Jamie Priestley leaps to her first NSW senior title

The Nowra Anglican College alumna, who is currently competing in the Australian Jumping Teams League, started her assault in the NSW State Showjumping Championships in class 112 - 1.45m, where she placed 11th.

Priestley and her horse Courage then bounced back to finish second in class 125 - 1.50m division, behind Rhys Stones and Tulara Colmar.

These two qualifications rounds helped determine the number of penalties each combination would carry forward into the final on Sunday.

In the first round of the final, there were five clear rounds, but neither the two leaders, Rhys Stones or Amber Fuller were one of them, meaning that they had let the opportunity for victory slip and they were now reliant on others incurring penalties as well.

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After the second round of the final, of the event hosted by the ACT Showjumping Club, there were only two combinations with double clears.

Victory in class 143 - 1.50m final went to Izabella Stone and Lincoln MVNZ by just over half a second from Priestley and Courage.

Therefore, after coming into the final of three penalties and in seventh place, Priestley and Courage were able to go double clear in the final to remain on a total of three penalties and thereby take out the NSW senior rider title - an extraordinary achievement for an athlete who only just stepped up into the senior ranks.

"From day one, my horses were feeling great and I felt ready for this big event," Priestley, who came into the event on the back of a win at Moruya, said.

"I controlled my nerves as I was last out and knew I had to jump clear to take the title and it all came together for Courage and I.

"I was patient and we could not have done a better round.

"This win means a lot to me - it was very unexpected which makes it even sweeter.

"I only swapped from the mini prix into the senior title the day before the competition started, as Courage had jumped so well at Moruya.

"I think I'm still in shock with this achievement."

2017 winner Fuller and CP Aretino, who entered the final on zero but incurred five penalties in the final, finished second, while Samantha Morrison and Biarritz in third.

The 21-year-old, who rode in Berlin earlier in the year, will now shift her focus to more silverware.

"We are next off to Boneo in Victoria for the Boneo Cup and the Australian titles," she said.

"After that is round three of the teams league at Sale (Victoria) with hopefully another World Cup start.

"I'll then end the year at SIEC (Sydney International Equestrian Centre) at the Summer Classic with the last round of the teams league and quite possibly another World Cup start."