Many Agricultural shows are doing it tough. It is truly amazing to witness so many people volunteer for the good of the community. These shows provide so much entertainment in many aspects from Music – Arts/ Crafts to Animals on show. Sponsors are keen to offer great giveaways due to the days entertainment on offer being able to bring in such large crowds.Team Joyce have always volunteered to help out when called upon. Last year we enjoyed a week at the Rockhampton Show working in the Showjumping Section and this time around was to be no different. To go back and read the full story of why it was a no brainier for us to travel thousands of miles to support such a worthy cause … Wes’s long time friend Rob Harrington is still keen on horses even though he no longer rides. Back in the day he was a competitive showjumper himself. It was a pleasure to fly up and help run the showjumping section at the Agricultural Show. This year the stand alone class known as the Alexis Grace Collins Memorial Grand Prix attracted huge numbers . Riders gave it there all to try and win this prestigious event. Three days of jumping plus evening classes on the Wednesday & Thursday meant the Rockhampton Show fulfilled every bodies jumping requirements.
Wes and I flew up on the Monday morning ready to start set up on the Tuesday. The sunshine was sure to be one of the highlights of our landing. Melbourne’s rain is not to be sneezed at, as we do need it. Their is plenty of lush green grass growing at home. Rob said the entrant numbers had risen on last years which was also great news. It was good to see the Victorian course designer Bruce Milne back as well. Bruce and his wife Bev took the opportunity to drive up a month ago to make a holiday of it with the new caravan. He had all the courses designed on paper ready to construct.
Wednesdays classes went of without a hitch, we started at sunrise and finished well after dark. Many riders supported the nights Six Bar classes which in turn received a warm welcome from all the locals in the crowd.
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- Junior winners
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- Six Bar winners
Thursday’s main feature at 2pm was the Alexis Grace Collins Memorial Grand Prix holding a whopping total $5000 spread amongst the place-getters with a Rug & Garland for the winner as well . Thanks must go the sponsors
- Martins Transport
- P & M Herrington
- P & M Gracie
- Sibelco Parkhurst Tavern
Alexis Grace Collins Memorial trophies
6 combinations made the third round jumping up to heights of 1.40m, Ron Easy riding Simplistic won the prestigious class. He also won it last year on Made U Look , proves he is definitely a talented show jumper. Ron said he loved the Bar fridge which was an extra prize this year along with the huge prize money.
2nd – Brock Everingham / Gepard
3rd – Ron Easy / Made U Look
4th- Gemma Creighton / Tycoon Warlord
5th – Gemma Creighton / Its Phenix
Ron with Taylor Collins sister of Alexis Grace Collins
Gemma Creighton won the Thursday night Six Bar
Here is the Horseland action video of the winning Six Bar round – you can hear the crowd roar’
Here is one of the Barastoc Chat-ski’s
Have a listen to all the Barastoc Chat-ski’s taken at the event
Come Friday Wes & I were so tired and worn out from all the walking plus driving quite a distance each day morning and night from where we stayed. To say we slept well on Friday night is an under statement. Saturday’s flight home could not have come any sooner.