Conditions were sweltering as a strong line-up of 24 riders took on designer Leeson Sirrett’s World Cup showjumping course under lights at the Wodonga Exhibition Centre indoor arena on Saturday, November 8.

And the competiton certainly matched the conditions with a hotly contested battle over a course that was technically challenging and a “great test of rider skills”, according to Border District Showjumping Club media liaison officer Jess Bertram.

More than 2000 people held their breath as most riders and their mounts failed to achieve a clean round.

Timber fell and horses baulked at the demanding course but, as its name suggests, there was no shortage of spectacular riding and jaw-dropping jumping talent among the cream of Australia’s showjumping crop.

In the Kevin Bourke Memorial World Cup Qualifier, the final jump-off came down to a battle between Billy Raymont aboard Anton and Dave Cameron on RR Dyranta with Cameron narrowly taking home the spoils.

Raymont had to be content with taking out the previous day’s Len and Betty McVean Memorial Championships.

In its 20th anniversary year, the Wodonga Showjumping Spectacular is a three-day festival of showjumping incorporating a range of classes with the highlight the World Cup qualifier.

Horse and rider combinations competed for the chance to represent Australia in the World Cup final in Las Vegas in April next year.

Home-grown rider Rhys Stone was represented in the World Cup event aboard BS On Air.

Local riders were also well-represented in the placings in the amateur classes; among them Kaleb McIntosh, Madison Connell, Bryan Curnow and Tull Canning in the Amateur Championshipo and well-known veteran Des Gleeson in the Future Stars Futurity.

For full list of results visit www.facebook.com/wodongashowjumping or go to bdsjc.com.