Megan Jones and Kirby Park Impress Photo: Julie Wilson
Megan Jones won the Gow-Gates Exhibition Eventing Grand Final held at the 2015 Australian International Three Day Event in Adelaide, South Australia.
Jones rode her homebred chestnut mare Kirby Park Impress and the combination did just that, giving spectators plenty to cheer as they produced a clear and careful round - one of only two clear rounds in the class.
The second came from Australian Young Rider representative Shenae Lowings (WA) who rode Parkiarrup Perrigrin, a horse bred by Olympic silver medallist Sonja Johnson. Lowings also played it safe riding a precise round which stopped the clock at 154.20. Jones was declared champion as her time of 154.34 was closer to the optimum time of 2.12.
Having competed in Exhibition Eventing competitions in Melbourne and Sydney, Olympic silver medallist Jones relished the opportunity to compete in front of an Adelaide home crowd.
"It was actually really cool," said Jones. "It was fantastic having it here.
"I thought it was going to be hard to make time when we walked the course but as we started to see the riders go around I thought, I'll just take it easy and aim to jump those show jumps clear - that was the key to it."
Exhibition Eventing requires horses and riders to navigate a short course of cross country fences and show jumps. Combinations compete against the clock and have the option of a joker fence - a show jump much higher than any other fence. If it is cleared then 4 points are wiped from a rider's score but if it's knocked down then 8 jumping penalties are added.
A number of combinations attempted the joker fence including international rider Kevin McNab who rode Kirby Park Invader, a horse borrowed to him by Jones. She recommended McNab not to attempt the fence and it was advice that he should have taken as he was not able to leave the pole in place.
Of the riders who attempted the joker fence, the only rider to clear it was Tarryn Procter riding ESB Irish Quest and upon clearing it she was greeted with a rousing applause and cheers from spectators.
The Gow Gates Exhibition Eventing Final was a popular attraction to visitors attending the Australian International Three Day Event Qantas Cross Country with crowds eager to watch riders take on the hybrid course which wove its way around the picturesque Rymill Park.
At the conclusion of the Final crowds flocked to the ATCO Main Arena where the IRT Jumping Final Warm-Up Class saw a field of 20 horse and rider combinations take to the arena before Sunday's main event. The class was won by Chris Chugg and Cera Cassiago - the current leaders of the Australian League of the FEI World Cup Jumping League for 2015/16. Sunday's IRT Jumping Final is also the 12th round of the Australian League and in addition to prize money riders will be chasing important World Cup points.
