Australian Jumpers Still Riding High at Tryon

The World Equestrian Games may be over, but the action hasn’t stopped at Tryon International Equestrian Center, USA. A couple of Australian show jumpers were very much a part of the action during the FEI $384,000 CSI5* Grand Prix, 1.60m class held on Saturday.

38-year-old Rowan Willis was aboard his super zippy chestnut mount Blue Movie, also owned and trained by Willis, back for more after their recent campaign at WEG.  

Rider and horse gave it everything on the night, but unfortunately had a rail down and thus 4 faults at the very last fence.

Scott ‘Scotty’ Keach was also one of the contenders, aboard his 13-year-old bay gelding Fedor. Luck wasn’t on his side, and 53-year-old Keach also had one unfortunate rail, at the first part of the triple.

Time was getting on and no one had yet ridden a clear round, it looked as though Willis and Keach may have ended up in a jump off together, along with the other 12 riders each with 4 faults. But before the competition was done, three clear rounds were had between the last four riders, the jump off between these riders determining final top three placings.

Willis’s 12-year-old mare, affectionately known as ‘Carrots’, did however produce the fastest time of the class, speeding like a red bullet around the floodlit arena, the duo finishing 4^th overall and claiming their share of the prize purse.

Keach and Fedor kept it together for the rest of the round, ending up with just 4 faults and finishing in a respectable 9^th place overall.