By JOY RINGROSE
MORE than 300 horses filled Nambour Showgrounds last weekend for the Sunshine Coast Showjumping Club’s Grand Weekend of Showjumping.
The event got off to a flying start with the state’s top riders testing their skills in a 1.30m speed class on Friday night.
In spite of inclement weather a healthy crowd turned up to cheer each of the riders on as they pushed their horses to the limit around a tight, testing course, designed by Paul Raymont. There was a hair’s breadth between the two top place getters with Cooroy’s Billy Raymont on Anton pipped by one-hundredth of a second and relegated to second place behind Kilcoy’s Matthew Whally.
The good news continued for Billy who celebrated his birthday on the day, as he was informed that he has gained a place on the Senior Showjumping Squad, with Anton, for the next Olympic Games.
This is a result of his many wins and consistent form on this South Australian horse over the past 12 months.
Billy did a scorching round on last year’s speed class winner, Chronic Dominant Visage, coming home in 47.35 seconds, but pulled a rail on the second last jump, the first element in a pair that undid many riders because of the tight turn that was needed to set their horses straight before this jump.
In a fine display of centred, accurate riding Matthew Whally brought his dark bay horse, Aphrodite, home in a time of 51.02 seconds to take out first place.
As well as winning $400, Aphrodite won a beautiful woollen rug donated by the show’s main sponsors, Sandale Saddlery.
In third place was another brilliant young rider who has already done well in Europe, Olivia Hamood.
She rode Carado GHP to within three-quarters of a second of the winner, with a fast steady round.
Cooroy rider Charlie Graham posted a steady clear round on his dark bay horse Kildon Park Vellota for fourth place.
His time of 53.86 seconds was only a few seconds shy of the winning margin.
He was ahead of Becky Jenkins, on her outstanding World Cup horse Jacanda, and Becky’s husband Stuart Jenkins. They placed fifth and sixth respectively.
