Maitland Showground
20 - 21st February 2009
Conditions were perfect for the NSW Country Showjumping Championships held at the Maitland Mercury Hunter River Supershow on the weekend. Only four days before the start of the event the showground main arena was submerged under 30cm of water and it is a credit to the tireless work of the show society and the Hunter Valley Showjumping Club, and some luck from the skies above, that the event was a huge success.
Riders travelled from as far as Queensland for the event that was postponed from 2007 due to the EI lockdown.
Friday's jumping program included awards for local champions won by Bree Bate (Harker) for the Senior, Fallen Robertson - Junior 14-U/18, Jake Hunter - under 14. The junior classes were sponsored by Kirkwood Produce Rutherford with the riders receiving trophy rugs beautifully manufactured by Stable 8.
Fallen Robertson Local Champion 14-U
James Hetherington was consistently successful all weekend placing 2nd in both junior classes on Dreamaway and 4th and 5th on Peppertree. Young Rider placings of 1st and 4th on Shilo secured him the overall Young Rider Championship. Junior Championship went to Cassandra Looveer on J.F.K. Jade Middleton won both Amateur classes on Nerambi and Evenescence but as the pointscore was on horse and rider combinations the title went to local rider Wendy Platts aboard For Pleasure. The Senior Title was decided over all open classes points, including Six Bar, and Coco Miles was final Senior Country Champion winner riding her very tall mare, Candle with placings in both 1.35m and 1.20m Two Phase and the C&D Championship.
James Hetherington Young Rider Champion
The crowd feature event, the Six Bar, was won by Colleen Brook on PB Poet's Corner. Second to John Cooper on Royal Masquerade and third to Sophie Miller on King's Style, with this event proving to be popular for many horse and rider combinations from the Junior riders to the Senior riders, at this years show.
Colleen Brook-PB Poet's Corner
Sue Bettington built consistently well all weekend, saving the arena for the A&B Championship Grand Prix that was won in style by the Australian Champions Chris Chugg and Vivant. Natural Mobility sponsored this class and provided Chris and Vivant with Technyflex Products for both horse and rider. Vicki Roycroft and Noblewood Park Cougar took out the Alan Hodge Memorial C&D Championship ahead of Caitlin Bolger on Byron followed by David Cooper and Margaret River.
.jpg)
Vivant & Natae Jankowski (Technyflex)
Other highly valued sponsors include Bunnings Warehouse for providing plants, Carroll's Pine, Husky Lodge Equestrian Centre, Tuff Rock, Groundsearch, Maitland Show Society and the HVSJC.
James Mooney - Woodcroft Will
A very special mention must go to all the volunteers and workers who gave away three long days of their time, and some very much more behind the scenes. Without them, there would be no competitions for the riders to enter.
Matt Williams - Budweiser
Sue Middleton
Photos Jade Middleton
