{"id":30130,"date":"2016-10-27T15:50:26","date_gmt":"2016-10-27T04:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/?p=30130"},"modified":"2016-11-07T16:57:47","modified_gmt":"2016-11-07T05:57:47","slug":"when-a-showcase-is-just-that-a-showcase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/2016\/10\/when-a-showcase-is-just-that-a-showcase\/","title":{"rendered":"When a Showcase is just that… A SHOWCASE!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"generalpublic\"Story and photos by Rebecca Ashton<\/em><\/p>\n

When I arrived at The Polo Fields in Richmond, just west of Sydney, I was greeted by Jamie Kermond\u2019s mum, Sue, who was manning the entrance of the VIP tent. The two Jamies (Kermo and fianc\u00e9e Jamie Winning) were in the arena, moving jumps and organising riders – in between competing their own horses. Show organiser, Kerrie Winning was over securing an arena fence that had fallen down, while husband John (Woody) was chatting to a trade stand owner. It was all hands on deck to produce one of the most picturesque shows on the Australian showjumping calendar.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Winnings have been running the event since 2010 and each year try to improve on the last show. The mission statement is to bring a bit of Europe to Australia. The VIP tent had poster photos of horses with the Eiffel Tower, French flags were on the lunchtime sliders and even the entertainment was French flavoured, but more on that later\u2026<\/p>\n

I grabbed Kermo at the end of play on Saturday to find out how things had been going.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started setting up almost two weeks before. The marquee is on about 1000 pallets so we had to stack all of\u00a0them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn trying to bring Europe to an Australian horse show, I think the surface is really important. The grounds are polo fields so they\u2019re absolutely amazing to ride on, but the polo people like their ground a little bit firmer than we do. We need a little bit more give in it so we\u2019ve been trying to get the grounds right. Peter and Bec Higgins who own the grounds have been working with us and been really good in letting us water the arenas. They even set up new pumps for us. It\u2019s a big job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLeading into the show, Dave the ground manager was out irrigating but there was 20-30mm of rain planned for Monday. We couldn\u2019t get it too wet so we stopped irrigating but then after the rain, the temperature was up near 30C and the wind has blowing sideways so we couldn\u2019t irrigate during the day anyway. So we were getting up at the crack of dawn before it got windy and at night and we only had one irrigator. I think we stopped irrigating at about 11:30 last night and I got home to sleep at 01:00 to be up at 04:00!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"sharonslatercpaprilla1\"<\/p>\n

Sharon Slater and CP Aprilla, winners of the Winning Group FEI 2* World Cup Qualifier<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI think the jumping through the week has been fantastic. The riders who have managed their horses well went well, like Sharon Slater – who won the World Cup qualifier – who managed her horse perfectly. She started in the smaller class early, jumped really nicely in the middle class and set the horse up perfectly for today\u2019s win. So, that\u2019s part of us trying to bring Europe here, to have the classes set up to warm the horses up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to get other people involved as well. We got to know Frank Rothenberger (top German course designer) a bit while we were in Europe and he was fantastic in helping me get into a lot of shows. We also went to his factory where he makes his jumps and we were able to work out with Woody and Kerrie to have some jumps brought out. They\u2019re of European standard and I think they\u2019ve added to the show and to get Frank to come out and build them himself, he\u2019s one of the biggest names in the sport, so it\u2019s massive to get him here. He\u2019s also a really nice guy. It\u2019s actually his birthday\u00a0today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Todd Hinde is Kerrie\u2019s \u2018righthand man\u2019 and fellow event director and according to Kermo has done \u201cA power of work\u201d.<\/p>\n

Todd did get a little payoff, as he told me, he gets to drive a Maserati…<\/p>\n

\"2ndingpclintberesfordemmavillejitterbug\"<\/p>\n

Clint Beresford and Emmaville Jitterbug, second in the World Cup Qualifier<\/em><\/p>\n

How do you secure sponsors like Maserati?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat came through a connection in the horse industry. Joel from Maserati came onboard last year and he was happy so joined in again this year. We have four cars here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Have you taken any of them for a spin?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the only one here allowed to drive them. I won\u2019t let anyone else near them! Joel\u2019s response this afternoon was that it is bigger and better than last year. If we can get that response every year, we\u2019re happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Basic<\/a><\/p>\n

You changed to a five-day format this year\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFive days has worked well. It\u2019s more work to organise but it\u2019s less stress for the riders. We\u2019re sitting here now at 17:00, the day\u2019s finished, all the riders are over feeding their horses and they have time to have a shower and change before the night entertainment. It\u2019s not just rush, rush. It\u2019s also worked quite well having one ring running at a time so the crowd can see all of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re a CSI 2* show for ranking purposes and we\u2019ve increased the prize money this year to gain maximum points that a 2* can get. We want riders to be riding at these quality shows here so that when they go to Europe to qualify for the Olympics or WEG, they don\u2019t have to go over for 12 months prior. They have enough points and enough experience here jumping international course builders\u2019 tracks so they go over prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"3rdingprobertgoodwincopilot\"<\/p>\n

Third place in the World Cup Qualifier, Robert Goodwin and Co Pilot<\/em><\/p>\n

The event caters for the social set as well as those who just want a fun, free day out. The setting is perfect and spectators can be right up close and personal with the horses and riders at the edge of the arena or further back in the shade of the big top, with its seating and bar. Those in the VIP section also get to be involved. Stephen Lamb explains, \u201cThe riders in the Grand Prix were randomly allocated to a particular VIP table. That table walked the course with that rider so they get a bit of an insight. Then the table of the winning rider won a night out on the harbour on Woody\u2019s boat, on the JDW. It\u2019s a fully catered night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat gave the spectators someone to really cheer for. We also had something for the individuals. You put your name in a hat and each rider got a random spectator and the winning rider\u2019s spectator won $500 worth of appliances from Winnings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kerrie and John Winning are simply the most down to earth, lovely people you\u2019ll ever meet. They are totally committed to improving showjumping in Australia. I wanted to know where they got their inspiration.<\/p>\n

John: \u201cMy sport is sailing, so I\u2019m only on the sidelines with the jumping. My wife is a great volunteer and she worked with people at other shows. We always get that, \u2018We\u2019re in Australia so we can\u2019t do this and we can\u2019t do that.\u2019<\/em> We were a little bit more, \u2018Well why can\u2019t we?\u2019<\/em> For Kerrie it\u2019s about creating the atmosphere. We\u2019re always told you have to go to Europe to get the atmosphere and crowds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"vips2\"<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately Kerrie would like to do one at the Opera House. Whether we live long enough for that, I don\u2019t know! We live in Rose Bay and there\u2019s a park where the old flying boats used to land. You can look up to the Bridge. We\u2019ve spoken to the council and they were quite positive. It would only be a boutique show. When you have the guests of sponsors who are non-horse people, one class is about enough for them. If you bring them in for the main class, feed them, give them little bit of entertainment… yesterday they arrived at 11:30 and were walking out at 16:00.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is that why you decided on five days?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes and because we wanted the main class to be on Saturday. Usually your World Cup Qualifiers are on Sunday. All your serious people are there but all you see behind are trucks driving out because they need to be in Melbourne in the morning. We still had the Silver final today, which is still a serious class.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"davidcameronnicolettewinsilverfinal\"<\/p>\n

Winners of the Centuria Capital FEI 2* Silver Final, Dave Cameron and Nicolette<\/em><\/p>\n

What ideas did you get from overseas?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe went to the Glock Show this year. You\u2019d go there just to see the toilets\u2026 there\u2019s lounges, screens with live feeds where you wash your hands\u2026 you\u2019re struggling to find the toilet! Your coffee comes with the chocolate on top in the shape of a Glock gun. All those little attentions to detail.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a business. I don\u2019t know if this will cost me $20,000 or $30,000. There will still be a shortfall, but we believe, you have to become an event. You get the right people and you get the big sponsors like Herm\u00e8s and Louis Vuitton. It\u2019s the fact that they can offer their clients something special. You have to become an event worth going to, then they will buy a table because they can offer something to their clients that is a bit different and special, whether they\u2019re into horses or not. They\u2019re there because it\u2019s a place to be seen. That\u2019s what they have in Europe. They have the Sheiks and the Princesses\u2026 it\u2019s the place to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kerrie takes up the Glock theme: \u201cI couldn\u2019t get the live stream in the mirror of the toilet this year. I might have left my run a bit late for that! The main thing is to bring European course builders and judges to us. It\u2019s a lot easier to bring one or two people here rather than to fly everyone over there. It allows our riders to have that sort of experience without forking out all that money to start with. They\u2019ll eventually have to go over if they want to go on, but this show follows the international rules and hopefully we add some atmosphere so when they get over there, it\u2019s not so overwhelming. I think you need a good format and a good layout. Everything here is close; arenas, stables, trade stands.\u201d<\/p>\n

And the day isn\u2019t over when the jumping stops. That\u2019s when The Big Top comes to life to entertain riders and spectators alike. No running up the road to Maccas at this\u00a0show!<\/p>\n

Kerrie: \u201cLast night we had 300 for dinner. A very good friend of ours, Dan Murphy is a Country & Western singer, he performed on the first night and we had a BBQ. The next night we had a jukebox and karaoke, that was pizza night. Friday night was paella night and Lance Link performed. Jamie was in charge of last night and she organised a DJ which was more for the younger mob. Today\u2019s called Hair of the Dog!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"rileymackilloptmadmiralventurenostirrupsyoungriderjumpoff\"<\/p>\n

Riley Mackillop and TM Admiral Venture, no stirrups in the Young Rider jump off<\/em><\/p>\n

Your attention to detail is second to none\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMy team think I\u2019m neurotic!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably 75% of the people helping me are volunteers. I\u2019m very indebted to them because it allows me to put the money elsewhere. They\u2019re a really good bunch. The riders also show their appreciation when also makes it really\u00a0worthwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the sponsorship that runs the show. I can only be as good as the sponsorship allows me but I try to make the most out of the money that I manage to get. It\u2019s always really good sponsors that support me every year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"charliekinderregentsparklegacyjuniorriderwinner\"<\/p>\n

Junior Rider winner, Charlie Kinder with Regents Park Legacy<\/em><\/p>\n

What started it for you?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up with a family in horse racing. My grandfather, George Ryder was very big with the Sydney Turf Club and owned Woodland Stud and Kia Ora, he started the Golden Slipper stakes. We grew up with horses but he was a bit of an innovator, an ideas man. My mother always said that she could see a lot of him in me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was also the first to syndicate racehorses and I think we could do that with show jumpers. It gets to the stage for one person to own a good horse and keep it, can be impossible. What happens in Australia, we have really good horses but they get sold overseas because the owners get offered money that is just too good to refuse. There are some really good Australian horses competing overseas now for other countries. So hopefully that\u2019s the plan but for right now, I\u2019m trying to get the shows off the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"kerrieandjohnthankedbyriders\"<\/p>\n

Kerrie and John Winning thanked by the riders<\/em><\/p>\n

In securing a course designer from Europe, the Winnings went straight to the top. Frank Rothenberger is one of the best and had his own wonderful jumps to work with. The jumps are a whole story on their own. With the ship bringing them over from Europe delayed, they almost didn\u2019t make it and they only reached the grounds on Monday. As if running a top class show wasn\u2019t stressful enough!<\/p>\n

It was hard to pin down Frank for a chat over the weekend. If he wasn\u2019t at his computer, he was on course. He was kind enough to give me a few minutes at the end of the show.<\/p>\n

\"frankrothenberger\"<\/p>\n

What are the biggest challenges designing and building a course so far from home?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFirst you must see the horses to see what level they are at and see what kind of classes they have to jump. For me when you do course designing it\u2019s important that the horses jump better from one day to the next, that we build up the horses for the final day. I think that worked out very well at this show. It was a very good World Cup yesterday and a very good class for the Silver final today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Can you talk us through the Grand Prix course here?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe like to have faults spread right through the course not at one or two particular jumps. For me it\u2019s very important that you have a nice, flowing track. If you build up the horses and at the end we had 50% of horses with 5 faults or less, so that was ok.\u201d<\/p>\n

What do you think the biggest mistake course designers\u00a0make?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly? Most of them are getting too lazy.\u201d<\/p>\n

How do you keep it fresh? How do you stay inspired?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m an idealist. It\u2019s my hobby. I love doing it. Sometimes a little bit too much, I know. But every time it\u2019s a challenge. I do 20-25 shows a year which is more than enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do course designers have their own signature of sorts? Can you look at a course and know who designed it?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI think so. Not every course but often.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"page-40-bates-jump-saddle\"<\/a><\/p>\n

What\u2019s yours?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. I just try to design nice tracks; flowing, easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

You had no water jumps over the show?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe couldn\u2019t dig a water jump into the polo field, but there is no need to jump a water jump. If you have one once a month, it\u2019s ok.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the opinion of some at the moment to do away with the water altogether. What\u2019s your view?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m totally, TOTALLY against it, as are most of the organisers and most of the riders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do you have any tips for the riders from what you\u2019ve seen over this show? <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m surprised that we have more riders than before jumping a big course. Before there was maybe 10 now we have 25-35 in the class. Even the young horses are really good. I think it is improving a lot. And not just horse people. Twenty five years ago I went to New Zealand as well and there were just farmers and breeders but now children start riding and the parents buy a horse; they don\u2019t have to be horse people. I think this is happening more in Australia now. It\u2019s a very good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will you come back here next year?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. I would love to come back. Maybe I\u2019ll try to get some sailing in next time!\u201d<\/p>\n

Local rider Sharon Slater on her 15 year old CP Aprilla won the big class on Saturday, the Winning Group FEI 2* World Cup Qualifier which offered a total of $40,000 in prize money. I spoke to her afterwards.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve come second and a third in this event in the past…<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u2026 and now I\u2019ve won it so I\u2019m very happy. Aprilla was second here before and I ran third on another horse. She originally came from Europe as a five year old and then George Sanna, who owns her with me, won the Australian Championships with her in 2010 and then took her back to Europe and competed a little bit with her there. She sustained an injury over there though so she came back to us as a brood mare. But after a bit of time, she eventually came back to the sport so we\u2019re very fortunate to have her back in the ring competing again. She\u2019s been back three years now.\u201d<\/p>\n

You said at the prize giving she\u2019s a bit hot\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cShe is for me because I haven\u2019t ridden many horses with quite so much blood as her so it was a bit of a different feeling for me to get used to her. I\u2019ve probably got a little better at managing her and she\u2019s probably calmed down a little bit as the years have gone by so somewhere we\u2019ve met in the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"sharonslaterwins\"<\/p>\n

Winners, Sharon Slater and CP Aprilla<\/em><\/p>\n

Do you still train with George?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Did you buy her with the view that you would ride her eventually?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. When she came back from Europe, George was injured and no longer riding and I needed a horse to ride so I thought I\u2019d have a go.\u201d<\/p>\n

How did you feel about the course today?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFrank built quite a careful track. After walking it I thought there would have been a few more clear rounds but I was early to go. I only really got to watch one before me. As the class went on, I realised the track was riding a little trickier than when I walked it. That\u2019s a sign of a very clever course builder. Testing the horses and making the riders ride carefully without doing any damage to anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

You enjoy this event?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is one of the best shows. The Winnings are a fantastic family who support the showjumping like no other and we\u2019re so grateful that they chose our sport to support. Even though Jaimie and Kermo were in Europe for three years, John and Kerrie still ran the show and supported us all still here in Australia. All the riders want to come to this show. They provide great food as well!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"collenbrookwalksyoungridercourse\"<\/p>\n

Colleen Brook walks the Young Rider course with young rider, Lucy Evans<\/em><\/p>\n

Fifteen year old Madeline Sinderberry from Condobolin backed up her successful Australian Championships win with another here in the Young Rider Final on her little horse (he\u2019s just 15:2hh and takes a 5\u20199\u201d rug) with a big heart, Fernhill Zinzan.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been really consistent so hopefully we can just keep going! He\u2019s just turned nine so he\u2019s got plenty of time. We bought him when he was six from the Tripps. Tom McDermott was riding him as a youngster. Everyone told us that he was crazy which he is, but he\u2019s maturing. He still has some moments though. We get along; I trust him 100% and I know what he\u2019s going to do and he trusts me obviously.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"madelinesinderberryfernhillzinzan1\"<\/p>\n

Madeline Sinderberry and Fernhill Zinzan, winners of the Young Rider Final<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe arrived last Sunday and I had a few lessons with David Cameron at the beginning of the week. I\u2019ve been training with Dave for a long time. I just get a few lessons from him each year and then he helps me at shows but I\u2019m a bit on my own with the jumping at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bringing Europe to Australia is no mean feat. It takes a team of hard working, ultra dedicated people. And so it is with the Winnings and what Kerrie Winning calls her \u201cfamily\u201d, the team that helps her stage one of the most beautiful and intimate events on the Australian showjumping calendar. Whether you\u2019re part of the social set mixing in the VIP area or just a big lover of the sport sitting arena side under one of the glorious gums, the Showcase of Showjumping doesn\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n

\n

\"frenchboys2\"The Horse Man Team
\n<\/strong>\u201cIt was Stephen Lamb\u2019s idea!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

You may have seen them at WEG, those clever French lads who can clear 1.80m horse jumps in their underwear. Well, we were lucky to peruse their talents at the Showcase of Showjumping. Matthieu Nassif, who started the group 20 years ago, chatted to me just before their final performance of the weekend… tough job, the things I do for you, dear reader! <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI got a call about two weeks ago.
\nIt was breakfast time in Paris and I got a Facebook message from Stephen Lamb. I turned to my girlfriend and said, \u2018Darling, do you mind if I go away for a little bit?\u2019 \u2018Of course not, where are you going? Germany?\u2019 \u2018A little bit further!\u2019<\/em> It was so funny.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to find a team to come and it\u2019s not a real job, it\u2019s just a hobby so I had to find three guys available at the same time because we all have our jobs (36 year old Matthieu owns a restaurant in the centre of Paris\u2026 he used to be a lawyer, 24 year old Paul is a farrier who works on the Global Champions Tour and 19 year old Anthony is a student who works with young horses). We are all involved with horses, we all showjumped at different levels. I was not so good with the horse that\u2019s why I started without! Now we are 12 guys in the team and we act about three times a month and we\u2019ve done this show in more than 60 countries including the final ceremony at WEG in Normandy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"frenchboys1\"<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was good fun when I was 20 years old and I could chat up girls, \u2018I\u2019m the horse man, I\u2019m able to jump horse fences without a horse, half naked.\u2019<\/em> But now 36 years old\u2026 it\u2019s a bit different, but it\u2019s always good fun and I\u2019m proud that the story will go on after me. The team is now very young, between 17 and 23 years old. I\u2019m the oldest, the shortest and the biggest! But I was not going to give up a trip to Australia. Most French people will never be able to come here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe arrived on Friday night and performed here yesterday and also at the bar last night! We were not expecting this level of showjumping here. It\u2019s top level. We thought that in Australia the focus is more on eventing or racing so we were expecting a small, family show but oh my god it\u2019s magnificent! Everyone\u2019s been so cool, so welcoming.\u201d<\/p>\n

C\u2019est Magnifique!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I arrived at The Polo Fields in Richmond, just west of Sydney, I was greeted by Jamie Kermond\u2019s mum, Sue, who was manning the entrance of the VIP tent. The two Jamies (Kermo and fianc\u00e9e Jamie Winning) were in the arena, moving jumps and organising riders – in between competing their own horses…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,6],"tags":[1611,67],"class_list":["post-30130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-show-jumping","tag-showcase-of-showjumping","tag-showjumping"],"acf":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30130"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30289,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30130\/revisions\/30289"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}