A&B Grade and Young Rider State Championships words and photos by Suzanne McGill Several state championships wrapped up WA’s productive showjumping season, with individual events being spread amongst several clubs. WASJA played host to the 2012 A&B Grade and Young Rider State Championships as a feature at the club’s spring show at Brigadoon in the State Equestrian Centre. Held on grass, the show also served as a springboard for horses competing at the Perth Royal Show – since several previous shows were run on indoor surfaces. The jumping surface at the SEC is highly regarded, and the footings during the State Championships weekend lived up ng Ride State You r Champio ns titors pac hip compe e out the course. Rider Championship on Saturday, they won the D Grade (6 points & Under) and came second in the D-Grade on Sunday to Heath Ahmat and Serene Dream – his sister Sophie Ahmat bringing home the rug in the Junior Jumper. Stephanie Tucker and her young horse, Oaks Redwood, also placed well in two classes, improving their fifth place in the 1.15m by coming second in the WA Young Rider Championship to seasoned partners and 2012 WA Young Rider Champions, Hanna Fletcher and Thundersmile. At 15 years old, Bianca Hodge was too young to compete in the Young Rider Championship, but showed promising talent by competing in and winning the 1.25m Open class on seasoned jumper Red Boots. More predictable was the 1.35m Open, won by previous Patrons Cup winner Gail Hellier on Tommy Stilts, with Chaise Ludgate and Sophie Ahmat won the Junior Jumper on Mon Amie NZPH. Right: Shawn Squire was third on Yardah Cairo in the A&B Grade Championships. to its reputation. Course designer Peter Cooke took advantage of the surface, creating tracks that increased in difficulty through the weekend and tested horses’ skill and development at this point in the showjumping season. Saturday’s classes were progressive in height, enabling riders to warm their horses up for later classes. Early winners include Jordan Long (1.05-110m) riding Melaluca and Amy Booth on Sir Ripper (1.15m). While neither of these riders placed in the very competitive later classes, Casey Gill and Caribbean Pirate had multiple placings on both days. Placing second in the Junior Jumper and third in the Young