Showjumping Canterbury Championship 3* Show: Raymont Goes Back-to-Back

Australian Billy Raymont and his super Kiwi Thoroughbred Stardom (pictured) have made it back-to-back success in Christchurch taking out today’s Bayer Super League Senior Horse Championship at Showjumping Canterbury’s Championship Three Star Show.

Reduced to just the five starters, after local hope Ross Smith opted not to start his stallion Quite Cassini, Raymont and Stardom were in a class of their own. One of only two clears in the first round, the duo were foot-perfect in the second over the big Leicester Jarden-designed track to take the win ahead of Alison Rowland (West Australia) on Bickley Brook Bianca on four faults, and James Arkins (Australia) on Dreamtime Invader third on eight faults.

Raymont, who only flew back to Christchurch early this morning to be reunited with Stardom, was thrilled with the win. “He is such a super horse. He was a little bit fresh. I just can’t believe how well he is going at the moment; long may it continue,” he smiled.

Raymont’swin came hot on the heels of last weekend’s success winning the prestigious Rutherford Cup for the New Zealand National Senior Horse Championship at the National Championships.

Honours in the Marion Kelly Memorial One Star Horse Grand Prix went deservedly to Claudia Hay on her stunning young stallion Euro Sport Centavos. Thirteen started, with just two going clear in the first round. In the second round, Hay produced one of only three clears to finish on a total of four faults in a time of 54.15 seconds, just ahead of Georgina Power and Waldorf who had victory within their grasp until an unlucky rail at the very last fence, dropping them to second. Aussie Kirstie Ansell and Balou finished third.

In the hotly-contested Pony Grand Prix, it was Emily Fraser (Waipukurau) and Tony The Pony who reigned supreme, finishing the two rounds on four faults. Newly crowned national Pony Grand Prix champion Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) on Moonlight Glow had to settle for second with five faults after picking up one time fault in the first round and four faults in the second, ahead of Molly Buist-Brown on Miss Mae West third, the fastest of the eight faulters.

The highly anticipated futurity finals open to 110cm and 120cm horses did not disappoint.

In the CRT Real Estate 120cm Futurity Stakes final, it took 15 combinations before 17-year-old Australian Georgia Siciliano produced the competition’s only clear round aboard Yalambi’s Soltarella to secure the win.

The win capped off a stellar weekend for the WA teen, who finished runner-up in the KiwiSpan Junior Rider earlier in the day won by West Melton’s Sally Spicer on Weiti Eros, and was a dominant winner of the South Island Mitavite Young Rider Series yesterday riding Cesann.

The 24-strong Tru Test $3000 110cm Futurity Stakes final was won by Aliesha Harcourt on In 2 Summer. Six went through to the jumpoff with no clear rounds. First out, Harcourt had one rail down setting the time to beat of 32.90, which wasn’t bettered.

The show brings down the curtain down on a busy season for Canterbury Showjumping.

RESULTS:

Bayer Super League Senior Horse Championship: Billy Raymont (Australia) Stardom 1, Alison Rowland (Australia) Bickley Brook Bianca 2, James Arkins (Australia) Dreamtime Invader 3.

Marion Kelly Memorial One Star Horse Grand Prix:Claudia Hay (Mosgiel) Euro Sport Centavos 1, Georgina Power (Little River) Waldorf 2, Kirstie Ansell (Australia) Balou 3, Rory Hovell (Australia) Yalambi’s Carpino Z 4, Kelly Evans (Cave) Hammertime 5, Georgia Siciliano (Australia) Cesann 6.

CRT Real Estate $3000 120cm Futurity Stakes Final:Georgie Siciliano (Australia) Yalambi’s Soltarella 1, Maddison Thompson (Darfield) King John 2, Devon Van Til Akubra 3, Jacquie Crutchley (Christchurch) Hot Chocolate II 4, Hayley Morris (Oxford) Livewire II 5, Jenna Walls (West Melton) Baltamour 6.

TruTest group $3000 110cm Futurity Stakes Final:Aleisha Harcourt (West Melton) In 2 Summer 1, Chelsea McLaughlin (Christchurch) Southern Belle 2, Louise Turner (Christchurch) Frolic 3, Kirsty Sharapoff (West Melton) Shoot The Breeze 4, Daf Davies (Gore) Ngahiwi Lola 5, Georgia Urquhart (Fairlie) Saddlery Barn Midway 6.

Horse 1.30m Championship:Juliet Scott (Cave) Amarula MVNZ 1, Amanda Roy (Clinton) Rumours NZPH 2, Rose Alfeld (Weedons) Capprera 3, Anna Redmond (Ashburton) Vera Mera Va 4, Angela Ruddenklau (Kurow) Allure 5, Chris Harris (Alyesbury) Zilco Te Peka Lotto 6.

Pony Grand Prix:Emily Fraser (Waipukurau) Tony The Pony 1, Steffi Whittaker (Halswell) Moonlight Glow 2, Molly Buist-Brown (Templeton) Miss Mae West 3, Kimberley Bird (Rakaia) Brenwood Stevie James 4, Georgia Urquhart (Fairlie) My Dreamworks 5, Emily Fraser (Waipukurau) Tiger Tale LS.

South Island Mitavite Young Rider Series: Georgia Siciliano (Australia) Cesann 1, Brittany Whelan (Dunedin) George Jetson 2, Katie Meredith (Ohoka) Rio Madrid 3, Olivia Robertson (Ohoka) Ngahiwi Cisco 4, Kirstie Ansell (Australia) Balou 5, James Arkins (Australia) Dreamtime Invader 6.

STH Hay Supplied Pro Amateur Rider: Sarah Swarbrick (Amberley) A Cut Above 1, Angus Taylor (Ohoka) Ngahiwi Wirey 2, Angela Lissington (Amberley) Donala Dundee 3, Anna Douglass (Timaru) St Henry 4, Vicky Cole (Invercargill) Keating 5, Anna Douglass (Timaru) Young Pretender 6.

Caledonian in conjunction with Betavet Amateur Rider:Amy Peddie (Rangiora) Teds Grudge 1, Jackie Wear (Waikouaiti) Guscott 2, Melanie Morris (Rangiora) Malluka 3, Sophie Wigley (Amberley) SE Big 4, Daf Davies (Gore) Ngahiwi Lola 5, Jenna Walls (West Melton) Baltamour 6.

KiwiSpanJunior Rider:Sally Spicer (West Melton) Weiti Eros 1, Georgia Siciliano (Australia) Yalambi’s Soltarella 2, Olivia Robertson (Ohoka) Tiki Taane 3, Maddison Thompson (Darfield) King John 4, Hayley Morris (Oxford) Livewire II 5, Tamara Silcock (Nelson) Brea AF 6.

Seven Year Old Breeding Series:Rose Alfeld (Weedons) My Super Nova 1, Kelly Evans (Cave) Ink II 2, Angela Ruddenklau (Kurow) Bambino 3.

Tavern Harewood Mitavite Six Year Old Breeding Series:Brad Cunningham (Christchurch) Kiwi Crusher 1.

FourflaxFernhill Stud Five Year Old Breeding Series:Brent Jury (Cust) SE Godswalk 1.

Story & Photo: www.anniestudholme.com