NSW rider Chris Chugg has won a record sixth Jumping World Cup qualifier for the season.
Chugg, from Glossodia, near Sydney, chalked up his latest success at the Wodonga Showjumping Spectacular.
He was riding his three times national champion jumping stallion Vivant.
More than 2000 spectators packed the Wodonga Indoor Exhibition Centre on Saturday evening to see Australia's best jumping riders and horses in action.
Chugg jumped the only two double-clear rounds to win.
He also won the runner-up trophy riding ASB Conquistador.
The veteran made the 1.45m to 1.55m 14-fence course designed by Leeson Sirett, from Colbinabbin, look like a cruise in the park.
Sirett did a masterful job fitting the testing course into the small indoor stadium and allowing all horses and riders ample room to approach the obstacles, producing four super-clear rounds in round one.
Brett Warren was third, riding the grey Amici, with just the last rail down in the jump-off, to finish on four penalties.
Des Gleeson, from Gerogery in NSW, was fourth riding another grey, Wild Honey.
Jono Berry, from Ebenezer in NSW, was fifth, riding Quincy Z, finishing with one rail down and two time penalties for a total of six.
Coco Miles, from Windsor, was sixth, riding Tiqulja and Queenslanders Kim Hilly and Sheridan Manuel finished seventh and eighth respectively.
Clem Smith, from Toowoomba in Queensland, won the Quadrant Securities Betty McVean A and B Grade Memorial Championship, riding Dark Ages. The pair made light of a tough course designed by Bob Pritchard, from Barnawartha.
Andrew Inglis, from Maroota in NSW, made it two Mini Prix in a row when he won the John Hossack Funeral Services outdoor championship, riding the big imported mare Amira.
The Albury Saddleworld Futurity championship was won by Amanda Madigan, from Glossodia, riding Diamond B Vigo, and the Mitavite B and C grade championship was won by Broadford's Melissa Froesch, on Glenara Bollinger.
Melissa also won the Unthank Rodwell C grade championship, riding Hedge.
Licara, owned by Paul Kelly, from Bryon Bay, won both the Parkside Produce and Cleanaway height classes.
Alyssa Mather, from Nowra in NSW, won the Tyrepower maiden D grade, riding Da Ve.
Tome McDermott, from Wagga Wagga in NSW, was first, second and third in the Coates Hire D grade, and then went on to win the Wessel Drilling Championship riding SL Eclipse. Brett Warren won the Middendorp 1.35m class riding Amici, and Queenslander Robert Goodwin won the Cleanaway 1.25m indoor one rounder, riding Early Times.
The Wessel Drilling Junior Championship was won by Elizabeth Koob, from Glossodia, riding Caesar's Palace.
Nowra's Nicholas Sheehan won the Twin City Truck Centre junior, riding Larry, and Nicole O'Shannessy, from Melbourne, won the Comfort Inn Young Rider Champion- ship riding Nordic Fox.
The City of Wodonga 1.10m championship was won by local Jess Bertram, riding Ceejay Park Major Tom.
World Cup jumping now heads to Sale, for the running of the Elms Spring Jumping Classic, starting tomorrow.
The organising committee has set new standards by allocating prizemoney to one in every six
competitors and replacing the grading system with an innovative height system catering to all levels of competition.
- For more details, phone Anne Garner on 0408 598 986.
