Joy Ringrose
After a slow start to this year’s Pacific League World Cup Showjumping series, Cooran’s Billy Raymont, and his mount Caprino, have come into top form, with two successive wins in the 3rd and 4th rounds of the series.
Billy’s previous World Cup win this year was at Larapinta, in April. Last Saturday, on July 13th, Billy and Caprino won again, against a field of 17 top horses and riders, at the State Equestrian Centre in Caboolture.
A large audience of spectators cheered enthusiastically for the competitors. This class was the highlight of a festival of showjumping held there over four days, from the 11-14 July and Caprino was just one of three combinations that jumped clear in both rounds of this competition.
Of the 17 combinations to start, there were no eliminations, and 12 made it through to the second round, against the clock. The two of them did the first round carefully, so were the slowest of the clear rounds at 81.28 seconds. Because of this they were the first of the three combinations that went clear to tackle a reduced number of jumps in the lightening second round.
The maximum time allowed for this round was 61 seconds. Billy and Caprino set a cracking pace, coming home in 50.82 sec, one second ahead of nearest rival, Phillip Lever on Billionaire NZPH, who clocked 51.88 seconds. Billy received $4500 for the win.
A Calcutta was held to auction five teams of either three or four show jumpers, with the person who won the bidding taking 40 per cent of the prize pool, and the first and second place getters dividing the rest.
Billy’s team received the highest bid of $2600. All the teams made a combined bidding total of $8000.
Caprino, originally from Victoria, travelled to Europe with Billy last year, gaining valuable experience competing there. He has found top form in the last few months, winning Grand Prix classes, as well as these two World Cup Qualifiers.
Out of the show ring, this is a very exciting year for Billy and his wife, Tess, as they are expecting their first child in two weeks. Tess is also an elite show jumper who has enjoyed success both there and in Europe.
To add to the excitement, this win takes Billy to the top of the PLWC leaderboard.
Billy had his first win in this series in 2004, winning it again in 2017, and being placed either second or third in many of the years in between.
Away from the show ring Billy breeds and trains showjumping horses, both his, and those of others, and teaches showjumping both here and interstate.
