Phillip Lever and Billionaire NZPH’s recent fine form continued at Showcase of Showjumping. Image by Click Capture Photography.
After a nine-year hiatus, Showcase of Showjumping returned last weekend at Windsor Polo Club in Richmond, NSW with a bang. Originally launched by Kerrie Winning, this year’s event was proudly supported by naming rights sponsor Divas Beverages and saw the next generation in Jamie Winning-Kermond and husband Jamie Kermond take the reins with Kerrie’s guidance and support.
Returning after a nine-year hiatus, Showcase of Showjumping has no shortage of atmosphere! Image by Click Capture Photography.
Over three action-packed days, the world class Windsor Polo Club transformed into the ultimate showjumping spectacular. Historically, Showcase of Showjumping has been synonymous with world class entertainment, sport and hospitality and this year’s new installment certainly lived up to its predecessors’ esteemed reputation. Friday’s events saw competitors take to the arenas in warm-up classes before the true competition ramped up on Saturday, culminating in the $93,000 Teams Spectacular on Saturday afternoon.
In the main arena, internationally renowned course designer Frank Rothenberger tested the skills of some of Australia’s best showjumping combinations. Reflecting in an interview with commentators Stephen Lamb and Rod McQueen, Rothenberger shared that the quality of riding and horse-power in Australia had drastically improved since his last visit to Australia, noting with particular interest the talent and skill shown by the next generation of young riders.
THRILLING TEAMS SPECTACULAR
As crowds flocked to the main arena on Saturday, eight teams took to centre stage in the first of the program feature classes, the Teams Spectacular. With teams consisting of four combinations (three seniors and one young rider) selected from Australia’s strongest competitors, spectators were treated to a sensational afternoon of jumping.
Team Chatham Park: Amelia Douglass, Jack Barker, Amber Fuller and Billy Raymont. Image by Click Capture Photography.
The best three scores from each team were counted, allowing for one drop score. At the conclusion of round one, three teams were tied on zero penalties. Those teams were Chatham Park consisting of Billy Raymont, Amelia Douglass, Amber Fuller and Jack Barker; Yandoo Park consisting of Jamie Winning-Kermond, Emma Collins, Melissa Blair and Hannah Doolan; and Coolmore and Woppitt’s team in Tom McDermott, Robert Palm, Gemma Creighton and Charlie Magnier.
Each of the three teams selected one senior rider to return to the arena for round two of competition, to jump off for the $25,000 winning cheque. First to go, Billy Raymont jumped a brilliant clear for team Chatham Park to put them firmly atop the leaderboard. Gemma Creighton representing the Coolmore and Woppitt team jumped a wonderful clear, however was not quite quick enough to threaten Chatham Park’s lead. It all came down to the final combination in Jamie Winning-Kermond and Tulara WAT Colblensky for Yandoo Park. Whilst she had Raymont and Chatham Park on time, one rail fell to the floor relegating team Yandoo Park to third position.
“Yandoo Oaks Constellation
was honored in a final celebratory
lap during an emotional ceremony…”
Saturday also marked the official retirement of the Winning and Kermond’s Yandoo Oaks Constellation. The two-time Australian Senior Champion and international representative was honored in a final celebratory lap during an emotional ceremony.
Yandoo Oaks Constellation, pictured here with Jamie Kermond representing Australia at the 2018 World Equestrian Games. Image by Michelle Telato Photography.
SENSATIONAL SUNDAY
Sunday’s program saw another brilliant line up of competition. As VIP spectators were waited on with fine dining by Ora Sydney, Da Orazio, Sydney Oyster Girls and Divas Beverages, riders took to the arenas in a thrilling day of finals. Molly Mooney was crowned the Peachester Lodge Young Rider Champion following a sensational ride on her family’s adored JB Evolution. You can read more about Molly and ‘Blue’ in the April issue of Equestrian Life here.
In the Ashford Park Patron’s Final, young rider Matilda Telford aboard her Sugar secured the win. The Winning Group Mini Prix was hotly contested, with Tess Mcinerney taking home the ultimate honors and $5,000 first prize cheque with her nomination of Quintation.
In arena two, Rhys Stones won the Ram Australia Get Out Stakes with Riverton Attention. Tom McDermott continued his winning form, following up Saturday’s Chatham Park Futurity win with a first and second in the Magic Millions Young Horse Final. The JJ Robertson and Sons Amateur final was won by Stephanie Fenn aboard her DF Balou Bird. The final class of the day in arena two was the King Ranch Equestrian Junior Championship which saw Reese Keenan crowned victorious in a blisteringly fast jump off ahead of Jack Barker and Tulara For Quinar.
“Tom McDermott continued
his winning form…”
Reese Keenan and PPP Vive Le Mop took out the King Ranch Equestrian Junior Championship. Image by Click Capture Photography.
PHILLIP LEVER AND BILLIONAIRE NZPH CLAIM $20,000 GRAND PRIX
With ring two complete, the stage was set for the program highlight – the Divas Beverages Grand Prix. With $20,000 on the line for first prize and a star-studded field of thirty of the best combinations in Australia, it was an action-packed afternoon of world class sport.
“It was an action-packed
afternoon of world class sport.”
Phil Lever and Billionaire NZPH won the $20,000 Divas Beverages Grand Prix. Image by Click Capture Photography.
Course designer Frank Rothenberger set a challenging course that saw only five combinations return to the second round. In an exceptionally quick round, current Australian Senior Champion Phillip Lever aboard Deirdre Hartog’s Billionaire NZPH continued their winning form from the Victorian State Titles last weekend to claim the ultimate honours in the Divas Beverages Grand Prix, ahead of Tom McDermott and Cooley Gangster. Chatham Park’s Amelia Douglas was just fractions of a second behind the boys with Quel Filou 16 to finish in third place on the podium.
The Grand Prix podium, L-R: Tom McDermott, Phillip Lever, and Amelia Douglas. Image by Click Capture Photography.
“I knew when he jumped
the first fence like he did that
we were onto something…”
Of the jump off Phillip said, “I knew when he jumped the first fence like he did that we were onto something… I mean, what a horse!”
A fairytale finish for team Lever Equestrian to mark the conclusion of another brilliant installment of the Showcase of Showjumping! EQ
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