The State Equestrian Centre’s grass surfaces were in good form for WASJA’s April one-day show held on the 13th of April, which served as a lead up for showjumpers preparing for the following weekend’s two-day Bunbury Showjumping Challenge and for eventers readying their horses for W.A.Y.E.R’s Olga Reveler Memorial CIC at Brookleigh. The horses, too, showed form jumping over David Britza’s courses in the main arena. Making a welcome return to designing after a year’s absence from showjumping, David showed that he’d lost none of his touch in creating flowing, rideable courses that offered an encouragement at this early part of WA’s showjumping season. A second ring catered to green horses and less experienced combinations. Honest distances in the main ring resulted in a number of clear and double clear rounds throughout most classes, and encouraged riders to test their skills riding efficient lines in order to achieve placings. This was certainly the case in the 1.05-1.10 Open, in which clear rounds exceeded placings and a quick ride was the key factor in winning the class for eventer Shenae Lowings on Balena Rhapsody, just ahead of Rosie Oliver on Howzat. There were just three double clear rounds in the 1.05-1.10m Open, but eventers again took top honours in a large class, with experienced eventer Katie McGlinn and Maestro’s Daughter coming first, followed by 2** eventers Lauren Brown and Dakota Ultra Easy. Once the heights went up, however, it was the showjumpers who shone. Although these days warmbloods generally WASJA organiser Karen McInnes and AEA Corland. Below: Emma Isbister and Aspyration. Barrabadeen Cougar for owner Ann Marie Frank, and David Dobson, on board Pascale Young’s Barrabadeen Halifax. In the smaller 21 & Under 1.25m class, nearly all combinations progressed to the jump off. Showing stylish speed in her winning round on Freedom Road, Hanna Fletcher finished five seconds ahead of Kate Kiely’s more conservative clear round on Feeling Wise. For WASJA, the strong entries were also a definite win for the club, which will host numerous fixtures throughout the 2013 jumping season. Above: Rebecca Donovan and Noblewood Park Conchetta. Left: Heath Ahmat and Sweet As NZPH dominate competition, top two placings in the 1.30m Open were both thoroughbreds. Tam Waller and Volition were the only double clear combination in the 1.30m Open, after a careful jump off in 59.25 that was significantly slower than the 43.73 by Chelsea McInnes and Tommy Stilts - who had a win in the bag until knocking down the very last fence on course. It was a closer challenge in the sizeable 1.25m Open when just two seconds separated the winner local speed specialists Darren Taylor, riding