McDermott wins Sheppaton CSI-W

Tom McDermott and SL Limerick

Both combinations were on equal standing following the completion of the first round and clear rounds from both in the second put the faster of the two on top. McDermott’s second round time of 50.26 was considerably faster than Kermond’s 52.13 handing the Australian young rider champion his first World Cup victory for 2013.

South Australian Tim Clarke and his grey mare Caltango had eight jumping penalties in the first round but a clear second round saw them end the day in third place overall.

Following his second place at this event, Australian show jumping champion Kermond has now taken the lead in the overall race for the 2013 Australian League of the FEI World Cup Jumping series. He has a handy 22 point buffer between Billy Raymont and McDermott who are tied on 84 points.

In the race for the Golden Grand, which is awarded to the best performed horse of the season, Tim Clarke’s Caltango is in pole position but with just 10 points separating the top five horses, this year’s crown will come down to the wire.

Riders now head to Sale for the penultimate leg of the 2013 Australian series before converging on the venue of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games for the annual curtain closing event, the much anticipated Summer Classic.