Last weekend was packed with loads of showjumping action across the country: the President’s Cup in Gauteng, the Western Cape Pony Rider Championships, and, of course, the Eastern Cape Showjumping Championships.
The Eastern Cape Championships, hosted by the Port Elizabeth Riding Club on the 23rd-25th October, saw 3 titles claimed across the weekend: the Pony Rider, Junior, and Adult titles. Numerous sponsors, including Reonet, Western Shoppe, and Plett Rage, were on board to support the show organiser, Diane Botes of First For Horses. With tracks designed by Greg Pienaar, the arena looking spectacular with all the equipment laid out, and plenty of trees and plants generously sponsored to the venue, the venue was ready to welcome the province’s top athletes.
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Pony Riders
The pony riders started their hunt for the overall Eastern Cape Championship trophy with 2 warm-up classes on Friday the 23rd of October.
A handicapped 1.10m/1.20m A2 competition would be the first competition for the Pony Riders in the Ken Snodgrass Arena. With incredible speed that only ponies can provide, the class victory was secured by Tara Weise and Beachaven Keegan in the first place prize while Kara Freitag claimed 2nd on her pony, Winter Magic.
The riders then tackled the next class of the day, the 2-phase competition. Run under FEI Article 274.2, it meant that all riders would continue on to the second phase, and the final score would be penalties across both phases and the time of the second. With a single rail down in the first phase and a clear in the second phase, Tara Weise and Beachaven Keegan claimed second place in a time of 23.94, while Hannah Shrosbree on Diamond Pepper would claim victory with the only double clear in the class and a time of 24.93 seconds.
Saturday was a rest day for the top-level ponies with the Pony Riders returning on Sunday for their Dejavu-sponsored championship class: a traditional one round with a jump-off. The height for the final class would be set at 1.10m and with the first round completed, 5 riders made their way forward to the jump-off. After an exciting class with the riders all delivering great pace and tight turns, but with several poles falling, Thomas van Rijckevorsel and Bronwydd Bannut Juniper took 2nd place on the podium with a single rail down in a time of 41.38. The only rider to do better, and the only double clear for the class, Hannah Shrosbree and Diamond Pepper took the victory and claimed the title of Eastern Cape Pony Rider Champion for 2020.
Juniors:
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A weekend of showjumping awaited the Juniors with their first class, the 1.30m/1.35m A2 Competition, taking place on Friday. With 4 entries at this height category, there would be a single place on offer. With 2 clears from the 4 riders, the winner would be decided by their times, and with 64.90 seconds being the quickest, Carah Callaghan claimed victory with her 9-year-old mare Whimsical Gal.
Saturday’s 1.30m 2-phase competition saw the return of Carah Callaghan amongst the pool of competitors hoping to claim a second victory but with the final horse the finish beams, Jorja Rohrich and Blue Steel Equestrian Assegai Cognac would be the pair to claim victory with a time of 27.24 seconds, mere tenths of a second ahead of Carah in second in a time of 27.63 seconds.
Plett Rage joined as the sponsors for the Junior 1.30/135m EC Championship, ensuring the prizes on offer were well worth fighting for. With 4 of the 5 riders navigating the first round successfully, the jump-off is where all the action would happen. In a cruel twist of fate, every rider incurred penalties, leaving no rider an outright winner as had been seen in the PR classes. Carah Callahan, a strong feature throughout the weekend, placed 2nd riding Whimsical girl with a single rail down in a time of 30.83. The only rider to perform better, and the new 2020 Eastern Cape Showjumping Junior Champion, was Jorja Rohrich and her very talented gelding, Blue Steel Equestrian Assegai Cognac.
Adults
The adult competitors would see all three of their competitions take place in the Jock Andrews Arena with top-notch courses by designer, Greg Pienaar. The first of the 3 classes was over a 1.30m A2 competition – one round on time. With 5 competitors making their way through the start, the 2 riders who completed the course clear claimed the 2 available prizes. With a time of 64.39, Cinzia Pasteris and Twister R claimed the number 1 spot, with second being awarded to Lloyd Nicholls and Eagles Cognac in a time of 67.60 seconds.
A 2-phase competition awaited the adults as their second event. Once again, two riders managed to complete the course with zero penalties, but this time it was Lloyd Nicholls and Eagles Cognac who jumped into the top sport with a quick time of 25.79. Second place went the way of Amy Whitehead on the gorgeous grey, Eagles Lasco, in a time of 27.17 seconds
Like all the age categories before them, the warm-up classes would lead them to the final day of competition, the championship, proudly sponsored by Western Shoppe. 4 riders secured a spot in the jump-off but with all said and done and the results tallied, a new face was added to the list of podium-placed riders as AJ Radermacher riding Ebb & Flow Font Count Capri took second place. The winner, and 2020 EC Adult Showjumping Champion was crowned as Amy Whitehead and Eagles Lasco with a double clear in 29.54 seconds.
-The JumpOff-
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