Hailey Strydom Crowned 2020 Jr. President’s Cup Champion

After an exciting week of showjumping at the 18th running of the President’s Cup show at Maple Ridge, a strong field of Junior riders took to a testing 1.35m track design by FEI 3* Kate Launder to decide the overall winner of the Jr title.

Ahead of Sunday’s competition, the level of riding had been high, with two competitive classes in the build-up. The first leg of the title was held over 1.30m in an A2-format event – one round against the clock. Hailey Strydom, coached by top local rider Nicola Sime-Riley, got her show off on the right foot on Locarno Cosmopolitan, taking victory in an exciting class. Second place went to Kelly du Plessis riding Cincinati. Jeanne Celliers picked up the final podium spot in 3rd riding Chakita.

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The second leg of the event followed a traditional competition format, one round with a jump-off for equality of penalties in first place. Yet another exciting competition had seven places on offer, but when all the riders had gone through the finish beams, it was Jeanne Celliers and Chakita who came out on top, with Hailey Strydom and Locarno Cosmopolitan finishing second and Cincinati finishing third with Kelly du Plessis.

With the same three riders placing in the first two competitions, they came into the final round of the Jr. President’s Cup, sponsored by Impangele Logistics, without any penalties brought forward from the two preceding legs. Micayla Powell would be another rider to watch, having incurred a single time fault in the days ahead of the final. An exciting first round (the 1.35m final took place over two full rounds), saw the riders present in reverse order of merit.

Zandi Alcock and Favour The Bold, who came into the competition on 4 penalties, rode a faultless first round, as did Micayla and Conventional, placing the pressure on the three highest qualifiers. The pressure resulted in both Chakita and Cincinati pulling a rail each, while Hailey and Cosmopolitan managed to hold their composure to come home clear once again.

The second round proved equally exciting. Zandi Alcock once again delivered a clear, finishing on 4 penalties, joined by Jeanne Celliers/Chakita and Kelly du Plessis/Cincinati. Micayla and Callaho Conventional had an opportunity to usurp some of the higher qualifiers, but a rail down early on the course saw them finish on 5 penalties across all legs of the Cup. Last to ride, Hailey Strydom and Locarno Cosmopolitan maintained their composure, and claimed the victory in spectacular fashion, delivering the only faultless round across all three events to be crowned 2020 Jr. President’s Cup Champions.

Kelly du Plessis’ great pace ensured she claimed second place as the quickest four faulter, while Favour The Bold and Zandi Alcock – who came into the final with an outside shot – took home third place. Fourth place was awarded to Jeanne Celliers and Chakita, and fifth to Micayla Powell and Callaho Conventional.

-The JumpOff-

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