Top riders jump for top prizes at Shoalhaven

Shoalhaven Showjumping Club Inc played host to over 130 equestrian riders and their accompanying 350 horses as the Inaugural Berry First National Showjumping Championships took place in NSW on Sunday.

Over 350 rounds of showjumping took place throughout the day from an impressive line up of riders including Olympians Vicki Roycroft and Jamie Coman, Australian representatives Chris Chugg and Colleen Brook, along with other local and interstate riders. Over $10,000 in cash and prizes was distributed throughout classes varying in heights from 60 cm to 1.3 metres, including each class winner being lucky enough to win a new watch, thanks to Guess watches.

The highlight of the day was the ‘Snug Rug Saddlery 1.3m class’ which made for spectacular viewing. There were over 25 riders vying to win. However, Amanda Madigan rode ‘T.P Gifted’ to first place, followed by Chris Chugg on Vivant, who was the winner of the World Cup Qualifier held at Dapto Show in January. Young rider Hilary Scott picked up 3rd place on ‘Oakes Cool Bananas’.

Olympian Vicky Roycroft dominated the ‘Saddleworld 1.2 metre class’ as she collected both 1st and 2nd place from the field of 70, on ‘Ricardo D’ and ‘Alohiza’ respectively. Elite Eventing rider Chris Burton took out 3rd place in this class on ‘Ari De Gwahir’.

Sam Lyle, an export of the region who is now based in Cessnock, came back to his home turf to show the talent this area produces. He beat nearly 100 other combinations to win the ‘Splitrock water 1.15 metre’ on ‘Classic Mischief’. Young rider Greer Butcher picked up 2nd, while Amanda Madigan added another success to her win by taking 3rd.

Elizabeth Koob, from Wilberforce, won the Huckleberry Home 85cm class. She nearly added two wins to her day but had to settle for a second when she was beaten by twelve-year-old Sarah Curtis riding ‘Sky High’ in The Emporium Food Company 75cm class.

Shoalhaven Showjumping Club Inc members had a successful day with three of them winning three of the eight classes and others collecting a number of places throughout the day. Junior rider Sophie Miller, won the ‘Horsepower 1.05m class’ riding the talented ‘Gilmore Rockafella’. Another junior member, Taylor Hooten won the ‘Star Park International 60 cm class’. While member Carly Le Mesurier won the ‘Matt Sperring Personal Training 95cm class’ on ‘Penrose Sundance’.

“This was a great way to start off the club’s year, especially with the success of our members. We hold training days every fortnight or so which allows local riders to come and practice their showjumping skills under the eye of a qualified instructor. We welcome new members to come along and join our growing club,” said Mr Simon Kale, Event Organiser.

“We would like to thank all the sponsors of the day without which it could not have been such a success. Sponsors were extremely generous with all riders kept well hydrated with free water from Splitrock (Natural Spring Water), winners received Guess Watches and placegetters received cash and equestrian product from Animal Care Supplies, Equestworld and Saddleworld. We are looking forward to next years Event,” said Mr Kale.

Results
Snug Rug Saddlery 1.30m Class
1. Amanda Madigan on TP Gifted
2. Chris Chugg on Vivant
3. Hilary Scott on Cool Bananas

Saddleworld 1.20m Class
1. Vicky Roycroft on Ricardo D
2. Vicky Roycroft on Alohiza
3. Chris Burton on Ari De Gwahir

Splitrock 1.15m Class
1. Sam Lyle on Classic Mischief
2. Greer Butcher on Flowervale Concorde
3. Amanda Madigan on DB Everquest

Horsepower 1.05m Class
1. Sophie Miller on Gilmore Rockafella
2. Elizabeth Koob on SS Streamer
3. Sheriden Manuel on Apache Cat

Matt Sperring Personal Training 95cm Class
1. Carly Le Mesurier on Penrose Sundance
2. Lee Hocking on Jubilee Jardore
3. Courtney Hill on BP Misty

Huckleberry Home 85cm Class
1. Elizabeth Koob on Silver Hollywood Charge
2. Amy VanDerSanden on Bamborough Camilla
3. Mikhaela Grey on Bimbi High Doc

The Emporium Food Company 75cm Class
1. Sarah Curtis on Sky High
2. Elizabeth Koob on Silver Hollywood Charge
3. Sophie Miller on Glenkirra Lace

Star Park International 60cm
1. Taylor Hooten on Jag Chicane
2. Sophie Miller on Glenkirra Lace
3. Kelly Slater on Oliver Twist

Oct. 27th 06: U.S. Player Jason Crowder wins in Australia. Results and News

News from Scone Polo Club - Source NSW Polo Association Newsletter

Jason Crowder, a 5-goal pro from the United States, is currently competing in Australia. He played on the Sydney Polo and Country Club team and won the Hector King Tournament trophy. Rob Ballard, a 4-goal Australian pro, was also on his team. Rob played here in the U.S. last winter at the Eldorado Polo Club in Indio, CA.

Sydney Polo and Country Club defeated Jemalong to win the Hector King Trophy, the NSWPA’s 10 goal Club Championship.

All of the games – especially the final, were exciting. It see-sawed up until the last chukker. Tony Ryan was the key to Sydney’s ultimate win and Rob Ballard displayed some of his special magic scoring two spectacular goals in the last chukker putting Sydney out of harm’s way. Jemalong was right up there all the way. Andrew Williams was consistently excellent and worked relentlessly. It could have gone either way but ultimately Sydney got the better of Jemalong to take home the prestigious Hector King Trophy.

NSWPA Hector King Tournament Results

Hector King Trophy was won by Sydney Polo and Country Club
P Higgins 1, R Ballard 4, J. Crowder 5, T Ryan 0

Millamolong won the King Family Trophy:
J Ashton 0, M Lillyman 4, G Lee 5, W Ashton 1

Pentacle Property won B Grade:
J Burkitt 0, E Matties 2, A Williams 4, M Anderson -2

Killarney won C Grade:
G Birrell 0, T Ryan 0, R McCarthy 3, N Brown -1

Three horses belonging to Peter Higgin’s and ridden by Rob Ballard won the Pony Prize.

Ian McDuie sent this news from the Scone Annual Tournament.

Fourteen teams competed in four grades for the Annual Scone Polo Club Tournament on the weekend and it attracted a good crowd of spectators in fine spring weather.

Teams from the home club performed well, winning the finals of the three lower grades, but when it came to the A Grade final for the coveted Macintyre Cup, it was Wirragulla, from the lower Hunter at Dungog, and the Sydney Polo Club teams who faced up in a thrilling final.

With the score at 9 all when the final bell rang, the teams went into a sudden-death extra chukka, with Wirragulla scoring from the first play to take out the 2006 Trophy.

Captain Jock Mackay won the Mistral Trophy for champion playing pony with his homebred mare Fancy, while the Haydon Trophy for champion team of ponies went to Scone captain Rob Archibald with his team of Blush, Bronze and Tonic.

Wirragulla Tournament Results
Jaime Mackay writes: The Wirragulla Tournament was a great success with 8 teams playing. The Mackay Cup was won by Wirragulla: Jock Mackay, Julie McIntosh, Joe Curran, Mal Moffat.

The defeated Sydney Polo and Country Club 7 goals to 5 1/2.

The Sydney team was:
Peter Higgins, Greg Ballard, Rob Ballard & Andrew Doyle.

The B Grade was won by Scone B defeating Scone C, 7 goals to 4 1/2. Scone B players: Jack Archibald, Henry Bell, Ed Archibald, James Archibald.

North Star Tournament Results
Simon Doolin, President of North Star Polo Club writes with his Club’s Annual Tournament results:

A Grade final: Salvage -5 VS. North Star -4, Richard Doolin scoring 3 goals & Morgan Ruig scoring 2 goals

A Grade losers final: Beersheba -10 VS. Gunnedah -8.5, W. Glennie scoring 4 goals, J.Daniels scoring 2 goals

B Grade final: Gold Coast -7 VS. North Star 2 -6, R. Rawlings scoring 7 goals

B Grade loser final: Downs 1-14 VS. Downs 2- 6.5, T Houston Scoring 6 goals
Best and Fairest awarded to Richard Doolin

UPCOMING EVENTS IN OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2006

OCTOBER

Sat 21 and Sun 22 Archibald-Cudmore Trophy, 6 Goal Championship at ‘Ellerston’, Scone
Sat 21 and Sun 22 Riverlands 4 Goal at Riverlands Polo Club, Richmond and Bentley Cup 10-12 goal at Sydney Polo and Country Club
Sun 21 - Sun 29 Ellerston Spring Trophy, 16 Goal at ‘Ellerston’, Scone
Sat 28 and Sun 29 Folly Lodge 6 goal Tournament, Tourist Road, Glenquarry, near Bowral, Southern Highlands
Sat 28 and Sun 29 Archibald-Cudmore Trophy, 6 Goal Championship at ‘Ellerston’, Scone.

NOVEMBER

Sat 4 - Sun 12 Melbourne Cup International Tournament at Werribee Park
Sat 4 and Sun 5 Jemalong Tournament, Forbes
Sat 11 and Sun 12 Riverlands Ladies International
Sat 18 and Sun 19 Millamolong Tournament, including State of Origin

Drought Update

Despite all the good news, polo is having a tough spring due to the ongoing drought. Two of our Clubs, Garangula in the south and Timor in the north, have cancelled tournaments scheduled for November.