Horsing around: Amanda Barchay on Ant with Stephanie Dijkstra at Geelong Show Jumping Club.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG’S rural and farming past stands the city in good stead when it comes to showjumping.
It’s one of the few sports with a genuinely rural quality, especially to those of us who only watch showjumping on television when it reaches Olympic level.
But to the members of Geelong Show Jumping Club, the sport’s stocks are rising with two Geelong-bred riders now stars on the European circuit.
And president Tom Lupton said the sport had a healthy local junior section as well, fed by the many pony clubs around the region.
The club held its major event, the August Show last weekend at Geelong Showgrounds. The event is traditionally considered the start of the showjumping season, with state and national riders using it as a warm-up for high profile competitions at the Adelaide and Melbourne shows.
“Showjumping is one of the biggest equestrian sports in Europe and America but we’re starting to catch up,” Tom said.
“Australia is competitive on a world scale but it’s still hard to get sponsorship and attract help – we’re all volunteers and we all pay our own way.
“You often find families involved, sometimes up to the third and fourth generation. They’ll generally have small farms or horse properties and might have four or five horses in training.”
Tom said Geelong was one of the biggest horse areas in the state, second only to the Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley region.
“We run a junior show every Australia Day weekend aimed at pony club level. The pony clubs are an important feeder and means we have a big junior following in our club.”
Last weekend’s open show attracted competitors sending their mounts soaring over world-class 1.4 and 1.5-metre jumps.
Tom said former Geelong club member Stephanie Dijkstra had recently earned a place in the Australian dressage team.
The club also boasted former Olympian Chris Smith, whose son, Jonathan, was now among the top 10 juniors in Australia.
Two former members, James Patterson Robinson and Scotty Barclay, were competing in Europe against the top riders in the world, Tom said.
“They’re doing the most for Geelong on a world stage.
“Australians are renowned for their ability to ride the more difficult and temperamental horses.
“The opportunity is there to enjoy an international career and it all starts here at a local club.”
Established in 1978, Geelong Showjumping Club is based at Drysdale’s Lake Lorne Reserve.
Tom said more information about the club was available by phoning him on Tom 0409 209 388 or visiting geelongshowjumping.com.au.
