Olympian takes a leap

TRIPLE Olympian Vicki Roycroft will lead an impressive field of some of Australia’s top showjumpers competing at the Noosa Showgrounds this weekend.
The top riders are in town for the Queensland State Showjumping Championships.
The titles were originally set down for May but were postponed due to torrential rain.
Because of this rescheduling, the Sunshine Coast Showjumping Club’s July Show falls in line with Queensland’s biggest showjumping events.
The Gatton Show, the SCSJ Club’s July Show, the four-day Glenhaven Park Show at Kilcoy, the Gatton World Cup Qualifier, The Caboolture World Cup Qualifier and the Brisbane Royal Show all take place in succession now and have attracted the top riders in Australia to provide a feast of showjumping action within a 100 kilometre radius of Brisbane.
The main event of the SCSJ Club’s July Show will be Monday’s Grand Prix Equestrian Queensland (EQ) State Championships, incorporating part four of the Stubben Saddle Classic.
Starting at 2pm, this event will feature 40 of Australia’s top horses and the nation’s 25 best World Cup riders.
Taking place on the showgrounds, the competitors will be challenged by the Paul Raymont designed challenging 800m course starting with jumps at 1.50 metres then featuring Olympic level jumps of 1.60m in the jump-off.
Sandale Saddlery of Palmwoods has donated a $4100 Stubben saddle as the prize.
Vicki Roycroft, who has not jumped at Nambour before, said she was pleased to attend.
“Nambour has a reputation for having a good jumping surface,” she said.
Vicki won the first World Cup qualifier this year at the Sydney Royal Show.
Cooroy’s Billy Raymont, who won the Grand Prix at the same show, will also be competing on both Anton, his Olympic squad horse, and his World Cup qualifier winning horse Stardom.
A total of 400 horses have been entered for the show.
Warm-up events will be held on Saturday.
The serious action starts on Sunday from 3pm to 4pm with a speed challenge over a higher course than previous shows.
Jumping 1.40m at speed on a 600m course will see some thrilling action from the top riders.
At 7pm on Sunday evening there is the EQ Young Rider Championships for 18 to 21-year-olds followed by the EQ State Junior Championships for riders turning 12 to 18 this year.
The SCSJ Club’s July Show is free to the public and food will be available on the grounds.
For further details and entry information contact Sue Raymont on 5447 6589 or email her at psraymont@hotmail.com.