Glen Haven Park Grand Prix Show - Centre of the Universe for Showjumping on 25-28 July!

Jamie Kermond riding Ajado - winner of the Ian & Di McCauley Kilcoy Cup 1.50m Grand Prix

For showjumping competitors and fans, Kilcoy Queensland, was the place to be on 25-28 July, when the Glen Haven Park Grand Prix Show took over the town!

213 riders and their entourages, with over 460 horses made Kilcoy showgrounds home, providing non-stop showjumping action during this prestigious annual event.

The Glen Haven Park Grand Prix show, now in its third year, just keeps getting bigger and better.

There was a big program of events on offer with classes to suit all levels from 90cm through to the Ian & Di McCauley Kilcoy Cup Grand Prix 1.50m, with plenty in between including the Singapore Sling Grand Prix, Jo Weller Memorial Mini Prix, the Exchange Hotel Future Stars Futurity, the Powerup Lawncare Products Young Rider Grand Prix and the BP Kilcoy Junior Grand Prix.

Spectators at Arena one, the Prydes EasiFeed Arena, were treated to a showcase of Australia's best jumping talent with awesome course design from the very talented David Sheppard, from Victoria. Arena two course design was done by Wayne Shepherd from Mareeba in far north Queensland, who was always happy to please. Wayne was responsible for a field of 170 starters in the 1.10m Grand Prix qualifiers and the 1.10m Finals, as well as the Junior Grand Prix. 

Event organiser, Paula Hamood of Glen Haven Park, is thrilled with the success of this year's event saying, "It was a fantastic Show! Everything seemed to fall in to place and function as it should, even when it didn't seem possible with the huge numbers. As a whole the riders were terrific, the judges and pencillers were very patient and resilient during the massive four days of showjumping. All events were very well contested in both arenas and we were entertained with some fabulous and fast jump off finales!"

"The show had many wonderful sponsors who helped make this event the spectacle that it was. Also there were so many volunteers who just pitched in to help when they could see that we needed extra hands on deck. Thanks to you all."

"Our major sponsors, Ian and Di McCauley, who have been on board since the start, are very impressed with how the event has grown and will continue with their support. New sponsors, Peter and Fiona Hammond (of Singapore), sponsored the Singapore Sling 1.45m and will definitely be here again in 2014. Peter makes a mean Singapore Sling cocktail as spectators in the VIP tent found out! We have heaps of other sponsors showing an interest and the local Council is going to get behind it next year too."

"The general consensus from the riders I have spoken to is that this is now the biggest and best showjumping event in Australia. In addition to great competitions the aim was to make the whole show very festive with plenty of fun and entertainment for everyone. The 25 trade stands (next year we're already looking like doubling that number); bar; pizza party and band on Friday night; and BBQ and band at the Exchange Hotel on Saturday night, meant that there was always something to do and a place to go."

"Next year we will have extra entertainment with Heath Harris putting on two performances - a movie horse show (Heath trained the horses for movies like Racing Stripes, Zorro, Phar Lap and The Man From Snowy River) and a display by Heath’s team of trick riders ‘Girls Girls Girls’."

The 2014 show will be held on 24-27 July so mark your diaries now.

On the results front, Tom McDermott had a brilliant show, winning the Horsezone/Kilcoy Rural 1.25m AM5 (on Cosmorex Coffee Latte), Singapore Sling 1.45m (on Statford Delight), Jo Weller Memorial Mini Prix (on CP Rolex) and the Exchange Hotel Future Stars (once again on Cosmorex Coffee Latte). These excellent results meant that Tom won Leading Rider of the Show, the prize for which was a diamond studded horseshoe necklace, donated by Koko Jewellery. Tom's mum Jennie happily claimed this beautiful prize on his behalf!

The highly anticipated Ian & Di McCauley Kilcoy Cup 1.50m Grand Prix was the last event of show. After an exciting and crowd-pleasing jump off, Jamie Kermond and Ajado, the very last combination on course for the whole show, were victorious! This is the second year in a row that Jamie has won the Ian & Di McCauley Kilcoy Cup - in 2012 he won it on Valhalla. Kristy Bruhn placed second on Havarti and Robert Moffat came in third on Viduka.

Other winners at the show included Paula Hamood - Searles Garden Products 1.10m Grand Prix; Bill Healy - BP Kilcoy Junior Grand Prix; and Brooke Langbecker - Powerup Lawncare Products Young Rider Grand Prix. Leading Junior Rider of the show was the Courtney Tinknell.

Congratulations to all winners and placegetters!

Stay tuned for full results.

Quick Links

• View more photos in the Photo Gallery
• Visit the Glen Haven Park website
• See Showjumping horses for sale on Horsezone
• Check out Showjumping stallions at stud on Horsezone

by: Jo Johnson/Horsezone