MORE than 30 of Australia’s top horse and rider combinations competed for the Sue Alden Memorial trophy on Sunday afternoon at the Tamworth Winter Indoor Show Jumping Championships but it was the current Australian champions who ruled.
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The big track, designed by internationally accredited course builder Greg Backhouse from Tamworth, was testing and just eight horses were clear through to the second round.
Jumping in reverse order meant the fastest clear in the first round would go out last, ensuring a nailbiting finish.
Second to go over the shortened track was experienced Queenslander Clem Smith who posted a clear round with Delilah in a time of 40.37 seconds.
Next out was speed demon James Arkins from Moss Vale , riding Rosthwaite Vigilante.
They took three seconds off Smith’s time but dropped two rails for a final score of 8.
The next few riders were all slower and it looked like the trophy was going north until the final combo entered the arena. David Cameron from Wilberforce near Sydney and RR Dyranta showed the crowd why they are the current Australian champions with a smooth, faultless round that took two seconds off Smith’s time.
Second went to Smith and Delilah while third went to Gaby Kuna from Tennyson, NSW riding Cristalline.
