When they said the rule book was out the window for the Greg Grant Saddlery Full Flight Jumping, they weren’t joking.

Predictably, MC Tim Dreverman tweaked and changed things as he went along, all in the name of top-flight competition and fabulous entertainment. The riders delivered a superb show of speed and skill as they went head-to-head, chasing honour, glory and the big bucks.

The crowd quickly picked their favourites and lifted the roof of the Grand Pavillion cheering them on.

The Knock Out Stakes was as heart-stopping as it was thrilling but in the end, the night belonged to Hugh Buchannan and his beautiful grey Lola GHP. The 16-strong field was whittled down to just two – Hugh and the gutsy Tanner Robinson aboard Vidacious. As the two combinations headed flat out and neck and neck down the last line it looked to be anyone’s but a rail at the second to last – bringing with it a three second penalty – meant the honours went to Hugh.

The All or Nothing Gamble saw only clears from each round move forward. Eleven combinations quickly became nine, with just seven coming through to the last round, and all of them taking on the cash-rich joker fence.

While three managed to clear the 1.55m jump, only Clem Smith aboard Oaks Conjuror and Hayden Parker on Tulara Spangenberg had clean slates, collecting themselves $1650 apiece.

The Gavin Chester-designed course certainly proved challenging enough and called for turn-on-a-dime turns.

It was a spectacular end to a busy and fun opening day for EQUITANA 2024.