Tegan Fitzsimon and Windermere Cappuccino winners of Horse Grand Prix
Photo credit : Hannah Comrie

The long haul north looks set to pay dividends for West Melton’s Tegan Fitzsimon who this afternoon won the ESNZ Horse Grand Prix at the Burmester Realty GP Showjumping Show at Woodhill Sands.

The 29-year-old recently shifted her base from Canterbury to the Sheehan’s property in Te Aroha for the season. “It has been brilliant,” she said.

And today she sent a clear message she’s in the North Island to do business. She had three in the Horse Grand Prix, but all eyes were on back to back FEI World Cup Series winner, 10-year-old Windermere Cappuccino who made it look easy with a double clear in 36.38 seconds. Alexa Randall (Auckland) and Cirrius GNZ were the only other combination to come through to the jump-off where they were also all clean but slightly slower with their 37.99 second time. Olivia Dalton (Karaka) and Cil Dora Bonaparte filled third place with their four fault effort from the opening round.

For Tegan, the win was a bonus. “I am using these first few shows to get him ready for the opening World Cup round in Hawke’s Bay in a couple of weeks, so the focus is double clear rounds and a win is a bonus. I am really pleased he jumped so well – he felt super good out there,” she said. “The course rode really well. It was a nice track for this early on in the season to get them all going.”

Today was their second Grand Prix start of the season, with a third place in the indoor at the Rotorua Show last weekend.

Tegan placed fifth aboard Campari and was just out of the money with Glenbrooke All Roses. “Campari had the first of the last combination down in the opening round – that combination proved a bit of a problem for a few in the class.” She is hoping to do World Cups with Campari but says at eight, she will just take the season as it comes for him.

She was chuffed with Glenbrooke All Roses too. “It was a big ask for him but he jumped around there really well with just a couple of green rails. I am really looking forward to the season with a nice team of horses up here.”

In the Country TV Pony Grand Prix, Sophia Hall (Auckland) and TCG Centadel were the only one of the six combinations to have a clean slate over the two rounds for the win.

Organisers were rapt with an “amazing” weekend of competition. “Fingers crossed this is our final show at Alert Level 2,” says Angela Nobilo.

Danielle Watts designed the courses in ring one with Wayne Bragg in ring two and Gina Moss in ring three.

Results –

ESNZ Horse Grand Prix: Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) Windermere Cappuccino 1, Alexa Randall (Auckland) Cirrius GNZ 2, Olivia Dalton (Karaka) Cil Dara Bonaparte 3, Sarah West (Matamata) Oaks Centurian 4, Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) Campari 5, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Maddox Letino 6.

Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Sophia Hall (Auckland) TCG Centadel 1, Crystal Hackett (Waiuku) The Dreamer 2, Zara Main (Auckland) Blue Crush 3, Shanae Savannah (Silverdale) Tiger Tale LS 4, Cassie Topper (Whangarei) Redcliffs Wizz bang MF 5, Amelia Munro (Paremoremo) MF Spot On 6.

FMG Young Rider Series: Olivia Dalton (Karaka) Cil Dara Bonaparte 1, Isabelle Jameson (Whangarei) Di Caprio CSNZ 2, Colleen Crous (Auckland) Orames Girl VDL 3, Emily Hayward (Te Awamutu) Centino 4, Olivia Newsom (Tauranga) Caretino Jewel 5, Sarah West (Matamata) Oaks Centurian 6.

Harrison Lane Pro Amateur Rider Series: Tors Rattray (Mangatangi) Versace NZPH 1, Christine Cornege (Cambridge) Varekai SL 2, Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Loose Change 3, Kylee McCambridge (Cambridge) Chicago 4, Laura McGregor (Auckland) High Command 5, Georgia Lawrie (Auckland) AS Donnertello 6.

Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series: Amelia Newsom (Tauranga) LC Taste of Diamonds 1, Sophia Blackbourn (Hamilton) LT Holst Zalato Blue 2, Jordyn Appleton (Taupaki) Scotsmans Valley 3, Grace Benshaw (Waitoki) Amorcito 4, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Maddox Kiwi Silverkee 5, Chloe Leggott (Whangarei) Paint me a Picture 6.

Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series: Amelia Clark (Auckland) Master of Hossack 1, Emma Buckingham (Auckland) Piccadilly Circus 2, Catherine Fawcett-McNaughton (Pukekohe) Golden Girl MVNZ 3, Michelle Wakeling (Wellsford) BMW Braveheart 4, Kelly Angell (Pukekohe) Centavito 5, Anna Kincheff (Rotorua) Believe NZPH 6.

Outpost Buildings Horse Grand Prix Super Series: Nakeysha Lammers (Taranaki) Balboa NZPH 1, Nakeysha Lammers (Taranaki) Resolution 2, Alexa Randall (Auckland) Carnival NZPH 3, Alexa Randall (Auckland) LC Tango 4, Colleen Crous (Auckland) Orames Girl VDL 5, Natalia Lammers (Whangarei) Haupouri Shakespear NZPH 6.

Alltech Pony Grand Prix Super Series: Cassie Topper (Whangarei) Baltic Leanne 1, Rosa Wilkinson (Whangarei) Double J Yippee 2, Francesca Bishell (Auckland) Galaxy Disco Fever II 3, Zara Main (Auckland) Showtym Mochachino 4.

 

By Diana Dobson

October 4, 2020