A jam-packed November kicks off with the 2020 edition of the annual Burlington Cup, running from the 4th to the 8th of the month. Ahead of the highly anticipated event, we take a look at the history and previous winners, as well as those who could be in with a shot at victory this year.
History of the Burlington Cup
Business partners and owners of Burlington Stables, David Wilken and Anne-Marie Esslinger, have both successfully competed at the highest levels of showjumping in South Africa, investing in the sport by offering up their home base as the host of regular shows. Burlington Stables, located in Sun Valley, Midrand, also plays host once a year to the Burlington Cup.
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Once hosted as a national status event, the Burlington Cup may now only be registered as a provincial show, but the support from both riders and sponsors has grown to even greater heights in recent years, attracting the best riders in South Africa. The original competition was a true test of rider ability as the top four riders had to swap horses and jump a testing 1.45/1.50m track on not just one, but multiple unfamiliar partners to see who came away with the fewest penalties. But while this was incredibly exciting to watch, it posed a number of issues, and so the Cup changed its format to a more traditional one round competition with a jump-off, all on your own horse.
2020’s Prospective Winners
This year, 36 riders have provisionally entered the Burlington Cup class, of which only the top 32 will be eligible to compete in the main event. Brett Webber, an FEI 2* course designer, will be returning once again to put the riders through their paces of five days of competition in order to crown the winner. Among the entrants, a number of past winners have all returned and will be looking to secure victory once more, including the most recent winner of the title, Jonathan Clarke, who last year claimed victory on Data Sciences Enouche RK for Slade Equestrian.
Others who will be looking to reclaim the title as their own include Oliver Bishop and RNR Belvedere, the KZN based duo who formerly won the competition in 2017, while Chris van der Merwe, a former two-time winner in 2013 and 2016 on Domino Van Der Boswinning and Capital Castigo, respectively, brings both rides along to this year’s event. Capital Don Costello, the winning horse of the 2018 Burlington Cup is also entered, but this time around, it’ll be KZN-based Colin Ferreira in the saddle in place of owner, Ian Van Schalkwyk, currently recovering from a leg injury which has seen him sidelined for more than a year.
But along with the old guard, a whole host of new blood will be looking to lay hands on the coveted trophy. Fresh off an incredible run of form at the Gauteng Championships, Charley-Ann Crockart will be looking to add yet another feather in her cap after a successful year thus far, with The Burgh’s Epomein looking to be a formidable contestant at these heights.
Simon Hendry and Erreplus Casper are yet another fearsome combination listed to take part that can never be ruled out: cool, calm, and collected, but deceptively quick against the clock and always hungry for victory. Likewise, Ronnie Healy will fancy his chances, as this year he rides not just Blue Turtle Catweazle, but also Hausberger’s Eldo for wife, Ashlee, on whom he racked up a fifth-place finish in the President’s Cup just this past weekend. With a strong run of form and a wicked competitive streak that has seen Ronnie take a step on the podium numerous times, this could be the year he takes the win.
Of course, with the high standard of jumping in the country, on the day it could be any one of our top riders that takes top honours, but as always, The JumpOff will bring you all the action as it happens.
-The JumpOff-
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