Horwood is derby champion

Last year the horse-and-rider combination tackled the prestigious showjumping class for the first time and clinched the coveted title.

On 6 October, Horwood and the Capital Stud horse entered Kyalami Equestrian Park’s Bob Charter arena to compete in the 2013 Galencia Property South African Derby again, in front of thousands of spectators, and they won for the second year in a row.

The class, which is a highlight on the showjumping calendar, kept the audience on its toes, with four horse-and-rider combinations jumping clear rounds over the 18 1.5m high jumps. South African course designer Kate Launder designed the course for the first time and the stiff competition was a crowd pleaser, with four horse-and-rider combinations jumping clear rounds.

Nicola Sime, riding Sunny Park Stables Elpaso, was the first competitor to jump a clear round and just as the audience was starting to think she was the only one, Horwood, riding Capital Don Cumarco, cleared the course.

Next, Shaun Neill, riding Delmon Mining, and Civil’s Clyde Z cleared the course. Young rider, Liam Stevens riding Investec’s Wanda, who followed Neill in the programme order, kept the audience thrilled as he also jumped a clear round.

The biggest test for the competitors in the jump-off was the race against the clock as all four competitors cleared the fences.

Sime was the first competitor to jump, and she cleared the jump-off course in a time of 50.41 seconds and incurred three time faults.

Horwood raised the bar as she cleared the course in 44.10 seconds. Neill tried his best to unseat Horwood from first place but fell short, riding through the finish flags in 44.83 seconds. Stevens also put up a tough fight and cleared the course in 45.10 seconds.

Horwood was the undeniable winner and her smile showed her excitement at winning the prestigious trophy for the second year in a row.

She was joined the podium with Neill in second place and Stevens in third. Sime scooped the prize for fourth place.

Three riders who incurred just four faults in the first round tied in fifth place. They were Jeanne Engela riding Investec’s Chanel van de Zeshoek, Joanne van Achterbergh riding Saddle View Marketing’s Alight Calsica and Horwood on her second ride, Capital Colnardo.

Peter Morrison, riding Mcsa Alzu Luanda, placed eighth after he ended his round on six faults after he incurred a hoof in the water and two time faults.

Rainer Korber, riding Quinten Jansen’s Leandros de Semilly, was awarded the Victor Ludorum for the 1.5m class at the show.