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The Jewel in the Crown at HOY
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CAPTION - Multi JB OLympic Cup winner Katie Laurie. PHotograph by Eye Witness Photography
If there's one trophy everyone wants to get their hands on, it's the JB Olympic Cup.
With a lower entry fee this year, $40,000 for the winner and everyone who starts the class walking away with cash, it's a good bet for all.
International designer Gerrit Beker is tasked with creating a course that while won't be an Olympic or WEG qualifier this year, will present plenty of questions to those ready to be challenged.
Show director Kevin Hansen is expecting a strong Aussie contingent in the class that carries a lot of prestige on both sides of the Tasman . . . and the visitors have quite the track record over the years.
History tells us the Australians love to try and raid the Kiwi trophy cabinets.
Since 1953, when the Olympic Cup was first held, they've won it eight times – R. William Hyem and Coronation (1962), Chris Smith and Sanskrit (1975), the Australian owned Matlock with Kiwi Sue Crawston (1976), Marie Gordon on TNT (1980), David Asimus and Golden Grand (1985), Chris Chadwick and Mr Midnight (1990), Brad Frankum on Pelican's Rest Cougar (2002) and Peter McMahon on KS Genoa (2009).
They’ve had more than their fair share of placings too over the years, but if truth be told, no one loves a good Kiwi Aussie showdown in the most prestigious class in the land.
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