She may have been knocking on the door for a few years, but Nicola Sime-Riley has clinched the 2017 Cell C South African Derby title, riding Sunny Park Stables Elpaso.
The pair were the fourth to go in this elite showjumping class, held in the Bob Charter Arena at Kyalami Equestrian Park on 1 October, and wowed spectators with their precise, seemingly effortless first round as they cleared all 18 obstacles, with the jumps measuring 1.50m.
The crowd roared as they rode through the finish flags, and then the tension soared to see whether another horse-and-rider combination would ride a clear round.
Hot contenders in the line-up this year for the 52nd instalment of the SA Derby, included Eastern Cape rider Jade Hooke on A New Era – who won the derby in 2009 and 2011, before competing in the UK and clinching third place at the Hickstead Derby; Nicole Horwood on Mark White Nissan Capital Don Cumarco – the horse-and-rider combination that won the derby four times; and showjumping legend, Barry Taylor who has ridden the derby a whopping 34 times.
But it was not to be for Hooke and A New Era who finished the round with 16 penalties; nor was it Horwood and Capital Don Cumarco’s day as they incurred eight penalties for a back step on the bank and knocking down a pole. Taylor retired his first ride, Counter Attack after incurring 20 penalties.
It was two-time derby winner, Anne-Marie Esslinger riding Alzu Oregon, the horse she clinched her second derby win on in 2015, who were the next pair to ride through the finish flags with a clear round that drew mighty applause from spectators.
Liam Stevens riding Nissan Wanda had a good run as contenders for a clear round, clearing all the jumps but with a foot in the water, the pair lost their bid for a place in the jump-off.
Four-time derby winner, Ronnie Lawrence riding Gillian Van Orshof, was the third and final rider to earn his spot in the jump-off after riding a clear round.
The final three riders who followed him, including Taylor on his second ride, Catwalk 22, incurred penalties.
And so the stage was set for the showdown between the three competitors. Heavy clouds rolled over the Bob Charter Arena and the atmosphere grew tense – the riders would need to clear the jump-off track in 48 seconds.
As the first competitor to ride clear in the first round, Sime-Riley and Sunny Park Stables Elpaso were first to go. The pair cleared all of the fences to ride through the finish flags with a clear round in 42.98 seconds.
The audience was beside themselves with enthusiasm and Sime-Riley beamed in delight.
Next up was Esslinger and Alzu Oregon. With an unfortunate pole down, the pair incurred four penalties and completed the jump-off in a time of 43.18 seconds.
The pressure was on for Lawrence to ride clear at a faster pace than that set by Sime-Riley. His pace was quick.
He completed the jump-off in 42.45 seconds, but with one pole down, like Esslinger, he incurred four penalties.
And so Sime-Riley and Sunny Park Stables Elpaso emerged victorious and entered the arena once more for the prizegiving ceremony.
Among the dignitaries present was the City of Joburg Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, and chairman of the Kyalami Equestrian Park, Jan Kleynhans, who shook hands with Sime-Riley and the other five placed competitors.
They were, Lawrence riding Gillian Van Orshof in second place, Esslinger riding Alzu Oregon in third place, Nicole Horwood riding Mark White Nissan’s Capital Hitoshi in fourth place, Liam Stevens riding Nissan Wanda in fifth place and Rainer Korber riding Clouny 3 in sixth place.
Before setting off on her lap of honour, the humble Sime-Riley said her win was ‘unbelievable’. Speaking fondly of Elpaso, she said, “He jumped his socks off.” She added that he really ‘goes all out for me’ and tried hard.
Sime-Riley then led the other placed riders in a well-earned lap of honour, spurred on by cheers from the crowd.
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