Show Report: 2020 Gauteng Champs

With the conclusion of another fantastic showjumping weekend,  we have a look back on the highlights of an exciting Gauteng Champs. 

The 2020 iteration of this event took place at Kyalami Equestrian Park with classes starting on Wednesday the 30th September and concluded with the main event on Sunday the 4th of October in the Bob Charter arena. Dressed beautifully with the banners of the various sponsors and the tracks designed by Kate Launder,  the Bob Charter shone in all it’s glory as competitors readied themselves for exciting championship classes. 

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Saturday saw the RNR-sponsored 1.30m championship take place with 80 entrants vying for the win. 

With several new partnerships competing, it was an exciting class with amazing pace, tight turns, and mere split seconds between the top few places. 

In the end,  the podiums were occupied by Tracy Davids on the seasoned campaigner Blakeney Boy in 3rd,  Jason Phillips on Carolyn van Schalkwyk’s Callaho For Amigo in 2nd, and in the top Spot, Kelly O’Connor riding the spectacular Capital Moonlight. 

The main day then drew upon us. Three exciting championships to be won by over 100 hopefuls and with the tracks set, the live stream in full swing and the riders rearing to go, the began with the RNR 1.35m Championship.  All the regulars appeared and it was anyone’s class for the taking but with the last horse through the finish of the jump off, the podiums were decided. 

3rd place went to the always-on-form Jonathan Clarke and his wonderful 8yr-old mare,  Callaho Conny Vella. 2nd place was clinched by the Back On Track sponsored horse and rider combination of Sheldon and Rainer Korber, with the win going to way of the in-form Charley-Ann Crockart riding The Burgh’s Divalta. 

The Gauteng Showjumping-sponsored 1.40m Championship was yet another class filled with excitement and fast paced talent. 

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The new combination of Capital Chantilly and Nicole Horwood impressed all as they jumped their way to 3rd place in a time of 50.76 while Dominey Alexander and the always-competitive Catinio pipped Nicole into 2nd in 47.08 seconds. 

The winner,  once again, was Charley-Ann Crockart, this time on The Burgh’s Bibi Blocksburg with an incredible gallop to the last to take the win in 44.63 seconds. 

The final class of the day,  the big one! The best of the best, the most talented, the class to crown the 2020 Gauteng Champion! 

With only 5 clears from the first round, the jump off was set to be rivetting. First to go, the golden girl of South African Showjumping, Lisa Williams attempted an inside turn that although successful, did not seem to give her a time advantage as she came home in a time of 44.74 seconds to receive 4th place. Next to go was Simon Hendry on Simon Burn’s Erreplus Casper who, with an early rail down,  slowed up to come home in 43.24 and finish in 5th place. 

3 riders left to go, 3 incredibly speedy riders left to go.

In rode Nicole Horwood on Mark White Nissan’s Capital Hitoshi, a plan in mind and the talent to execute it. With consistent speed, an unbelievably smooth turn back to the 2nd last fence, and a gallop to the last, Nicole went through the finish in 40.99 seconds. 

Next, Ronnie Healy riding the very careful and athletic, Blue Turtle Catweazle. 

Dropping strides and pulling off the turns, Ronnie galloped home to a time of 44.32 seconds. 

Last to go would be Charley-Ann Crockart. A win in the class would complete her hatrick for the day. 

She started with great vigour,  dropping strides,  turning tight and urging The Burgh’s Epomein to gallop to the last fence. Through the finish in 41.29 seconds… 0.31 seconds too slow. 

The last class eluded Charley as Nicole Horwood on Mark White Nissan’s Capital Hitoshi took the win in spectacular fashion with a foot-perfect jump-off round to be crowned the 2020 1.45m Gauteng Champions. 

-Rider of the Weekend-

Special mention has to go to Charley-Ann Crockart who was in spectacular form, taking the win in 5 of her 6 open classes and finishing 2nd in the final 1.45m Gauteng Championship.  

On her The Burgh Equestrian-owned rides,  Divalta, Bibi Blocksburg, and Epomein,  Charley-Ann was untouchable in her 1.30m, 1.35m and 1.40m A2 classes, respectively.  Each horse then went up a respective height to have Divalta win the RNR-sponsored 1.35m Championship, Bibi Blockburg winning the Gauteng Showjumping-sponsored 1.40m Championship and Epomein finishing 2nd in a very competitive 1.45m Championship. 

With Charley-Ann’s current hot run of form, she could once again be the rider to beat at the up coming Presidents Cup hosted by Maple Ridge. 

For the full results from the Bob Charter as well as the results from the other classes,  head over to the Gauteng Showjumping Facebook page. 

-The JumpOff-

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