Kelly O’Connor is simply the best
BRIDLE PARK AH – Kelly O'Connor wins at the SA Showjumping Championship, looks ahead to the SA Derby.
Local showjumping star and holder of the SA Derby crown, Kelly O’Connor cannot stop winning.
She took the 1.5m title at the recent RnR South African Showjumping Championship.
The Bridle Park AH resident competed on her Belgian imported mare, Hera van de Bien.
“The first big challenge was to qualify in order to compete in the championship,” O’Connor said.
“You had to be in the top eight finishers in one of the three qualifying rounds. In the first qualifying competition, we came eighth, which took a huge amount of pressure off and allowed me to rest my horse until the championship class.”
The championship was held over three rounds and O’Connor said the trick was to ensure she and her horse were fit enough to perform to the best of their ability until the end of the competition, which they did.
“Next up, our focus will be on one of the most prestigious showjumping events in the country, the Derby. I won this title for the first time last year and would love to go and defend it.”
O’Connor won the derby last year on the same horse after a jump-off against Nicola Sime-Riley on Sunny Park Stables’ Elpaso.
Sime-Riley and Elpaso cleared the jump-off course in 44.68 seconds but O’Connor and Hera van de Bien pipped them, clearing it in 41.66 seconds giving them the title with Sime-Riley in second place.
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