GHP Grand Prix Show Wrap-ups
Glen Haven Park Grand Prix Show 2013
Centre of the Universe for Showjumping on 25-28th July 2013
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 is in its third year and 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, BP Kilcoy Junior Grand Prix and the Powerup Lawncare Products Young Rider Grand Prix, to name a few.
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 people in the VIP tent found out! We have heaps of other sponsors showing an interest and the local Council are 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.
2012 Wrap-up
The show went very well.
We had some great entries from all over Australia as well as some NZ competitors and fantastic support from the local community businesses.
The spectators were treated to some top class showjumping in the main arena, with the Future Stars Competition taken out by Robert Moffatt and Finch Farm Viduka with the only triple clear round. David Sheppard's Classy and tough course design proving its worth, to start of the first of the premier events in the Power Up Lawn Care Products Main Arena.
The Ian and Di McCauley Cup was a very exciting event with a nail biting finish, going down to the last fence on the last horse, Paula Hamood and Nero GHP jumped a scorcher of a round, 4 seconds in front on time but unfortunately had the last fence down. Leaving the win to the always inform it seems Jamie Kermond and Valhalla.
The Mini Prix was another exciting event to watch as there were eight horses and riders to jump off for the Jo Weller Memorial. The first to post a quick time for the others to chase was Olivia Hamood and the speedy Bucks Bunny. We all thought maybe Olivia had it in the bag until Sarah McMillan came in to the arena with Belcam Amada throwing caution to the wind flying around in a very quick time taking all inside options to seize the lead. Last but not least to go was the lovely imported gelding Airtime Z GHP and Paula Hamood, knowing they had to do something special to win the class. Which they did! In a time almost 2 seconds faster to take out the event.
Other Grand Prix Winners for the weekend in arena 2 were Jamie Raymont and Kavalier Kid in the 1.10 GP, and Paige Dumble riding Gold Warrior in the Junior Grand Prix. The competitors were treated to some very nice courses built by Ian Hamilton in the second arena.
A big congratulations to all the placegetters and a massive thank you to all who helped to make the Glen Haven Grand Prix Show for 2012 the success that it was!!
2011 Wrap-up
Glen Haven Park held their inaugural Grand Prix Show in Kilcoy on 27 - 28 August and right from the start it was obvious this show was going to be a class act!
Classes on offer included the Barastoc Young Horse Finals, The Ian and Di McCauley Grand Prix, 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 presented two 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 to the downpour from 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, Lachlan Manuel and Carillion in the Barastoc 6 yr old Grand Prix Final, Tim Amitrano and his stallion Caballaro in the Barastoc 4&5 yr old Grand Prix final and Sheridan Manuel on Congranda in the Garrards Horse and Hound Mini Prix. Stay tuned for full results from the show 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 Caballaro were very well turned out in Ring One while Cassie Honor and her pretty bay Dutch Diamonds were the deserving winners from Ring Three. Well done Tim and Cassie - your horses' presentation were 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 Have 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 Garards 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 able to really 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 just 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 seeing it grow and become even more popular than it already is - an event that everyone wants to aim at."
In addition to two great 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 and fun night of socialising and watching the rugby.
So, after such a fantastic weekend of showjumping, everyone is keen to converge on Kilcoy again next year for the 2012 Glen Haven Park Grand Prix Show!