Friday’s 40mm of rain, although well received by local farmers in Victoria’s drought stricken area, gave course designer David Sheppard a huge task to completely redesign the World Cup course and use as much new footing as possible.  The efforts of the course designer and organising committee to prepare the arena and make such good sport for spectators and riders alike are to be congratulated.

Becky Allen of Arthurs Creek was the runner up riding Koyuna Ted, the pair actually jumping all fences clear, an extra pull on the reins following the water jump at number seven meant a quick circle to regroup and four penalties added.  

Veteran Vicki Roycroft of Mt White placed third riding Infatuation, jumping a super faultless first round and four penalties in the jump off at fence eight the 1.56m rustic vertical.

Julia Hargreaves of Wilberforce finished fourth riding Hayman Pierville, jumping a super first round and just the back rail down at the triple bar on fence five in the jump off to finish on four penalties with time deciding the placing.   Girls taking the first four placing’s.

Queenslander Billy Raymont finished fifth riding Stardom on four penalties in a slower time and Adam Mellers of Beau Desert was sixth riding the stallion Animate on eight penalties.

Winner Jamie Winning commented at the prize giving ceremony “I would like to thank the organising committee for there efforts to make a great class. Thank you to my mother and grand mother, all my supporters and most of all my horse”.

Class favourite Chris Chugg of Glossodia riding Vivant incurred eight penalties with a rail down at fence two a 1.47m yellow vertical, a foot in the 3.7m open water at number seven meant they did not qualify for the second round.  Queenslander Clem Smith riding Dark Ages has won two qualifiers this season, three rails down on Saturday left them well out of the placing’s.  Points leader on the overall Australian World Cup standing’s, Amy Graham of South Australia incurred 16 penalties riding the grey Transatlantic when she had rails down at both parts of the combination fence four, then a foot in the water at seven causing another fault at fence eight.  Melbourne Royal winner Wendy Schaeffer riding the brown mare Koyuna Sun Set jumped clear in the first round, rails down at the rustic vertical and the triple bar in the second round dropped them to 7^th placing.  Queenslander Paula Hamood jumped a super clear round one riding Randlab Capone, two rails down in the jump off meant 9^th placing.

David Sheppard set a testing track of 11 fences and 13 jumping efforts, the related line of five strides from the open water jump at number seven to the rustic vertical at number eight causing penalties from 14 of the 23 starters.  Notable combinations Australian Olympic team member Laurie Lever of Somerville and Paul Athanasoff of Dungog elected not to start their horses on the rain affected footing.

The class was sponsored by the event organisers, the Northern Victorian Showjumping Club and $5,100 in prize money.  A total of 400 horses competed in the three day jumping festival, the 24^th Shepparton World Cup Qualifier.

Following the 11^th Australian Jumping World Cup qualifying round at Shepparton Amy Graham leads the standings on 83 points just one point ahead of Clem Smith.  Julia Hargreaves hold 3^rd on 76 points and Jamie Winning has moved into 4^th position on 65 points.  Adam Mellers is on 58 points and Wendy Schaeffer on 56.  The next three rounds will be held at Wodonga, Equitana and Sale all in Victoria and will have a major bearing on who qualifies to represent Australia at the 2009 FEI Jumping World Cup Qualifier in Las Vegas next April.