Australian Showjumping Championships Canberra

A consistent performance over the three qualifying competitions saw 16 year old Olivia Hamood from Kilcoy in Queensland claim the Australian Junior Champion Runner Up award riding 'Buck's Bunny', a horse produced and campaigned with great success by Olivia's mother, Paula.

Tom McDermott qualified four horses for the Junior Championship final Qualifier. The 15 year old from Wagga was third in the first qualifier with 'Merriwah' (pictured)and first in the subsequent two qualifiers to convincingly claim the 2008 Australian Junior Championship. It was a remarkable feat for Tom, but perhaps not as remarkable as winning the 2006 Australian Junior Championship title as a 12 year old.

NSW Young Rider Emily Blinkworth has experienced the highs and lows of showjumping. But good horses well ridden saw Emily once again back at the top. Emily regained the Australian Young Rider Championship crown , won at Sale in 2006 riding her imported German mare, 'CP Romantic Dream' (Stable name , Pinky). Emily also took the Runner Up award riding 'CP Rolex'.

Georgie Lucas from Tumit in NSW rode 'Try My Best' to fourth place in the final Canberra Motor Works Junior Championship Qualifier. Georgie was 11th overall in the Junior Championship standings.

Georgie Harvey rode the ex Shane Rose eventer, 'Glenorchy Hope' to take seventh place in the final Canberra Motor Works Australian Junior Championship Qualifier. Georgie was equal 12th on the 2008 leader board.

Popular Victorian rider, Becky Allen kept the best 'till last with the Allen family's successful Grand Prix horse, 'Koyuna Ted'. Becky and the Brilliant Invader gelding jumped one of just two double clears around Leeson Sirett's final Senior Championship track. Becky and Ted posted the best time by just over a second to win the tough 1.50m class.

Just out of Quarantine last Tuesday, 'Vivant' did not have a fence down all show and carried Chris Chugg to claim back to back Australian Showjumping Championship titles. Chris and the imported Fuego du Prelet stallion, won two and were placed second in the third Championship class, to be unchallenged for Australia's top showjumping honours.

Jack Maunder from Tamworth qualified for the final Junior Qualifier of 25 riding his 'Susie's Fancy'. Jack placed ninth in the class and finished the 100 strong Canberra Motor Works Junior Australian Championships in twentieth place.

Olivia Hicks with her 'Coolaroo Rocadoro' made the final Junior Championship for the top 25 riders. Olivia and 'Rocadoro' finished the Championship in equal 12th place.

Victorian Junior rider, Katherine Stewart looks to be having great fun with her 'Get Shorty' during the Canberra Motor Works final Junior Championship Qualifier. They finished in 14th place overall.

Monique Barrett won the first Canberra Motor Works Junior Championship qualifier riding her sensational 'Snowy River Ginger Meggs'. A fall in the practice ring just prior to the final qualifier saw Monique unable to take part. Even so, the 2007 Champions took sixth place overall, with Monique also in seventh place riding her 'Deo Juvante' (another ex eventer, formerly ridden by Chris Burton).

Sarah Mc Millan qualified three horses for the Canberra Motor Works Junior Championship final Qualifier. She is pictured with one of them , 'The Countryman', formerly ridden by Thaisa Erwin. Sarah finished in tenth place aboard 'Lanarkshire Lad', 21st with the Countryman and 23rd riding 'KP Cerebano'.

Kristie Ansell from Queensland was second in the final Junior Championship Qualifier riding her 'Top Secret' and finished fourth over all in the Canberra Motor Works 2008 Australian Junior Championship.

Sam Williams from Tonimbuk in Victoria was one of just a few boys outnumbered by the girls in the Young Rider Championship. Sam Rode his 'Isle of Rahn' for tenth place in the final Qualifier to finish in 20th place overall.

Well-known and successful Young Rider, Danielle Butcher, rode her 'HP Landsong' to fifth place in the final ISS Australia Young Rider Qualifier. Danielle finished in 13th place overall on the Australian Young Rider Championship leader board.

Queensland rider, Phillip Knight was in both the Junior and Young Rider Championships. Phillip is pictured riding 'Beach Girl' that placed third in the final ISS Australian Young Rider Qualifier and was tenth overall. Phillip was also sixth overall in the Canberra Motor Works Junior Championship riding 'Zanimo'.

NSW Young Rider, Coco Miles put in some impressive performances with her relatively new, 'Candle'. The promising combination finished in 13th place overall in the ISS Australia Australian Young Rider Championship.

Another successful Queensland rider, Samantha Courtice rode her 'KS Patches' to eighth place in the final ISS Young Rider Qualifier and was 12th overall in the Championship standings.

Hilary Scott with her lovely imported mare, 'Oaks Miss Scarlett' in beautiful form over this triple bar during the final ISS Young Rider Qualifier. They placed ninth in the class and were fourth overall in the Championship standings. Hillary was also ninth riding the promising 'Oaks Altes'.

Greer Butcher rode her 'Twins Pocket Watch' with consistency to take overall 11th place in the ISS 2008 Australian Young Rider Championships.

Victorian rider Steven Hill was the best placed of the boys in the ISS Young Rider Championships. He rode 'Kelstar' to fifth place overall in the 2008 Young Rider Championships.

Jade Knight and 'Lunar Image' improved as the show progressed. They were sixth in the tough third ISS Young Rider Championship Qualifier and finished in 19th place overall.

Hayley Coman, now resident on the Mornington Peninsular in Victoria, proved what can be done by beautiful riding and a home grown horse. Hayley jumped a wonderful double clear to win the final ISS Young Rider Qualifier riding Scot Keach's 'Just Lately'. (And yes the horse did do a bit of eventing). The former National Junior Champion finished third overall in the Young Rider Championships.

No Nakita Misner from the Southern Highlands has not suffered a serious gear malfunction. The young rider rode her imported Warmblood mare, 'Naromine' to win the Cosmorex Coffee bareback Challenge. Nakita and 'Naromine' are pictured in great form jumping the 1.70m rising oxer. Nakita was more surprised than anyone, claiming that she has never ridden the mare bareback and never jumped that high with her.

Wendy Schaeffer had nothing short of a sensational weekend. She is pictured riding 'Koyuna Sunset' that jumped four and clear for third place in the final ACT Insulation Services Senior Australian Championship Qualifier. Wendy was seventh overall with the mare and not, this one is not an eventer. However, 'Koyuna Sun Magic', sixth overall, is a very well performed international eventer, and will be competing in the Adelaide Four Star Three Day Event in just a few weeks.

Popular Queensland rider, Billy Raymont finished 13 overall in the ACT Insulation Services Australian Senior Championships riding 'KG Ampolla' (pictured). Billy was also eighth overall riding the Thoroughbred, 'Stardom'.

Newly crowned NSW Senior Showjumping Champions, Jamie Grant and 'The Player' finished the ACT Insulation Services Senior Australian Championships in 12th place.

Jamie Winning was in both the Young Rider and Senior Australian Championship competition. She demonstrated her great potential riding the charming and talented and yes, imported Alcatraz gelding, 'Yandoo Vangelo' to claim the ACT Insulation Services Senior Australian Championship Runner Up award. Jamie was equal sixth and eight in the ISS Young Rider Championships.

David Robertson and his Imperial Seal Thoroughbred gelding, 'Sharpe Seal', make light work of this wide 1.50m oxer during the final ACT Insulation Services Senior Championship Qualifier. The experienced pair jumped four and clear to take fourth place in the tough final competition and were equal third overall in the Championship standings.

Over the course of the weekend Shannon O'Meara (pictured with Emily Blinkworth) had his float containing all his gear stolen from the showgrownds. During Friday night someone literally hitched up the float and drove away with it. The jumping fraternity have contributed generously to getting Shannon back on the road. Emily Blinkworth, who won a Pessoa Jumping Saddle, donated by Canberra Saddleworld, as part of her Young Rider Championship prize, generously gave the saddle to Shannon to literally help him get back on his horses. It is to be hoped details of the stolen float and equipment will be posted on the Horse Deals website shortly.