By Joy Ringrose
Last year was a great year for Cooroy’s Billy Raymont in the sport of showjumping, particularly in the FEI World Cup Jumping Series.
In Australia there are 13 World Cup qualifying rounds, held in Australia’s four largest states. Points are accumulated by riders and totalled at the end of the year to decide who will represent Australia at the international World Cup Final.
Billy has had a very successful 2016, in World Cup Showjumping and at Australia’s biggest shows. Leading the WC competition in the second half of the year, he and his mount Anton finished the year second overall.
This pair won two top-level classes at Sydney Royal, then won eight Grand Prix classes in a row in big Qld shows. In the second half of the year they won two of the four biggest Australian WC qualifying rounds: at Melbourne Royal, and at Equitana.
These were the crowning achievements in an outstanding year for this pair, beating the best that Australia has to offer.
Anton’s South Australian owners are particularly delighted. They knew that they had a top horse, but he came to Billy as a horse that was easily spooked, and inclined to stop at jumps.
This enormously talented horse has been going from strength to strength in Billy’s careful hands, and many believe the best is yet to come. He was shortlisted for the 2016 Olympics, and has improved greatly since then.
Billy also has a young stallion, Bluecon, by the famous European sire Mr Blue. A stunningly beautiful six-year-old, he is proving a careful, talented jumper that has sired five outstanding foals for Billy.
If you would like to see Billy and these two exceptional horses in action, they will be competing in the Sunshine Coast Showjumping Club’s 17-19 February Grand Weekend of Showjumping, to be held at the Nambour Showgrounds. Not to be missed are the Friday night Speed Class, and the Saturday night Grand Prix, to see Anton, and the Sunday 1.20m Championship, to see Bluecon.
Showjumping legend John Fahey will also be in attendance. Entry is free. Further details are on the club’s website.
