Christopher Burton again State Champion!

Christopher Burton & Leilani

 The Baxter Boots Lynton State Championships boasted one of the largest fields of competitors seen at a NSW one day event, with almost 400 competitors over three days, despite the two lower classes (Newcomers and Introductory) not being offered on the programme. With some 35 horses in 3*, over 40 in 2* and 50 in 1*, this was a huge event.

The weekend started off on an unpleasant blustery Friday and ran over one of the best weekends for weather this year. The Neil Kennedy course was as always beautifully presented and this was complemented by the efficient administration which ran the event so smoothly. 

The result was a second win for Christopher Burton who convincingly took out the 3* event and thus State championship on Jean and Jade Findlay's lovely mare, Leilani.

Possibly the most exciting thing was to see the gradual emergence of talent aiming towards London. These riders have always been "there" over the past seven or eight years but are coming together to take out the top placings in the current events. Second and third in the 3-star were none other than past Olympans, Stuart Tinney (also fifth and sixth) and Shane Rose (also 7th).  The winner of both the 2-star and 1-star was Queensland's Kevin McNab who was also fourth in the3-star. After Kevin in the 2-star was the in-form and impressive Emma Scott with Christine Bates, now a mother of William, taking out third on Making News and fourth on Gendy Parry-Okeden's Church Hill. If we add to the mix, the two South Australian Olympians, Megan Jones and Wendy Schaeffer, we have the makings of some great talent for London in 2010, perhaps for a wholly Australian based team!!

Please note that MAIN EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY has now solved its internet problem and you can visit their site (Links) for photographs from this event.

For the full results, click here.