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Jamie Raymont Clinches the Big Class at Glen Haven Park's Inaugural Grand Prix Show

Published on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 in Sponsored Shows

Glen Haven Park held their inaugural Grand Prix Show in Kilcoy on 27 - 28 August and right from the start it was obvious the event was going to be a top class act!

On offer for competitors were the Barastoc Young Horse Finals, The Ian and Di McCauley Grand Prix and Garrards Mini Prix along with two other arenas. Arena two went up to 1.20m with junior classes and CRT Woodford Country Store sponsoring the third ring, which was dedicated to the Pony Club fraternity.  Horsezone were proud sponsors of the Open 90cm class and also donated Horsezone jackets to two Best Presented competitors. Winners of all the Grand Prix classes and the two Barastoc finals, were presented with rugs and garlands.

Saturday's wet weather was really only good for ducks, however, that didn't stop riders and horses from putting on a great day of competition for sponsors and spectators, even jumping 1.40m in the rain with no complaints, "the sponsors have generously put money up, we're here to ride and that's what we'll do - regardless of the rain!" said the surprisingly cheerful showjumpers.

Luckily Sunday's weather was kinder and the ground stood up amazingly well after the downpour on the previous day, providing perfect conditions for the Grand Prix Classes and Barastoc Young Horse Finals.
 
Congratulations to the major winners at the show who included Jamie Raymont and Amici in the Ian and Di McCauley Grand Prix (pictured above with Ian McCauley), Lachlan Manuel and Carillion in the Barastoc 6 yr old Grand Prix Final, Tim Amitrano and Caballero Hagen Z in the Barastoc 4&5 yr old Grand Prix final and Sheridan Manuel on Congranda in the Garrards Horse and Hound Mini Prix (pictured right).
 

Stay tuned for full results from the show, which will be available soon.

As mentioned previously, Horsezone donated a jacket for the best presented horse and rider in Ring One and another for Rings Two and Three combined. Tim Amitrano and his lovely stallion TP Caballero Hagen Z were very well turned out in Ring One (pictured left after winning the 4&5 Yr Old Barastoc Grand Prix with Horsezone's Jo Johnson and Paula Hamood on GH El Bandito - Barastoc 4&5 Yr Old Series winners), while Cassie Honor and her pretty bay Dutch Diamonds were the deserving winners from Ring Three (pictured below right with Horsezone's Rod Flynn). Well done Tim and Cassie - the presentation of your horses was a credit to you! 
 
When asked about his thoughts on the first ever Glen Haven Park Grand Prix Show, Ring One course builder Paul Raymont, said, "I think it was a fantastic show. One of the better ones run in Australia.  It's a wonderful venue with a great outlook and there's so much area that can be used - the whole location has a really good feel about it and is the perfect venue for showcasing top showjumping events.  I'm very keen to continue to support the show in future and help make it bigger and better!"

Show organiser, Paula Hamood of Glen Haven Park was very happy with the show, saying "we've had an incredible response and wonderful support from the local community, with this being our first show.  We had the cream of Queensland showjumping competing at the show - fantastic riders and top horses. In the Garrards Mini Prix, the first three placings were all top quality imported  bloodlines.  The most highly seeded horses in the Barastoc series also seemed to be in the line up for the final Young Horse Grand Prix events, which shows their consistency and quality.  The Ian and Di McCauley Grand Prix was also very well contested, with ten horses going into the final jump off."

"There was plenty of excitement in the Grand Prix - the ground had dried out well so competitors were really able to go for it over the solid 1.50m track.  Then things got even more exciting when the outcome for the winner came down to the last fence and the last horse to jump.  Sheridan Manuel was the only clear in the round so he went last in the jump off and after having the first fence down, knew he had to motor if he wanted to beat Jamie Raymont's slick time, however, it wasn't meant to be - he rolled the very last fence, meaning that Jamie was the victor!" 

"A big  thank you to all the sponsors, especially Ian and Di McCauley - who were most impressed with the standard in the Grand Prix and said they'll definitely support us again next year - Garrards Horse and Hound, sponsors of the Mini Prix and of course, Barastoc, for running the Young Horse Series and donating $13,500 for the series throughout the year.  Along with Barastoc I am looking forward to another successful year with the Young Horse Series in 2012 - we're hoping to see it grow and become even more popular than it already is - an event that everyone wants to aim at."

Paula had a good show herself and a great Barastoc Series - winning the 4&5 Yr Old with GH El Bandito and the 6&7 Yr Old with Airtime Z GHP (pictured left with Barastoc representative Royce Connolly).

In addition to two exhilerating days of jumping, Saturday night found competitors, sponsors and spectators enjoying a great night out at the Exchange Hotel in Kilcoy.  The Glen Haven Park courtesy bus transported the last load of jolly jumpers back to the grounds at around midnight after a great meal, fun night of socialising and watching the rugby. 

After such a fantastic weekend of showjumping, everyone is certainly keen to converge on Kilcoy again next year for the 2012 Glen Haven Park Grand Prix Show!

I was thrilled to be involved with such a professionally run event, featuring top quality horses and riders.  Showjumping is always exciting, but it was a real pleasure to watch the beautifully educated horses competing in the Barastoc Young Horse classes and I can only imagine the heights (literally!) these future stars are going to reach in coming years. Thank you to Glen Haven Park for organising such a fantastic event!

Story: Jo Johnson/Horsezone

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