Derby is a crowd pleaser
KYALAMI - It was Kyalami's Travis Dawson's day on 4 May when he and his pony Highover Chelsie clinched first place in the pony rider 1.2m SA Derby.
The class was held in the Bob Charter arena at Kyalami Equestrian Park. It was part of the Pony Rider and Junior Derby.
The class saw 10 pony rider competitors, but only Dawson and last year’s winner Kyla Brimacombe riding Why Not rode clear rounds to enter the jump off.
Dawson knocked one pole to incur four faults, while Brimacombe incurred eight faults for Dawson to win the title. Brimacombe was placed second and Tegan Bruyns placed third.
Dawson also won the Victor Ludorum for the class on Highover Chelsie.
In the Young Rider Open South African Derby, out of 24 competitors Shannon Smith and Heather Robinson rode clear rounds to enter the jump-off. Robinson, riding Disco set the bar high as she rode a clear round in 40.47s. Smith, riding Vitaline Vanya W cleared the course in a faster time of 39.95s to win.
Nicolette Huggett riding Donnybrook Dono D’oro placed third, Forest Lovegren riding Treven Copocabana placed fourth, Bianca Eva Da Silva riding Ginabella V/O Dennehoeve placed fifth and Stephanie Golver riding Asti’s Ravini placed sixth.
Lovgren riding Trevan Copocabana was the highest qualifier for the class and was awarded the Victor Ludorum.
