An off the track Easter
The Easter long weekend was the perfect opportunity to head out and compete on your retired racehorse. Yalambi Autumn Jumping Classic hosted four off-the-track classes, accommodating the 43 retired racehorses entered to compete.
WAYER International Horse Trials locked in Good Friday to accommodate their 65cm and 80cm classes after weather forced them to postpone the week prior, and WAERA set off in Collie for the Easter Marathon.
WAYER – 65 to 80cm
Our OTT 65cm class saw 14 starters contending for the win. Dressage saw two riders take a joint early lead with scores of 25. Many riders finished with sub-30 scores, leaving the early placings with minimal margins and open for anyone to take the lead. Show jumping proved impressive, with half the field finishing clear and new leaders claiming the top spot. One rider was eliminated in show jumping, tightening the field further ahead of an exciting cross-country phase.
Cross country then proved to be the downfall of many, with several riders incurring jumping penalties out on course. A handful of riders returned home with time penalties, and only two made it back clear and on time. Congratulations to Gemma Leef and Larssen for completing two faultless phases and delivering a sub-30 dressage score to win the class.
Second went to Samantha Gibson and King Lionheart, with Kayley Brahim and Drama Free finishing third. Fourth went to Georgia Homewood and Awesome Secret, fifth to Eliose Bilj and Beckham, and sixth to Allysha Norton Scott and King of the Jive.
The OTT 80cm saw 13 starters, with Ivy Parson and De Lovely Lad leading throughout all three phases, followed closely by Vaz McLaughlan onboard Elementary Holmes and Tracey Burges with Socialslayer, holding second and third positions. Fourth, fifth and sixth places changed throughout the phases, eventually landing with Takayla Pense and Circus Star in fourth, Zara Officer and The Last Breeze in fifth, and Allysha Norton Scott onboard Agent Black in sixth. Congratulations to Ivy for producing three flawless phases to secure the win in this OTTWA-sponsored class.
We’re glad the classes could be held and congratulate the committee, volunteers and competitors on a successful event despite the change of date.
YALAMBI AUTUMN JUMPING CLASSIC
Back at the beautiful property of Yalambi Farm Stud, their Autumn Classic proved to be another showstopper across the long weekend. With four sponsored off-the-track classes, we were eager to see how showjumpers would fare across three days of exciting competition.
Lily Bolt and Little Dance won the OTT 80cm again, having previously won this class in 2024 with Kate Banner. One of the only Standardbreds competing, THEBEACHCOMBER (competing as Snoop Dogg), wowed everyone to finish second — a true testament to the trainability and talent of Standardbreds in jumping. Oakford Equestrian Centre had a successful run in the OTT 80cm, with Jamie finishing second, Leah McCoy onboard Transcendent in third, and Dani Carey onboard Dad’s Bigheaded finishing sixth to conclude the class placings.
The 90cm class saw Thea Garner and Jonina’s Empire top the placings, followed closely by 80cm winners Lily Bolt and Little Dance. Data Lake and Sara Scott finished third, with Sophie Raymond and Rag N Boneman in fourth, Rhianydd Davies and Silver Flyer in fifth, and Charlotte Crichton and Captain Bounty in sixth.
The 1m class again saw Thea Garner and Jonina’s Empire on top, securing the Best Performed Off-the-Track Horse award at the conclusion of the competition. Second went to Indie Smyth and Superior Smile, third to Debbie Greenwood and Askance, fourth to Livia Stampalia and Prince of Princes, with Sophie Raymond and Rag N Boneman returning to the placings to finish sixth.
In the main arena, the 1.10m OTT class was one to watch, with previous winners and proven competitors battling it out for the win. Wendy Reid and Storm Cloud clinched victory over a competitive field. Natalie Hibbert and Two Chances finished second, Isla Bolton and Match My Speed in third, Charli Brajkovich and her new mount Lyrical Discourse in fourth, Savannah Beveridge and The Italian Job in fifth, and Charlee Morton-Sharp and Pride of Merisi finishing sixth before heading east to Adelaide.
