Brooke Edgecombe rides LT Holst Andrea winners of the POLi Payments World Cup Qualifier series, Hawke’s Bay Royal A&P Show, Friday, October 25, 2019 Credit: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall

 

LT Holst horses showed their star quality this afternoon taking the quinella in the opening round of the New Zealand League of the FEI World Cup at the Royal A&P Show in Hawke’s Bay.

Brooke Edgecombe and her very consistent mare LT Holst Andrea just edged out Robert Steele (Dannevirke) aboard LT Holst Bernadette to take the top honours in the 15-strong Poli Payments-sponsored CSI1*-W class and start the season as they finished the last – at the front. The two LT horses, who were amongst the first that Ewen McIntosh brought into the country to start his breeding programme, were the only ones to go clear over the Roger Laplanche-designed course in gusty conditions. Andrea stopped the clock at 51.59 seconds with Bernadette coming home in 53.37 seconds.

At the end of the opening round, three combinations sat on four faults – Brooke, the 2018-2019 World Cup Series winner Tegan Fitzsimon (Christchurch) aboard Windermere Cappuccino, and current Olympic Cup holder, Emily Hayward (Te Awamutu) on the bred-to-race Belischi HM. Robert and LT Holst Bernadette had a rail and a single time penalty for five, while Jasmine Sketchley (Whangarei) aboard Bravado Ego Z, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) and Fiber Fresh Veroana and Lucinda Askin (Ashburton) aboard Portofino all had eight faults apiece.

In the second round, Tegan added another four to finish the day on eight faults for third place with Briar in fourth on 12, Emily on 16 faults for fifth and Jasmine on 19 for sixth.

Brooke was ecstatic with her 11-year-old German import who she co-owns with Ewen McIntosh and has notched three wins from her three big starts so far this season.

The combination took a rail in the opening round of the class but Brooke said when she crossed the finish flags she felt it wasn’t a bad score to carry through. “Roger always builds tough but encouraging courses and it was quite tough out there. With this being Andrea’s third season at this level, she is quite consolidated so we go into the ring and she is confident. She is both brave and careful – it is what you dream for in a horse.”

Brooke said it was certainly a team effort that contributed to her success.

The winner of the New Zealand League has the opportunity to represent the nation at the world final in Las Vegas in the United States in April. All of the outdoor World Cup classes this season can contribute to a combination getting their Certificate of Capability for the Tokyo Olympic Games so are built to an FEI Olympic standard. The next World Cup is at the Egmont A&P Show (November 24), followed by the Feilding IA&P Show (December 7) and Taupo Christmas Classic (December 21) with the final at the Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay Show in Dannevirke on January 5. Just the four best results count from each rider.

 

 

Poli Payments FEI World Cup (NZ League) Qualifier (round one): Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Andrea 1, Robert Steele (Dannevirke) LT Holst Bernadette 2, Tegan Fitzsimon (Christchurch) Windermere Cappuccino 3, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Veroana 4, Emily Hayward (Te Awamutu) Belischi HM 5, Jasmine Sketchley (Whangarei) Bravado Ego Z 6.

 

Best presented combination in the horse inspection: Lucinda Askin (Ashburton) Portofino.

 

Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Katie Bridgeman (Auckland) Tallyho Scoundrel 1, Samantha Carrington (Takapau) Colours of Lansing 2, Maddison Greatorex (Waipu) Spotified 3, Rylee Sheehan (Te Aroha) Tony the Pony 4, Lucy Buchanan (Hastings) Redcliffs Colour Me Quick 5 , Phoebe Howson (Napier) Aorangi Ragtime 6.

 

FMG Young Rider Series: Emily Hayward (Te Awamutu) Belischi HM 1, Emelia Forsyth (Clevedon) Henton Faberge 2, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Whiorau Ritchie 3, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Veroana 4, Olivia Dalton (Karaka) Cil Dara Bonaparte 5, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Maddox Letino 6.

 

Matthews Hanoverian Seven-Year-Old Series: Tegan Fitzsimon (Christchurch) Campari 1, Phillip Steiner (Tauranga) Cassina Dior 2, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Elizabeth 3, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Double J Kelvin 4, Alex Loiselle (Ocean Beach) Haupouri Da Vinci 5, Melody Matheson (Havelock North) Cortaflex Enya MH 6.

 

Harrison Lane Pro Amateur Rider Series: Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing 1, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Victoria’s Secret 2, Katie Hercock (Otane) Whimsical WDS 3, Marcus Rose (Dannevirke) Kaipara Hold Up 4, Ash Hart (Hastings) Kiwi Showtime 5, Jaime Tiller (Cambridge) Lanice van de Heffinck 6.

 

Cheleken Equestrian and Ultramox Six-Year-Old Series: Rose Alfeld (Leeston) Eye Catcher NZPH, Kate Herdson (Ararimu) Beau Balou, Sam Matthews (Cambridge) Fleur DeLacour and Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Double Down =1.

 

Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series: Elise Edwards-Smith (Waerenga) DSE Tangolooma 1, Kaleigh Kent (Otane) Double J Sponge Bob Square Pants 2, Ashley Johnston (Wellington) Miss Vee NZPH 3, Holly Rose (Taupo) Pampero 4, Tasha Brown (Hastings) Kiwi Cheroline 5, Cindy Dames (Hastings) Tanglewood 6.

 

Equifibre Junior Rider Series: Dylan Bibby (Onga Onga) Wenrose Vertigo 1, Maddison Greatorex (Waipu) Daisy Duke NZPH 2, Leeshelle Small (Auckland) AMS Ajaccio NZPH 3, Phoebe Burns (Hastings) Jerry Maclary 4, Tim Wilson (Waipukurau) McMillans Tipsey 5, Georgia Bouzaid (Cambridge) AP Ninja 6.

 

East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series: Jesse Linton (Hastings) Chuckles, Tasha Brown (Hastings) Kiwi Windfall, Geordie Bull (Taupo) Marius, Shanae McKay (Levin) ME Joy Ride II, Alex Loiselle (Ocean Beach) Haupouri Fresco, Kelli Frewin (Hawke’s Bay) Easy Going, Rachel Nelson (Waimarama) Ocean Lady, Jeremy Whale (Cambridge) Bannockburn ECPH, Kim Best (Hawke’s Bay) Keltern William, Julie Davey (Hastings) LT Holst Freda, Oliver Croucher (Cambridge) Takapoto Lombardi, Amanda Pottinger (Havelock North) Good Value and Emelia Forsyth (Clevedon) LV Imprint =1.