Equestrian excellence from Sime-Riley at the SA Derby
Benoni Small Farms resident and equestrian extraordinaire Nicola Sime-Riley leapt to victory on her powerful grey horse, Sunny Parks Elpaso, at the 52nd Cell C South African Derby at Kyalami Equestrian Park on October 1 in the afternoon’s main showjumping event.
The SA Derby is regarded as the toughest jumping test on the equestrian calendar but the local riding star and her horsey partner handled the challenge with aplomb.
A total of 21 riders started the main event with only three going clear (Sime-Riley, Anne-Marie Esslinger and Ronnie Lawrence) to set up a three-way jump-off.
The capacity crowd witnessed epic jumping from Sime-Riley who set the pace on Sunny Park Stables Elpaso.
Next to go against the clock was Burlington’s Esslinger on Alzu Oregon who knocked one jump down.
Coming in faster than her, but also with one down was Gillian van Orshof, ridden by Lawrence.
This gave Sime-Riley her first ever SA Derby title.
Having already won the South African Outdoor Grand Prix over the Easter weekend the possibility of a ‘Triple Crown’ in the 2017 calendar year is well on the cards for the Benonian rider.
To do that she and Elpaso will need to win the South African Championships in November at Kyalami.
Technically, Sime-Riley and Elpaso have already achieved a Triple Crown, albeit not in the same calendar year, after the duo sprung into first position at last year’s SA Championships.
The owner of Benoni Small Farm’s Sunny Park Equestrian Club said that she hadn’t done much riding the week before the derby as she was sick.
“I had not done much training but my horses were on form.
“I have a great bunch of staff members who kept them ticking while I was down,” she said.
“Elspaso rode perfectly.
“He was so fit and was not out of puff at all during the ride.”
Sime-Riley thanked the title sponsor for supporting showjumping in the country and her respected coach, South African showjumping legend Gonda Beatrix for helping to get her to a higher level in the sport.
ALSO READ:
https://www.citizen.co.za/benoni-city-times/305096/no-horsing-around-from-sime-riley-ahead-of-the-derby/
https://www.citizen.co.za/benoni-city-times/293037/defending-champ-does-it-again/
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