South Australians jump to it as season kicks off
Updated: Mar 27
THE South Australian show jumping season is underway with events organised by local jumping clubs and the Agricultural Show Society of South Australia starting around the state.
Mount Pleasant Agricultural Show, this year in its 160th year, is always well supported by the SA showjumping fraternity.
Run at the Talunga Park Recreation Reserve, 65km north-east of Adelaide on the southern edge of the Barossa Valley, the show draws people from both city and country areas.
The showgrounds moved to the site in 1976 and features a very large, modern pavilion, recently developed caravan park facilities and excellent arena side seating for spectators, which always attracts large crowds of show attendees to the show jumping.
Talunga Park is often regarded as one of best jumping surfaces in the state and regularly plays host to the South Australia Show Jumping Championships as well as other equestrian events.
The main ring at Mount Pleasant Show this year catered for horses jumping at 90cm up to 1.40m, while ring two catered for the unofficial height classes from 50cm up to 1m.
GALLERY
(Click any image to expand)
The main arena saw some excellent performances with many of the classes being won by regular supporters of the agricultural shows.
Adam Metcalfe rode Peter and Janine Graham’s GPH Jane to take honours in the open 115cm.
Kym Mosey rode his home-bred mare Essoess to win the Susan Munro Cup in the open 125cm class.
The Marshall Soper Memorial Trophy junior championship was taken out for the second year running by Ella Manning riding her own mare, Oaks Be Sweet.
The 140cm Marshall Soper Memorial Senior Championship was won by SL Donato ridden by Anthony Thomas.
In a tragic turn of events this win would be SL Donato’s last.
Unfortunately, “Victor”, as SL Donato was more affectionately known, developed a case of colitis in the days following the show and despite being rushed to the Roseworthy Veterinary Equine Facility passed away the following day.
Victor was a gentle, grey giant who was always a crowd favourite at local jumping events and will be sadly missed by many.
Continuing on from Mount Pleasant on Sunday, many riders travelled on to Mallala Equestrian Centre for the John and Rae Brice Memorial Show, after it was postponed due to hot weather the weekend before.
Hosted by Tim and Michelle Clark, the event was run under a shortened schedule to avoid clashing with Mount Pleasant Show.
The championship classes were run on a beautifully prepared outdoor grass arena and with challenging tracks designed by Leanne Bruggeman, they provided some excellent jumping.
It was a weekend for the ladies with some of the state’s best female riders taking out all five championship classes.
Briony Temby, having recently taken the reins on Jeff Evan’s Fieldbrook Havana, took out a narrow win in the 1m ivory championship.
After just missing the first class, Nicole Manuel secured first and second in the bronze championship riding Equine Affair Burlesque and Jeff Evans’ Tulara Collette respectively.
The junior “Gold Cup” was won by Shae Tweddle riding the very handy paint, Glenshea Riverdance.
Holly Bolzon and BPH Alresco scored a last-minute win before heading off to Dancing and Jumping with the Stars winning the silver championship.
Finally, Briony Temby book-ended the day by following her win in the first class with a win in the senior “Gold Cup” championship riding her own El Diablo.
Many of the SA riders are now in their lead up to the South Australian Show Jumping Championships to be run at Talunga Park, Mt Pleasant in late April.
GALLERY
(Click any image to expand)
All images MANNING PHOTOGRAPHY
Results
Stories on The Regional’s website are free to read and always will be.
If you enjoyed this article you can show your support by joining our mailing list (either by filling out the form below or sending us a message).
We'd also get very excited if you put a "like" on our Facebook page.
Comments