Cup win caps off Chaise's show

A new name will be added to the prestigious winners list of the Countryman Memorial Cup AM5 after York showjumper Chaise Ludgate and her horse, Barrabadeen Tycoon, jumped to victory at the IGA Perth Royal Show.

Not only did the 23-year-old and her chestnut jump a very challenging course, designed by Gavin Chester, but she did so with two clear rounds and with two seconds to spare from second place-getter Anna McGregor.

"I was absolutely ecstatic to win my first Countryman Cup," Chaise said.

She said the jumping event was named after a chestnut Thoroughbred bred in Kojonup by Bob and Hope Russell who named their horse Countryman.

The previous owner of the horse, Christina Slater, of Byford, presented Chaise and Tycoon with the winning sash.

Ms Slater said the event was exciting to watch and brought back many memories of her record puissance jump on Countryman.

Chaise said she was thrilled to receive the garland sash from Christina.

"I am having a really good Show because I also backed up my last year's award for winning the leading showjumper title," she said.

Chaise rode two horses in the Cup and finished in third place on Barrabadeen Wotz-Up.

The other multi-horse competitor was Rory Hovell who jumped clear on Yalambi's Val D'Isere in the first round, but was unable to repeat the feat in round two.

Anna McGregor rode DVZ Faberge, the combination that won last year's Patron's Cup.

Anna's jumps were clean, but her time went against her taking the win.

Chaise is coached by her father, Lance, who runs a mixed sheep and cropping farm with his wife, Shelley, in York.

The family run Barrabadeen Performance Horses in which Chaise works full time.

She trained Tycoon and said that to win at showjumping, horses must be well educated, brave and come from good bloodlines. "It is all in the training," she said.

Chaise will be competing on Sunday when the Patron's Cup is held at the State Equestrian Centre at Brigadoon.