By Margaret Maccoll
World champion show jumper Billy Raymont may have had his overseas competitions halted by COVID but last weekend he was riding full tilt on his trusty steed Anton at the Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show with big plans for the future.
Billy’s lineup of competition engagements included the regional shows of Childers, Gympie, Maryborough as well as last week’s show at Nambour, followed by World Cup show jumps at Gatton this month and Caboolture later in the year.
With his new horse, Black Jack, Billy hopes competitions on the world stage will return next year.
While show jumping was a dominant feature of the Nambour show crowds flocked to the event for the side shows, exhibits and livestock.
Among them was Marko Mircic from Ottawa Llamas who had brought a few of his 30 llamas to the show to talk about his easy-going, therapeutic animals.
It was after losing some sheep in a dog attack that Marko decided to get some llamas to protect the herd and discovered their appeal. He now takes tourists on a variety of walks with the llamas from trail walks to winery walks at Kilcoy.
