SINGLETON’S Cade Hunter has spent several weeks competing at the national and international level of his sport, showjumping, and has plenty of silverware for his efforts.
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Hunter competed at the Australian National Showjumping Championships in Werribee Victoria, winning the final class, the Grand Prix, on his horse Kelstar.
Two weeks ago in Camden he was the youngest member of a victorious New South Wales side in the Trans-Tasman Young Rider Challenge against New Zealand.
At the nationals there were 100 riders overall but only 30 qualified for the final.
He finished in 26th position, just making the cut, but went on to win the final which helped him jump 20 overall positions to capture sixth.
He also placed third overall at the Australian Inter-School Championships and made the NSW Secondary School Showjumping team, which went on to win their event.
Hunter said the Trans-Tasman Challenge was a massive achievement for the NSW squad who has been defeated in the past two years.
“The New Zealand team (made up of four riders) were all aged 20 and had that experience advantage, while our oldest rider was 19,” the 16-year-old said.
Hunter and the other riders also had the challenge of using horses they’d never ridden before and were only allowed six jumps to get used to their animal.
The final score was NSW 2 NZ 1.
His next major event in December is the Summer Classic in Sydney.
That is a World Cup Show, bringing elite riders from all over the country.
It’s been a busy time for Hunter but the competitions are something he’s relishing.
“I'm competing in both juniors and young riders, juniors’ age is 12-18 and young riders is 16-21, so the competition is a lot harder,” he told The Argus.
“At the moment I have seven horses I could ride each day.
“But, with school and teenage life, I obviously don’t get a lot of time to ride, however every chance I get I take it.”
