Olivia Robertson and Grandaire winners of the Equissage Horse Grand Prix at Southland Show Jumping Festival Show 14-15 December 2019
Olivia Robertson and her horse Grandaire finished their year on a high winning the Equissage Horse Grand Prix at the Dunstan Horsefeeds Southland Festival Show, held at the Gore A&P Showgrounds over the weekend.
Olivia has been riding the 8-year-old gelding for four years and today was the combinations third Grand Prix start. Olivia was thrilled with the result “This is his first Grand Prix win and to have a double clear round was fantastic. The show was great, everyone is so hospitable at Gore and the grounds were in beautiful condition, they held up so well considering the amount of rain we had today!” After a short Christmas break from shows, Grandaire will be back in action in January “We have Otago as our first show back and then Nationals after that where we will jump in the Grand Prix Championship.”
Kate Beattie and her thoroughbred gelding Smarty Marty had their first FMG Young Rider win of the season with the only double clear round after a four-way jump off. 21-year-old Kate works at Clutha Vets as a vet technician. Kate says “I’ve had Marty 5 years now; he was fresh of the track when we got him from Brian Anderton. I won a young rider class with him last season but this was our first young rider start for this season as Marty had a late start due to a foot abscess. Since having him back out in the last few weeks he’s been feeling great – he must not have liked seeing the truck drive away without him on it! It was a well-run show, nice courses and the grounds were ideal and held up good with all the rain today”.
Courtney Townsend and her 7year old mare Corofina ECPH made a successful step up to Young Rider level finishing second.
The Equifibre Junior Rider was taken out by 16-year-old Otago rider Pippa Collins and Double J Barman. Pippa purchased Double J Barman, known as Bart from the Feast Family at the start of the season. Pippa says “It was really exciting to win the Junior this weekend given our short time together.” Canterbury riders Sophie Townsend riding Kingslea Kiwi was second and Anna Nalder on Icebreaker II placed third.
North Otago sisters Emma and Samantha Gillies took out the quinella in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix. Emma and Benrose Playtime were the winners, with Sam and Junior Disco placing second.
The Southland Combination of Gail Richardson on Eireann Bandoola took out the Harrison Lane Pro Am Rider Series. Fellow Southlander Nicola McLennan on Rocky Ridge secured the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series class with the only clear round.
Lex Peddie was the course designer in Ring One. Eryn Duffy was in charge of Ring 2 and Tony Hutton designed in Ring 3.
Equissage Horse Grand Prix Series sponsored by Mainland Coachwork
1 – Olivia Robertson – Grandaire
2 – Kimberleigh McCabe – Kace
Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series sponsored by Jump 4 Joy
1 – Emma Gillies – Benrose Playtime
2 – Samantha Gillies – Junior Disco
3 – Cara Quinn – Ellen Vanin Untouchable
4 – Ella Wylie – MF Spot Me
5 – Emma Gillies – Benrose Eclipse
6 – Anna Nalder – Mangakaara Carbon Copy
Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series sponsored by Mainland Coachwork
1 – Gail Richardson – Eireann Bandoola
2 – Lauren Buckley – Icey Storm
3 – Ashleigh Smail – Loretta
Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series
1 – Nicola McLennan – Rocky Ridge
2 – Teegan McCabe – Trader
3 – Jacquita Farquhar – Rustic Moonlight
4 – Vicky Cole – Hash Tag Murphys Law
5 – Jessica Fahey – Repertoite II
6 – Jayne Beattie – Lowlands Schnapps
FMG Young Rider Series sponsored by Eastern Physiotherapy
1 – Kate Beattie – Smarty Marty
2 – Courtney Townsend – Corofina ECPH
3 – Makenzie Causer – Finch Farm Lasall
4 – Jaimee Bird – Euro Champayne
5 – Grace Manera – Toulou
6 – Olivia Brown – Darryl RH
Equifibre Junior Rider Series sponsored by Advance Agriculture
1 – Pippa Collins – Double J Barman
2 – Sophie Townsend – Kingslea Kiwi
3 – Anna Nalder – Icebreaker II
4 – Noah Coutts – Extravaganza
5 – Jessica Hore – Beaumont Birdie
6 – Jaclyn Hay – Modern Masterpiece
Macaulay Motors in conjunction with Canterbury Saddlery Pony Mini Prix Series
1 – Jessica Horse – She’s A Cracker
2 – Cara Quinn – Galaxy Knight Out
3 – Amy Brensell – Mararoa Kobie Breeze
4 – Angus Price – A Patchy Pony
5 – Pippa Collins – Waiotahi Belle
Macaulay Motors in conjunction with Equi-lise South Island Pony Points Series
1 – Ella Wylie – Tendullcer
2 – Samantha Gillies – St Merryn Guiness
3 – Angus Price – A Patchy Pony
4 – Emma Gillies – Moccochino
5 – Amy Brensell – Mararoa Kobie Breeze
6 – Laura Perkins – Cavalry Man
By Rosa Douglas
12th December 2019