The 2019-2020 jumping season is underway.  The Prydes EasiFeed Spring Series Grand Prix Showjumping Show at Woodhill Sands saw a clutch of riders keen to bag early points in the season series classes.

Numbers were so much up on last year’s event that organisers had to close the entries days out from the show.

The Harrison Lane Pro Am Rider Series saw six of the seven starters come back for the jump-off where the top three all kept their slates clean, but it was Amanda Illston (Auckland) and Verdelho who won the day with their 34.75 second effort. Laura McGregor (Auckland) and High Command came in for second place in 35.25 seconds.

The Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series saw four of the 10 starters come back for the jump-off where Ashley Johnston (Wellington) and Miss Vee NZPH held on to their pole position to take the win. Again the top three were all double clear with Ashley coming home in 29.94 seconds and second-placed Susie McLeod (Dairy Flat) aboard Arrans Lad stopping the clock at 34.9.

The EquiFibre Junior Rider Series produced one of the closest finishes of the day with Charlotte Treneary (Kumeu) and FH Monte Carlo just edging out Ben Weir (Auckland) on SF Gryphon to take the win by .09 of a second. Thirteen started the class with three coming back for the jump-off where both Ben and Charlotte were double clear. Ben was also third aboard Don Perignon II.

Being so early in the season, the organisers opted for a horse and pony mini prix instead of Grand Prix classes. Cerys Tarr (Rotorua) and Madam Coco rode off with the honours in the Prydes EasiFeed Horse Mini Prix 1.25m-1.3m with the only double clear of the class.

It was super close in the Prydes EasiFeed Pony Mini Prix 1.1m-1.15m class with just .09 of a second between winner Katie Readings (Pukekawa ) aboard Circus Girl and runner-up Rylee Sheehan (Te Aroha) on Tony the Pony. The hotly contested class attracted 18 combinations with five coming back for the jump-off and the top three all double clear.

It’s been a very wet winter with Woodhill Sands still trying to dry out but the weekend’s show produced a bit of a mixed bag. Wayne Bragg was the course designer for ring one, Danielle Watts was charged with ring two and Edward Bullock in ring three.

Results –

Harrison Lane Pro Amateur Rider Series (class sponsor Alltech): Amanda Illston (Auckland) Verdelho 1, Laura McGregor (Auckland) High Command 2, Vicki Prendergast (Matamata) Selena C 3, Sam Matthews (Cambridge) Adloo Annabelle 4, Christine Cornege (Cambridge) Varekai SL 5, Catherine Cleghorn (Waiuku) My Distraction 6.

Dunstan Horsefeeds  Amateur Rider Series (class sponsor Outpost Buildings): Ashley Johnston (Wellington) Miss Vee NZPH 1, Susie McLeod (Dairy Flat) Arrans Lad 2, Shelley Bridgeman (Auckland) Oaks Vendetta 3, Rosanna Dickson (Cambridge) Okeechobee 4, Olivia Glen (Clevedon) Sassy Star 5, Amelia Clark (Auckland) Master of Hossack 6.

EquiFibre Junior Rider Series (class sponsor Alltech): Charlotte Treneary (Kumeu) FH Monte Carlo 1, Ben Weir (Auckland) SF Gryphon 2, Ben Weir (Auckland) Don Perignon II 3, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Maddox Kiwi Silverkee 4, Sophie Littlewood (Auckland) Miss Vee NZPH 5, Sophia Blackbourn (Hamilton) Blackall Park Romeo 6.

Prydes EasiFeed Horse Mini Prix 1.25m-1.3m: Cerys Tarr (Rotorua) Madam Coco 1, Vicki Prendergast (Matamata) Selena C 2, Jeremy Whale (Cambridge) DSE Exuberance 3, Keean Cooper (Te Kauwhata) Pythia 4, Glen Beal (Pukekohe) Sacramento 5, Olivia Dalton (Coatesville) Cil Dara Bonaparte 6.

Prydes EasiFeed Pony Mini Prix 1.1m-1.15m: Katie Readings (Pukekawa) Circus Girl 1, Rylee Sheehan (Te Aroha) Tony The Pony 2, Keira Page (Waiheke Island) Redcliffs Colour Me In 3, Sophia Blackbourn (Hamilton) Sabrina LS 4, Zara Main (Auckland) Blue Crush 5, Katie Readings (Pukekawa) Rump Shaker 6.

For full results, head to www.equestrianentries.co.nz