Show Report: FEI World Jumping Challenge Leg 3

The final leg of the South African series of the FEI World Jumping Challenge drew to a close in a highly competitive fashion on the last Saturday of November at Kyalami Equestrian Park. With the completion of Leg 3, the overall results of the series will be calculated for winners of the South African series and the global rankings will also be announced ahead of the finals in Indonesia in September 2021.

With 77 horses successfully making it through the horse inspection, the horse and rider combinations prepared themselves for the final effort of the World Jumping Challenge over tracks designed by Germany’s Christoph Johnen and built to the specifications by Brett Webber (FEI 2*). 

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The Category A/Gold tour took to the track, built at 1.25m/1.30m, first, with 20 eligible combinations vying for the victory. With the 5 eliminations not eligible to compete in the second round, 15 combinations secured a spot despite only 4 managing to complete the course clear. With a further 2 withdrawals and an elimination in the second round,12 riders raced through the finish beams. Continuing the fine run of form for the yard, the Leg 3 victory was claimed by the Sunny Park Stables rider, Laurin Jean McLaren and Locarno Nandi, clear in 54.07 seconds. 2nd place was claimed by the only other double clear in the class, Amy Hay riding Riven’s Whirlwind while 3rd place was awarded to Ariana Castle riding the Laurence Mowatt-owned Tack ‘n Togs Hillview Paddy who incurred a single time fault in the first round. With a podium position at the 2nd leg, held at Fourways Riding Centre, two weeks ago and their victory at leg 3, Laurin and Nandi have successfully given themselves a fighting chance at topping the overall rankings, at least in South Africa.

The Category B/Silver tour competitors were the next group of riders to take on the internationally designed course set at a height of 1.10m/1.20m as 29 combinations entered the arena for their first round. As the rules indicate that all competitors can compete in the second round regardless of penalties incurred, excluding retirements and eliminations, 27 competitors returned to the competition arena for round 2. As the final combination of Charley-Ann Crockart and Callaho Victory Love crossed the finish beams, the podium positions were decided. Victory was secured by Shea Wright, coached by Rainer Korber, riding her long-time competition partner, Capital Opal, clear in 53.20. 2nd position was secured by Savanna Valjalo riding Captain America and in 3rd, Salome Nel riding Callaho Consina who also claimed a podium position at Leg 2, just two weeks prior.

The final competition and category for the day, Category C/Bronze tour, witnessed 25 combinations make their way into the second round, with the strongest display of showjumping across the 3 categories, including 15 combinations stepping forward with zero penalties. With the final competitors through the finish beams, the podium positions were awarded. Having lost her stirrups for the second half of the first round and still managing a clear, Paige D’araujo and Apollo Grey completed the second round quickest in a time of 50.91 seconds to claim victory in the final leg of the FEI World Jumping Challenge, hosted by KPC. The 2nd position on the podium was claimed by Kaylene Waghorn riding Just Sue and, securing the last available podium, 3rd went to Natasha Muncer riding Saratoga Socrates in a time of 53.63 seconds.

Congratulations to all the competitors who have participated in the FEI World Jumping Challenge throughout the year and good luck to you all as we await the confirmation of the overall results for the provincial, national, and global results.

-The JumpOff-

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