Age no hurdle for evergreen Hughes and Yakity Yak.
Grant Hughes took out the quinella riding Yakity Yak and Blackall Park Atlantis in the 2014 ActewAGL Canberra Cup on Sunday afternoon.
Hughes stamped his authority over the Brad Longhurst designed track, producing a clear first round with his partner of 11 years, the 19 year old Yakity Yak, and just one time penalty with his consistent ride Blackall Park Atlantis.
The first round of competition saw two other clears from Deon Williams, of Bega, and Anigrey and local rider Jamie Grant and the talented Chintaria. Williams has recently returned to the competition arena after sustaining life threatening injuries from a horror fall, but demonstrated that he has lost none of his talent over a bigger track.
All riders returned for the second round with the first clear coming from Emily Mann from Sydney and Yandoo Spotnik NZPH, Mann has recently finished her year 12 HSC and produced a polished, smooth ride in one of her first Grand Prix competitions.
The second clear came from the stylish young professional rider Will Mathews, of the Central Coast, who made the track look effortless with his scopey chestnut gelding Master Footloose.
The pressure was on the last three riders on zero penalties, it was not the second round Jamie Grant would have hoped for with his young mare Chintaria, but she showed huge promise for a successful future at Grand Prix level.
Williams and Anigrey set off at a blistering pace and looked to really put the pressure on Hughes but a late rail meant that it was down to Hughes to seal the victory. Yakity Yak and Hughes showed their consummate professionalism and cruised around the course in an effortless clear to steal the win and produce the only double clear round of the class.
Hughes’ influence across the jumping community in the Canberra region was clearly on display, with his own success as well as his incredible influence as a coach and mentor to many of the regions riders.
ActewAGL Cup Grand Prix
- Grant Hughes on Yakity Yak
- Grant Hughes on Blackall Park Atlantis
- Deon Williams on Anigrey
- William Mathews on Master Footloose
- Emily Mann on Yandoo Sptnix NZHP
The ACT Show jumping Cup meet organised by the ACTSJ club ran across three rings of competition from x- rails to 1.40m in the picturesque grounds of Equestrian Park Canberra. Drawing on the generosity of local business and hard working volunteers and ring sponsors the ActewAGL cup competition was both competitor and horse friendly. Ring 1 saw support from Horseland, the course design by Brad Longhurst and judged by Michel Archer, the Horsezone ring 2 was built by Greg Vella and judged by Anne Sheehan and in the Barastoc ring 3, Anthony Hassel designed with judging by Tom Allen and Gregory Calder . The wonderful commentary by Kay Johnson and Steph Davies and media interest from WIN TV and the Canberra Times kept everyone well informed and entertained. Peter Core, Peter Dingwall and the committee are to be congratulated, the grounds had been tirelessly prepared, watered and aerated to ensure good footing and the warm up rings were well managed. Both junior and seniors sections had overall champions and a special ACTSJC trophy for those over a certain age was keenly contested in ring 3 won by the lovely Lisa Mackintosh. For full results visit https://www.facebook.com/actshowjumpingclub
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