TWO days into Tamworth’s first ever World Cup qualifying showjumping event at the AELEC and organisers are already blown away by the competition.
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Course designer for the event Gavin Chester has been ringside watching how the competitors handle the course and while he is ready to make adjustments, so far none have been necessary as the competition begins to heat up with the main event tonight.
“If the riders and horses are doing well then we can keep building the jumps up for the higher class events,” Chester said.
“I can’t believe how competitive it was on the opening day, normally the first day is a bit of a warm up but not this time.”
“It is a great sign of things to come and it looks like the jumps will be at the maximum height for the qualifier.”
The worldwide maximum height is 1.60m, and along with a perfect surface the organisers are expecting some very good jumping as the weekend continues.
Most of the 37 riders competing in the World Cup event have already been around the course in the lower classes, mostly on younger less experienced horses as they build up stables of world class jumpers.
“They have got the perfect amount of moisture and the jumps this year are magnificent.
Greg Backhouse and Alan McCusker built the jumps for the event, and Backhouse agrees that so far everything is pointing towards a world class qualifying event tonight.
On Thursday night Sam Overton took out the Class 1 Ozshotz Open on Oaks Casanova with Milly Fisher on Mo Jo Jo Jo a close second. The Class 2 Carmyle Vet Service qualifier was taken out by Rhys Stones on Oaks Altador and the Calss 3 Nicole Bruggeman Equestrian was won by Olivia Hamood on board Nero GHP.
This afternoon will see Australia’s best battle it out for a spot at the sports pinnacle, wearing the green and gold at the World Cup in Nebraska in 2017.
The Silver Tour qualifiers were run yesterday, with many top competitors involved in that as well and the final will precede the main event tonight at the AELEC.
The World Cup qualifier also has a winners’ purse with over $5000 up for grabs, although it is that World Cup position that every rider is after.
Events will be ridden both indoor and outdoor today and tomorrow and entry is free for all spectators.
