Photos by Noel Rowsell
AUSTRALIAN showjumping history was made on Saturday, when Cody Tincknell and Si Si Strike won Australia’s inaugural FEI U25 2* Grand Prix of Jumping at Kurri Burri Polo Club, producing the fastest of three double-clear performances to take the title.
Top 12 – 1. Cody Tincknell & Si Si Strike; 2. Joel Lamb & Glenara Lord Bollinger; 3. Molly Moffatt & Lazarus GNZ; 4. Charlie Magnier & I’m Here; 5. Alexander Jang & Four Roses 13; 6. Hannah Doolan & Tulara Lady Zirocca; 7. Jack Barker & Cornets Prinzess; 8. Kelly Bridgland & Showtym Burrow; 9. Anneliese Wansey & Texas; 10. Liam Rutland & Glenara Chartelle M; 11. Joel Lamb & Eagle Rock; 12. Zoe Willis & Koko Dusty FPH.
A spokesperson for the Sydney Jumping Association said, “A significant step forward for Australia’s young riders who, for the very first time, had the opportunity to earn FEI Longines Ranking points on home soil. Congratulations to all combinations who contested this historic first running.”
Phillip Lever and Billionaire NZHP won Sunday’s $20,000 Kurri Burri 1.50m Grand Prix, delivering a sub 46-second double-clear to take the feature class of the weekend.
From 35 combinations, seven jumped clear to progress to the jump off, but it came down to a battle between Phil Lever and Chris Chugg, as the only two combinations to leave every rail standing twice.
Lever and Billionaire NZHP stopped the clock at 45.98 seconds, with Chris Chugg and Cristallina finishing second in 47.19, ahead of Jeremy Whale and Kingslea Centrose rounding out the podium in third. A fitting finish to three days of Jumping at Kurri Burri.
A spokesperson for the SJA said, “We knew they’d (Phillip Lever and Billionaire NZHP) be the ones to beat, but first out in a Grand Prix jump off is never an easy draw.
Phillip and Billionaire had no one to chase and no time to measure themselves against, so they simply set the standard. A clear (round) in 45.98 seconds put the pressure firmly on the six combinations still to come, and ultimately, nobody could catch them.
“They’re not back-to-back Showcase Grand Prix champions for nothing. Now, Phil Lever and Billionaire NZHP add the $20,000 Kurri Burri Grand Prix to their record.”
Top Seven – Phillip Lever and Billionaire NZHP, 2nd Chris Chugg and Cristilina, 3rd Jeremy Whale and Kingslea Centrose, tied 4th Katie Meredith and Sapphire SSNZ, tied 4th Emma Collins and Oaks Abracadabra, 6th Tess McInerney and Quintation, 7th Alexander Jang and Parallax SCF.
