Megan Jones and Kirby Park Allofasudden
Jump and Drive is a fun combination of showjumping (with a few cross country fences thrown in) and carriage driving, which is not a sport for the faint hearted but great fun for the crowds.
This fast and furious competition involves riders and carriage drivers teaming up to complete a combination of showjumping/eventing fences and a driving obstacle course.
The horse and rider go over a course of fences and, once completed, hop on the back of a 4-wheeled combined carriage pulled by a pair of ponies or horses driven by one of Australia’s leading drivers; together they then negotiate a cones course incorporated into the jumps course.
Two lovely ladies - Megan and Mary
There were a few last minute changes and some nervous laughter as the five participating riders prepared for the Jump and Drive today.
The listed riders remained the same; eventer Rachael Lee, showjumper Airlie Robinson, Australian Olympic medallist Megan Jones, Badminton winner Paul Tapner and legend of British eventing, Mary King all lined up but only Rachael, Mary and Megan were riding the horses originally on the Start List.
Paul Tapner was meant to be riding the 15.2hh stallion Luda Lacroix owned by Bec Allsop but Bec laughingly admitted that she had the last minute jitters for her horse when she discovered that one of the cross country fences on the jumping course came up to her nose!
Luckily Jacqui Bladier offered her horse Ramires who turned out to be a very good substitute, jumping clear for Paul in the showjumping section of the course.
Rachael Lee and Waitangi Skype
The first rider out on course was Rachael Lee and her own 2* grey eventer, Waitangi Skype. One of the core elements for success in this event is a good transition from the jumping to getting on the carriage; as Rachael’s horse had already discovered a strong aversion to small horses pulling carriages in the warm-up arena, her transition had to take place a little bit further away from the carriage!
Despite setting a cracking pace, Rachael had three fences down and I’m afraid I can’t tell you the score from the carriage driving side as this is a mystery to me but they went very fast
Victorian showjumper Arlie Robinson was supposed to ride her stallion Mt Robinsons Gwaihir but decided instead to ride her chestnut mare Yalambi Corlandia. This lovely 10 year old chestnut mare had no fear of the ponies and carriages rocketing around her and stood quietly and calmly.
“She’s been ridden at agricultural shows all around the place so this is no problem for her” said Airlie (as Kyra Kyrklund pranced past on a very anxious stallion that was not at all happy about the carriages either! Needless to say Kyra handled it beautifully while the little Shetlands trotted by, totally oblivious to the havoc they were causing)
Although unfazed by the carriages, unfortunately Airlie’s showjumping mare did not like the cross country fences that had been sneaked into the course and had two stops at the 1.30m brush fence (“Who put THAT there? What happened to the coloured poles I normally jump, mum?”).
Encouraged by Airlie, she leaped over it the third time then Airlie nimbly jumped onto the carriage with the offending black and white Shetlands which absolutely zoomed around, nearly depositing Airlie on one turn.
This is fun!
The last time I saw Kirby Park Allofasudden jump a beautiful clear round was at Burghley and he didn’t disappoint here today either. Megan took some great lines and maintained a slightly steadier pace to jump clear then she nimbly jumped on board her waiting carriage, finishing with a big wave and fist pump.
“That was great fun!” she said afterwards as she watched the last two riders to go, Paul Tapner and Mary King.
Ride 'em cowboy!! Paul Tapner's carriage driving style
Paul, dressed in his eventing red, rode a very good clear jumping round on Ramires but the carriage driving round was hairy!!
The carriage horses may have been startled by Paul’s bright red shirt and started with an impressive rear as they set off; I’m not sure if Paul was helping or hindering with his extravagant leaning and bobbing around the course but it was very entertaining! Mary then cantered in on the lovely veteran equine superstar, GV Top of the Line, aka Carlo.
Mary and GV Top of the Line (Carlo)
His ears were pricked as he set off jumping as if to say “I may not have been jumping these bigger fences for a while but I still know my job”. He took a big leap at the bush fence but jumped clear and returned Mary safely to her carriage, capably driven by Andrew Pollock, with only a slightly scary moment at the second last set of cones.
Carlo, having competed at Olympic Games and some of the biggest events in the world with Olivia Bunn, as well as more recently partnering Sam Griffiths’ niece Nina in slightly smaller eventing competitions, is now to be Nina’s showjumping partner as she moves on to another horse for eventing (to find out more about Carlo and Nina CLICK HERE).
Carlo's usual rider, young Nina Griffiths looks after him while Mary walks the course. Her dad looks suspiciously like that Sam Griffiths doesn't he?
After all the excitement it was hard to work out who had won; even Megan seemed slightly surprised to discover she was the winner – maybe that augurs well for the Grand Final of the Exhibition Eventing that Megan and KP Allofasudden will also be competing later today! Mary and Carlo were second, Paul and Ramires third, Rachael and Waitangi Skype fourth and Airlie Robinson and Yalambi Corlandia fifth
1st Megan Jones and Kirby Park Allofasudden (Carriage Driver, Janelle Marshall with Mr Mo and Cricket)
2nd Mary King and GV Top of the Line (Carriage Driver, Andrew Pollock with Wylandra Poppy and Wylandra Tiki)
3rd Paul Tapner and Ramires (Carriage Driver, Tina Marshall with Cherrytree Foxglove and Specks)
4th Rachael Lee and Waitangi Skype (Carriage Driver, Rachel Haslau with Tya Charmer and Tya Aphrodite)
5th Airlie Robinson and Yalambi Corlandia (Carriage Driver, Merryn Byers with Rouken Glen Monty and Rouken Glen Gizmo)
