Up and over: Goulburn Valley rider Adam Prime is a nomination for the World Cup qualifier on Saturday afternoon.
The best of Australian show jumping will descend on Shepparton this weekend for the first World Cup qualifier of the season.
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From Friday to Sunday riders and their horses will go head-to-head at WB Hunter Reserve, aiming to be the cleanest and fastest over the jumps on the day.
Northern Victorian Show Jumping Club vice-president Emma Kirkbride said riders would range from Olympians to grassroots competitors both local and from across Australia.
There are 24 entrants in the Strathmerton Drilling World Cup event on Saturday afternoon, with valuable points and prizes up for grabs.
At the end of the FEI World Cup Australia League season, the rider with the most points receives financial backing to compete overseas in the World Cup final.
Ms Kirkbride said the club was happy with the number of entrants this year.
“It’s a really good field; they’re the elite riders in the country, so it’s a good turnout because some riders are overseas already,” she said.
One to watch: Past Australian League champion Billy Raymont will be in action this weekend.
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Past Australian League winner Billy Raymont and his wife, Tess, are bringing a team of 14 horses to the event and reigning Australian Senior Title holder Olivia Hamood and her horse Jane Fonda DVD will also be in attendance.
The competition kicks off at 8am and runs through to 5pm or 6pm each day, and spectators are welcome at the free event.
“It’s a fun competition to watch and something really different,” Ms Kirkbride said.
“It’s family-friendly, people can bring a picnic rug and chairs and come down, we’ll have some food vans but people are also welcome to bring their own food.
“On Friday afternoon we have the speed class, which is a crowd pleaser, otherwise Saturday is probably the best day to come and watch some top-level show jumping.”
The event will be officiated by a foreign judge and more than $20,000 in prize money is up for grabs for the winners and place getters of the classes across the weekend, with 300 to 400 entrants each day.
It’s the first World Cup Festival in Shepparton in a few years but the event was previously the longest continuously running qualifier in Australia.
Spectators are asked to park outside the reserve and walk to the event.
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