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HUNTER Valley show jumper Jake Hunter won a bronze individual jumping medal at the recent Youth Olympic Games in China.
Only nine combinations managed to jump clear in the first round, with a seeded order for the second round.
The pressure was on Hunter, who jumped second last, to repeat this performance.
Over a testing track designed by Australian John Vallance, the second had more fences at the maximum 130cm height putting pressure on the tail of the field knowing any error could cost them a Youth Olympic Games medal.
Only four riders managed to jump double clear over the two days with Hunter drawn to jump third in the final jump off.
It was a big finish to a thrilling event with Hunter ending up with just four penalties to take bronze behind New Zealand’s Emily Fraser and Argentinian Martina Campi.
“I’m so proud and so happy to have got a medal. I can’t describe it, I couldn’t be happier, it’s great,” Hunter said.
“My horse jumped fantastic and I couldn’t ask for any more.
“She’s only a young horse, and to come out and make the jump-off over a really tough track is fantastic. I’d really love to be riding her in a few more years.
“She just got a bit tired being a young horse, but she still gave everything that she’s got and you can’t ask for anything more.”
Hunter, who learnt to ride from his mum, herself a very successful showjumping competitor, said he would like to move to Europe and try his luck at riding as a career.
First though he will be trying to regain his 2012 Australian junior showjumping title at the Australian Championships in Melbourne in September.
The Youth Olympic Games finish tomorrow.