Southland Stakes winner Harriet Gardiner & PL Queen of Hearts
Photo Credit: Rosa Douglass
South Island riders headed to Gore over the weekend for the Southland Show Jumping Championships held at the Gore A&P Showgrounds.
One of the highlight classes of the show was the Southland Stakes, which has been running since 1973 and is restricted to horse and rider combinations that have not competed above 1.20m in the current season. Twenty-one riders started the 1.15m class which is a two-round competition with a jump-off.
The win went to South Canterbury rider Harriet Gardiner onboard PL Queen of Hearts who were the only combination to jump three clear rounds. Vicky Cole and Hashtag Murphys Law had to settle for 2nd. Jacquita Farquhar riding Rustic Moonlight and Nicola McLennan on Echo HSH finishing 3rd and 4th.
Four riders returned for the Jump-off in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider. The win went to Otago rider Talia Allison riding Mustang Shelby who jumped a fast clear round with a time of 33.24. Local rider Nicola McLennan and Rocky Ridge had to settle for second jumping clear with a time of 35.12. Michelle Combes on board Just Amber placed 3rd with Harriet Gardiner riding PL Queen of Hearts finishing 4th.
Victoria Brown riding RH Renamour had a successful weekend taking out both the FMG Young Rider and the Main Events University Series Class. Courtney Townsend on board Corofina ECPH and Hollie Kooman riding Silver Gamble finished 2nd and 3rd in the Main Events University Series Class.
Canterbury rider Sophie Townsend with Kingslea Kiwi took out the Equifibre Junior Rider with the only clear round. 2nd place went to Danielle Molloy and Bella Vi who were the fastest 4 faulter with a time of 91.67. Jessica Hore and Beaumont Birdie also finished on 4 faults with a time of 93.48 to place 3rd. Otago rider Pippa Collins riding Double J Barman came in 4th.
With the only clear round, Gail Richardson and Eirann Bandoola took out the Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider. 2nd place went to Rik van Miltenburg onboard Truly Unique who finished on 4 faults. Kelly Evans riding Hammertime came in 3rd with Georgia Urquhart on Captain America NZPH finishing 4th.
Local rider Ella Wylie riding MF Spot Me produced a clear round to win the Country TV Pony Grand Prix. The Equissage Horse Mini Prix winner was Kate Cavanagh on board Wallflower, with fellow South Canterbury rider Molly Smith taking out the Pony Mini Prix riding BG Lennox.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series
1st Ella Wylie & MF Spot
Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series
1st Gail Richardson & Eireann Bandoola
2nd Rik van Miltenburg & Truly Unique
3rd Kelly Evans & Hammertime
4th Georgia Urquhart & Captain Amerca NZPH
Dunstan Amateur Rider Series
1st Talia Allison & Mustang Shelby
2nd Nicola McLennan & Rocky Ridge
3rd Michelle Coombes & Just Amber
4th Harriet Gardner & PL Queen of Hearts
5th Jacquita Farquhar & Mack
6th Jacquita Farquhar & Rustic Moonlight
FMG Young Rider Series
1st Victoria Brown & RH Renamour
Equifibre Junior Rider Series
1st Sophie Townsend & Kingslea Kiwi
2nd Danielle Molloy & Bella Vi
3rd Jessica Hore & Beaumont Birdie
4th Pippa Collins & Double J Barman
Main Events University Series
1st Victoria Brown & RH Renamour
2nd Courtney Townsend & Corofina ECPH
3rd Hollie Kooman & Silver Gamble
Equissage Horse Mini Prix Series
1st Kate Cavanagh & Wallflower
2nd Kimberleigh McCabe & Kace
3rd Tyler McKee & Stratos
Pony Mini Prix Series
1st Molly Smith & BG Lennox
2nd Kaitlyn Murray & FC Fine Lace
3rd Jessica Hore & She’s a Cracker
4th Nadia Houston & Tallyho Zeus
Southland Stakes Open Horse 1.15m
1st Harriet Gardiner & PL Queen of Hearts
2nd Vicky Cole & Hashtag Murphys Law
3rd Jacquita Farquhar & Rustic Moonlight
4th Nicola McLennan & Echo HSH
5th Sophie Townsend & Wildheart
6th Suzanne Black & Colton AF
Otago Southland Show Hunter Series – Series run over five Otago and Southland ESNZ Jumping Shows.
Category A – Grace Roy and Benrose Comet
Category B – Jessica Townsend and Tallyho Neptune
Category C – Quinn Coutts and Bizzie Canoodling
Horses – Jade McRae and Swayze
By Rosa Douglass
24 February 2020