Amanda Wilson and Showtym Cassanova winners of the ESNZ Horse Grand Prix at Northland Grand Prix Show 24-25 October.
Photo Credit: Amanda Wilson Facebook Page
Northland horsewoman Amanda Wilson has a whole lot of love for her “amazing” 16-year-old gelding Showtym Cassanova who this weekend took out both the ESNZ Horse Grand Prix and the super series class at the Northland Jumping Grand Prix Show in Whangarei.
“I am so happy with how he jumped,” said the 27-year-old. “He was on absolute form around a great 1.4m-1.5m course built by Edward Bullock.”
It was a small field but nonetheless competitive and just Cassanova’s second ever Grand Prix win. Amanda got the paint when he was eight. She was looking at a Trade Me advert when noticed him in the background of the photo and inquired if he was for sale. He had been broken in for just 10 weeks as a four-year-old and gelded at eight after being a stud stallion. She had to restart him and the rest is history. Together they have jumped World Cup qualifiers, placed second in the Olympic Cup, fourth in the Lady Rider of the Year and consistently placed in all sorts of other classes.
Amanda has no plans to hit the show circuit with the horse, but instead says she would love to aim for Lady Rider of the Year and perhaps Takapoto. “I don’t want to run his legs off,” she says. “Today I waited until the course was walked before I actually decided to start – it was a really nice welcoming course. Edward did a great job of it. It was big enough to provide a challenge but not too big for our first outing for the season.”
Showtym Cassanova is a favourite in the Wilson household. The station bred warmblood cross doesn’t have the classic engine of a Grand Prix horse but he never refuses and has a “snappy little front leg action” accompanied by a rather uncomfortable canter . . . or tranter as the Wilsons call it.
Amanda also teamed up with Kanga CSNZ to win the Ted Hatley Memorial Young Horse class.
In the Country TV Pony Grand Prix three of the eight starters came back for the jump-off where Madison Jackson (Karaka) and Rednalhgih Cowan were the only ones to keep their slate clean, and in a snippy 34.46-second time. Crystal Hackett (Waiuku) and the well-performed The Dreamer filled second place with their four fault 34.79 second round with Zara Main (Dairy Flat) and Blue Crush third on four faults in 46.28 seconds.
The two day show was held at Barge Park in Whangarei.
Results –
ESNZ Horse Grand Prix: Amanda Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Cassanova 1, Colleen Crous (Auckland) Orames Girl VDL 2, Glen Beal (Te Kauwhata) All Expenses of Renton 3, Jasmine Corkery (Whangarei) Lafayet Ego Z 4.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Madison Jackson (Karaka) Rednalhgih Cowan 1, Crystal Hackett (Waiuku) The Dreamer 2, Zara Main (Dairy Flat) Blue Crush 3, Cassie Topper (Whangarei) Redcliffs Wizz Bang MF 4, Shanae Savannah (Silverdale) Tiger Tale LS 5, Amelia Munro (Auckland) MF Spot ON 6.
Harrison Lane Pro-Amateur Rider Series: Glen Beal (Te Kauwhata) Soprano 1, Amanda Illston (Auckland) Verdelho 2, India Causebrook (Pukekohe) Westminster Rock 3, Kristine Leonard (Northland) Annies Lane 4, Joanna Bullock (Ahuroa) Weiti Vienna 5, Joanna Bullock (Ahuroa) Weiti Chevrolet 6.
Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series: Michelle Wakeling (Wellsford) BMW Chaccolilli 1, Kelly Chapman (Albany) Eye See Ruby 2, Jeremy Clark (Te Kauwhata) Dynavyte Cancion HSH 3, Jeremy Clark (Te Kauwhata) Dynavyte Ipso Facto 4, Joy McNeill (Whangarei) Incentive 5, Sarah Twentyman (Warkworth) Moulin Rouge 6.
FMG Young Rider Series: Natalia Lammers (Hikurangi) Shakespear NZPH 1, Isabelle Jameson (Whangarei) Di Caprio CSNZ 2, Keean Cooper (Te Kauwhata) Pythia 3, Tyla Hackett (Waiuku) Global PH Cocofino 4, Maddison Greatorex (Waipu) Daisy Duke NZPH 5, Colleen Crous (Auckland) Orames Girl 6.
Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series: Natalia Lammers (Hikurangi) Romeo NZPH 1, Crystal Hackett (Waiuku) Lillyberg SL 2, Grace Stewart (Whangarei) White Knuckle Ride 3, Chloe Leggott (Whangarei) Paint Me A Picture 4, Rosa Katavich (Auckland) Midway Twain 5, Sophia Maud (Okura) Soho 6.
For full results, head to www.main-events.com .
By Diana Dobson
27 October 2020