City of Wodonga Jumping World Cup Qualifier

32 year old Billy Raymont won his sixth career World Cup Jumping Qualifier and the third riding his lovely big black thoroughbred Stardom at the 2012 Wodonga Showjumping Spectacular on Saturday evening.

More than 2000 spectators packed the Wodonga Indoor Exhibition Centre to see 22 of Australia’s top jumping riders compete in the prestigious event. Internationally renowned Course Designer Leeson Sirett from Colbinabbin designed the course for the $7,520 event. A new surface in the Indoor arena made the jumping surface the best it has been allowing Sirett to set a testing 1.45m to 1.50m course including three double combinations, one a double of verticals using narrow 2m rails at 11a and 11b. Only two horses failed to complete the first round, Guru with Clem Smith in the saddle retired after not getting a good ride out of the corner to 11a and Nolisco ridden by Tom Sutherland was eliminated at fence 9 the 1.45m oxer on the turn following the combination at 8.  The first round produced just three clear rounds, Billy Raymont with Stardom and Carneol plus David Cameron riding Bellerose in her first world cup start. These three horses were joined by the horses with just one rail down in the first round, Tom McDermott with CP Romantic Dream and CP Rolex, Matthew Afford and Kaluna Thunder Struck, Merrick Ubank and Aladino, Evie Buller and Yalambis Landor, Gabrielle Kuna and Diamond B Jimmychoo, Alison Rowland and Bickley Brook Bianca plus Sheridan Manuel riding Renmarno.

The second round of the City of Wodonga World Cup Qualifier saw three clear rounds from the winner Billy Raymont from Cooran on the Queensland Sunshine Coast riding Stardom jumping clear in 47.21 seconds, second placed David Cameron from Wilberforce riding Bellerose clear in 48.67 seconds and third placed Merrick Ubank from Beaudesert. Merrick a little unlucky to have the vertical at 11a down in the first round then jumped an impressive clear in the second round with a slick time of 42.37 seconds. Australian senior and young rider champion Tom McDermott placed 4th riding CP Rolex incurring 8 penalties over the two rounds, Sheridan Manuel was fifth riding last year’s winner Renmarno also on 8 penalties, sixth to young rider Evie Buller riding Yalambis Landor on 8 penalties – fourth to sixth divided by their time in round two. Tom McDermott was 7th riding the grey mare CP Romantic Dream tallying up 12 penalties over the two rounds, Billy Raymont and Carneol were 8th on 12 penalties in the second round.

The second round saw penalties at every fence, the plank vertical number 2 set halfway across the arena was knocked down by four horses plus a circle from Bickley Brook Bianca with Alison Rowland riding – the young mare did not put her eye on the second fence after the short turn back from number one. Bianca is a full sister to Bickley Brook Bella who has already won four qualifiers this season. The mares are sired by Premier des Hayettes, bred and owned by Peter and Nicole Cooke, look destined for bigger and better things.

Billy Raymont was presented with the Kevin Bourke Memorial trophy rug and garland by Bob and Daisy Pritchard while the Mayor of the City of Wodonga, Councillor Mark Byatt presented the $2,100 first prize. Raymont thanked the organising committee for a fabulous show, his owners, supporters and partner Stacey Oakley for their help and promised to be in Wodonga the third weekend of November 2013.

In the supporting classes Sheridan Manuel won the converted and sort after Len and Betty McVean Memorial sponsored by the Border and District Jump Club riding Renmarno. Sheridan also won the A and B Grade Mini Prix riding his young mare Congranda, Paula Hamood blitzed the field in the Walsh’s Earthmoving Futurity riding Airtime Z GHP and Lucinda Bunning won the Wessell Drilling Junior Championship riding Creative Talent.

With 12 of the 14 Australian World Cup qualifiers completed for this season WA rider Alison Rowland has moved into the leaders position on 208 points ahead of Evie Buller and Billy Raymont – all three riders will contest the final two rounds at Tonimbuk and Sydney to decide the Australian leader and gain a start at the 2013 Jumping World Cup Final in Sweden.