SHOWJUMPING
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The Peel Produce Show-jumping Championships has run its course for another year, with Nic Carraro winning the feature event for the second time.
While the Grand Prix events take a lot of the three-day carnival’s focus, much of the tournament is about education.
Both horse and riders use the event to better themselves at the growing sport, and former Olympian Ron Easey is at the forefront.
Easey was defending Peel Produce Grand Prix champion, although lost his crown to the man he took it from, 2012 winner Nic Cararro.
Easey came to the championships with nine horses, six of them young and still learning to jump.
“This is what it is all about,” Easey said.
“We are competing and looking to win but we are also teaching.”
All weekend Easey could be found on the riding surface either competing or giving tips to other riders and watching the junior riders outside. The Sydney 2000 representative said the AELEC and this event were the perfect teaching environment for horses and riders.
“Riders keep coming back because the jumps are good and the surface is perfect,” Easey said.
“It is perfect to make better riders.”
One of those riders is Stuart Jenkins from Glamorgan Vale in Queensland.
Jenkins pulled off two perfect runs to take out the Forty Winks Future Stars event on Friday night.
The class is for up and coming horses and his ride Fairview Aliquidam is certainly on the way.
Of the 25 riders that went in Friday’s feature event, nine went clear in the first round.
Of those nine four went clear in the second round.
Jenkins and Fairview Aliquidam cleared the fastest and took the title.
It is the rider’s second time at the AELEC, although first for these championships.
“It was a great event and I was really lucky to win,” Jenkins said.
“I was going to ride him in the 1.25m event on Sunday but I will give him a rest,” Jenkins said.
“We have already won one.”