The month of November was as exciting as anyone could expect for South African showjumping news, headlined by two major titles in the form of the Burlington Cup and South African Showjumping Championships. Along the way, there were many memorable moments, triumphant victories, and of course, sad events. These were your top 5 stories in November:
Nicole Horwood and Mark White Nissan’s Capital Chantilly – the 2020 South African Champions | Hilary O’Leary 
Happy retirement, Clyde Z! 
No. 5: Nicole Horwood Wins Her Second SA Champs Title
A fine week of showjumping, interspersed with torrential downpours, culminated with a victory for Nicole Horwood at the Shongweni Club, where she claimed her second SA Champs title. Making the victory all the more impressive was that it was on Mark White Nissan’s Capital Chantilly, a horse with whom Nicole’s partnership is relatively new, only taking the ride this year.
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No. 4: The Industry Mourns The Loss Of David Stubbs
There have been many great competitors over the years, but few have gone well beyond the show ring to develop the sport and the South African Warmblood breed in the way David Stubbs did. Unfortunately, this month, Mr. Stubbs passed away, leaving behind an incredible legacy that won’t soon be forgotten.
No. 3: New Additions To The 1.50m Ranks At SA Champs
SA Champs was jampacked with excitement. Over the course of the week, no fewer than 5 new combinations stepped up to the 1.50m ranks and earned a spot in our Rider Profiles. Among them, some of the riders were returning after a nearly decade-long hiatus – including Charley-Ann Crockart and Colin “Chookie” Ferreira, but others were all new to the grade.
No. 2: Clyde Z Retires At Shongweni
There was not a dry eye in the house on the final day of SA Champs, as two legendary horses retired from the sport. For the legendary Clyde Z, the occasion was most fitting, as he is the only horse in South African history to have won the prestigious event with two riders, originally with Shaun Neill, and most recently with Cathryn Neill in 2018. His 10-year-long career has been nothing short of spectacular, with only the South African Derby title eluding him.
No. 1: Martin Fuchs And Cian O’Connor Tell Us How To Master The Clock
In a The JumpOff exclusive, Cian O’Connor and world number 2, Martin Fuchs, gave us their top tips for beating the clock, mastering the time allowed, and gaining the edge in a jump-off round. Not only did we get the riders’ perspective, but we also spoke to top international course designers to see where they expect riders to save time.
Looking At December
With November behind us, December is already shaping up to be an exciting month of competition, as we look forward to the Kawena Masters invitational event this weekend, the South African Outdoor Grand Prix next week, and, just before Christmas, the South African Youth Championships. We’ll also be giving away a set of Longines Global Champions Tour jumping boots before Christmas in our Facebook giveaway, so if you haven’t yet entered, be sure to find out how.
-The JumpOff-
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