Jump into it this weekend at AELEC

The show jumpers return to the Australian Equine and Livestock Event Centre (AELEC) in Tamworth this weekend for three days of exciting equestrian action. Beginning Friday 13 February, over 200 horses and their riders will be competing in 800 rounds of jumping across two rings for their share of more than $10 000 in cash and prizes. Competitors from around NSW and QLD relish the opportunity provided by the North North West Show Jumping Club to compete at the world class venue and entries in many classes filled up within a day of opening.

One of the highlights of the event will occur on Friday evening when 30 up and coming horses compete in the Forty Winks Future Stars Classic scheduled to run indoors at 6pm. Internationally renowned World Cup course designer from Queensland, Graeme Watts will build a track of 1.25m and higher to test the training and bravery of these horses, with the winner taking home the sweepstakes prize pool.

At lunch time on Saturday 20 combinations will vie for their chance to add their name to the Peter Hoffman Memorial Cup. This class, run indoors over a track with jumps higher than 1.30m, honours the memory of a man tirelessly committed to promoting show jumping in regional NSW. He was a past president of the club and a life member as well as being president of Tamworth Show Society, he also spent many years on NSW Showjumping council, was a judge, course designer and steward. Competitors are keen to add their name to a prestigious list that includes Jess Brown (Kulnura, NSW) James Mooney (Kulnura, NSW)  and Clem Smith (Gatton, QLD), and Brock Harvey (Armidale, NSW)

Following the Hoffman Cup is the feature event of the show, the Peel River Produce Grand Prix. Scheduled to have the first horse on course at 2pm, 12 combinations will tackle the 1.40m indoor course, a competition over two rounds. The 2013 winner, Sydney Olympian Ron Easey, returns with two horses with the sole goal of taking back the title but the competition won't be easy. He is up against the fearless eventer Andrew Barnett (Keinbah, NSW), Brock Harvey (Armidale, NSW) and his stunning stallion Thunder Down Under, the glamour girl Brooke Campbell (Newport, NSW), the seasoned campaigner Clem Smith (Gatton, Qld) with two rides, young gun James Hetherington (Tamworth, NSW) also with two rides, Jess Brown who is following successfully in her Olympian father's footsteps, speed machine Sam Buchanan (Ardlethan, NSW) and Sarah Beale (Duffys Forest, NSW) who is quietly making a name for herself in the senior classes with a string of impressive wins under her saddle.

With free spectator entry all weekend the Peel River Produce Indoor Championships is not to be missed. The first horse is on course at 8am each day and the jumping continues non-stop all weekend with two rings in action.