EQUESTRIANS from far and wide made their way to Blue Lake Sports Park over the long weekend, as they competed against a large field in the 36th annual Easter Showjumping Carnival.
Held in the facilities velodrome, the Mount Gambier Showjumping Club organisers conducted what was deemed to be another successful event.
With around 60 riders competing throughout the four days from all over South Australia and Victoria, one standout was local rider Kristy Bruhn.
Winning three of her events, she also took home a second and a third ribbon to be well decorated at the end of the carnival.
Riding Kay Em Bambalou, Bruhn took out the prestigious Mount Gambier City Council Senior Grand Prix on Monday, along with the 140cm event on Saturday.
Her third win came from her partnership with her horse Jack, which saw her claim victory in the David Clark Memorial 140cm on Sunday.
James Harvey, who travelled from a country town near Sale in Victoria to compete, was another standout with a total of three wins, three seconds and two thirds.
This included a victory in the hotly contested Blue Lakes Stakes event.
Mount Gambier Showjumping Club (MGSJC) president David Johnson said he was pleased with how this year’s carnival proceeded and said the level of competition was of an exceptional standard.
“You could definitely say it was a successful event,” he said.
“Numbers were strong again and those who were in attendance were of a high calibre.
“Excellent jumping was shown throughout the weekend.”
Besides Bruhn, Millicent’s Libby Halliday also represented the local riders well, as she bagged a collection of ribbons for her efforts.
She won the 105cm 0-6 points event, while also taking home two second places and a third.
Along with this, Halliday and her horse Libadee Park Wildfire took out the prize for best performed thoroughbred of the festival.
“She had a very good show,” Johnson said.
“Racing SA sponsored the (thoroughbred) award, which is about re-purposing ex race horses to different disciplines.”
Another highlight for the 2018 carnival saw Casterton rider Ruth McCrae claim her first win after more than three decades attending the event.
“Ruth has been coming here for 35 years and she won a class for the first time,” Johnson said.
“To come for 35 years and finally get a win, it just goes to show how hard it is to win a ribbon at the Easter Carnival.”
With this year’s event deemed a success, Johnson said it was the work behind the scenes which allowed a smooth-running carnival.
“The committee did an amazing job again to make sure this event went seamlessly,” he said.
“The feedback we have had from many people is that we run a fantastic program with a small committee in a relatively small community.
“I also need to mention the course designer John Wootten who travelled from Geelong and John Pearce the judge.
“Everybody who picked a rail up, helped move courses or stood on a gate, they all led to the success of the event.”
Johnson also thanked the South Gambier Football and Netball Club, which has shared a partnership with the Mount Gambier Showjumping Club for the whole 36 years of the event, as well as all the riders who travelled to attend the festival.
The next event on the MGSJC calendar will see a training clinic held this month, before the winter series begins at the end of May.
