on Anton and 2^nd with Danae. At about 3pm The Elms Grand Prix Sponsored by S&DSJC &GBG Concrete & Construction was underway which started at 1.50m and with an entry fee of $400 first prize of $10,000 second $5000 and placing’s down to tenth attracted a strong list of 29 riders all hoping to take home the grand prize trophy, rug and cash! Only 20% of the field were allowed to come back and jump the second round but the judges decided on accepting the one clean round and nine combinations with four faults, this ended up being a total of 10 horses. Only one horse jumped a double clean round with ease ,this was Jess Brown on Casco. What a stunning showjumper he is and one to watch out for.

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

The nights entertainment class was the 1.20m Speed Derby Sponsored by Four’n Twenty and twenty nine riders wanted to have a good crack at jumping the fastest faultless round and be able to take home $800. This course was constructed using the two arenas with the thirteen show jumps spread out so the horses had to jump a long course in and out changing the concept of a normal showjumping class. The commentator had some AC DC music pumping which definitely went with the theme of thrilling the crowd to cheer and encourage the riders to go as fast as they could. Tiffany was number eighteen in the draw on her youngster LH Johnny and she was very nervous. I asked her what she was so nervous about and she said “Well, Johnny has not seen so many people and heard so much noise. The idea of jumping out of one arena and into the next and then out again towards the crowd into a very small area turning right toward the 1.20m oxer back into the original arena may just open his eyes right up!”. Her dad advised just keep him going forward, aim for the middle and if you feel unsafe or risky just stop bow out and wave to the crowd. They warmed up perfectly and it was their turn to shine. Yes’ the riders that had been around before them went very fast and tight they were on very experienced horses which helps. Off they went as a cracking pace when the bell was rung, the music was cranked loud, the crowd roaring go go, go faster!

Johnny was spectacular he did not flinch his eye off each obstacle until heading toward the jump going out of the arena. By the look of Johnny’s eyes he was thinking, “Hang on Tiffany why are we heading out here?  Why are we going to jump out of an arena? Ok, we made it. “ The next three jumps were now inside arena two and next was the straight fence heading toward the crowd! “Oh Tiffany “, thought Johnny, “ Why are jumping towards all these noisy people?”. He was weaving left and right he was not sure at all, but Tiffany encouraged him , she sat up tall and drove him deep and they sailed over and then turned right to easily clear the 1.20m Swedish oxer back into arena one and going towards the last four fences. Not once did they break the forward pace and having only two down was a massive prosperous feat. This added 8 seconds onto the time as it is 4 seconds for each rail down. Meeting them at the gate way one could see both had a massive adrenalin rush and loved every bit of it. “Johnny was great mum for a youngster he looked after me well “, Tiffany said. She took him for a relaxed trot and canter on a nice long rein just to make sure he had wound down well. They ended up mid field so we celebrated during dinner knowing this was another good experience for both of them. A rider named James Arkins on Kitara Veurue won the class. If you wish to see all the results from the other classes just go to our Facebook. 

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Team Joyce had one rail in each class on the Sunday so no bows for us today but there was no other place we would have wanted to be. We just love showjumping.  If you wish to listen to the Baratsoc Chat-ski ‘s taken at the show with two talented showjumpers click here http://lalshaven.com.au/team-joyce-chat-ski/ or to see more pictures http://lalshaven.com.au/

We are off to Grand Valley next weekend our last show for the year 2014 so stay tuned to see how we fair there!