Above: Melody Matheson and Graffiti MH

Some of New Zealand’s best riders have travelled across the Tasman, to compete in Australia’s richest Jumping competition and they are representing their country with distinction.

The Aquis Champions tour, held over nine days at the Elysian Fields equine complex, located on the Gold Coast Hinterland in Queensland, is one of the highlights on the Australian Jumping calendar. The headline class, the Horse Power Gold Tour, comprising of two qualifying rounds and a final for just the top ranked 25 combinations, has total prize money of $130,000 AUD with $40,000 AUD for the winner.

The first qualifying round was held this morning with two of New Zealand’s finest right in the thick of it. Tom Tarver-Priebe who finished tenth in the Aquis Silver Tour Final last year, was the second fastest four faulter, riding Equifibre Popeye into twelfth place. Not to be outdone, Melody Matheson and Graffiti MH went double clear in this two-phase class to finish in eighth position. They are both well placed, unless something disastrous happens in tomorrow’s second qualifier, to make Sunday’s final. Former New Zealand star, now representing Australia, Katie Laurie riding Casebrooke Lomond took out the class.

Tom Tarver-Priebe and Equifibre Popeye

Katie Laurie and Casebrooke Lomond

The top twelve placegetters in this class were: