SKILL and athleticism of riders and horses were on display at the Toowoomba Showgrounds and Equestrian Centre for the Darling Downs Cutting Club Futurity last week.
Held from July 7 to 13, competitors travelled from across NSW, Victoria, South Australia and a large representation from Queensland, to take part in the second largest Cutting Futurity event in Australia.
Riders were competing for their share of the $110,000 prize pool.
The showcase event, the Open Futurity, was taken out by talented trainer Todd Graham from Oakey who scored 150 riding Driving Miss Dreamer, owned by Peakvale QHS.
Corey Holden, Cobram, VIC, won the Open Classic Challenge with a score of 148, riding Top Cat Blues, owned by Michael Smith.
Open Derby winner was Jason Leitch, Springsure, with a score of 150, riding One Sweet Cherry, owned by Kempsey QHS.
Taking out first place in the Snafflebit Futurity on a score of 146 was Michael Boyce, Warwick, riding Two Bob An Acre, owned by D&J Fraser.
In the Non Pro Events, Amelia Tonkin from Barraba, NSW, who won the Non Pro Futurity riding World Series Cat, Phil Conaghan, Marlborough, placed first in the Non Pro Classic Challenge riding One Lucky Break and the Non Pro Derby was won by Steven Smith, Goondiwindi, riding Oaks Sledge Hammer and the Youth title was won by Tess Conaghan riding One Lucky Break.
The Open Cutting event was won by Todd Graham aboard Winderadeen MS Shorty owned by Di Brombal and the Non Pro Open Cutting was won by very successful competitor Phil Conaghan again riding One Lucky Break.