A spectacular double clear gave Clint Beresford the win in the Grand Hotel Bega Showjumping Cup on Sunday night.
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It came down to a battle between the Australian World Cup League winner Beresford and former Olympian Ron Easey after both rode two quick clears in the opening round.
Beresford set the benchmark early riding SL Donato in 58.12 seconds in round two.
However, Easey was not giving up the crown cheaply and knocked him back to second with a 57.37 second clear on Port O Call.
It was Beresford’s second run that made the difference riding his Australian title horse Emmaville Jitterbug where Beresford smashed the clock, racing home in 53.46 seconds all-clear to claim the Cup.
Beresford claimed first and third, while Easey secured second and fourth for his quick times, while fifth place went to another local favourite in Craig Matthews, who had just one rail down in the second round in 59.29 on Fifa La Viva.
The defending champion Jamie Priestley was left wanting with three jumping penalties on her younger entrant Courage, while she had an opening round refusal and was thrown from the saddle riding Amaretto.
It was one of the biggest main events in recent history with 18 entries contesting the Cup and 16 combinations returning for a round two effort where jumps peaked at 1.5metres.
Conditions had been mild for entrants with misty rain marking the start of the Showjumping Cup and increasing into the second round of the main event.
Officials said the four-day meet was the first showjumping the Bega Showground had hosted all year and the resurfaced ground had held up extremely well for the pinnacle meet.
Officials said there had been misty showers on each night of the competition, but the cool shifts provided good conditions for rider-horse combinations to push themselves.
Almost 1500 individual rounds of competition were held and organisers said it was great to see new and returning riders taking part.
Photos and full event results can be found on the Bega Showjumping Cup Facebook page.