Tegan Fitzsimon and her well-performed Windermere Cappuccino headed home a very strong field in the ESNZ Horse Grand Prix at the Gisborne A&P Show this afternoon in style.

The West Melton combination, who have based in Te Aroha for the season, were one of 18 starters in the East Coast Wools-sponsored class. The opening round saw mostly four-fault rounds, with the odd eight and 16, along with a fall and three retirements.

Five came back to jump-off with Olympian and World Champs representative Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) the first out aboard Takapoto Alaid de Chez Nous, one of the horses  she brought back from Europe with her earlier this year. True to form, Samantha was slick across the ground and took the tightest of turns wherever possible which saw her take a rail, finishing with four faults in 39.16 seconds.

Next out was Tegan with Campari who rode a very steady clear but picked up four time penalties, stopping the clock at 47.29 seconds. Logan Massie (Dannevirke) and his chestnut stallion Bravado Ego Z did exactly the same but were a smidgen faster with their 47.22-second effort.

Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) and the gorgeous LT Host Andrea weren’t wasting any time, coming home clear in 43.6 seconds. Last to go was Tegan and Windermere Cappuccino who for that last two seasons have won the POLi Payments FEI World Cup Series. The South Islander knew exactly what needed to be done, and while she gave the second to last a good nudge, left everything up, and crossed the flags in 41.68 seconds to take the win.

“For us it was all about preparation for next week’s World Cup opener, so clears were what we were after,” said the 29-year-old. “The course was quite tricky and windy with forward lines so you had to be on your A game. There was  no time to breathe!”

By her own admission, 10-year-old Windermere Cappuccino did a far better jump-off than opener. “I didn’t push it in the jump-off but just did tighter turns. The aim was to go forward and clear. It’s a good confidence boost heading into that first World Cup next week.”

She was very pleased with the efforts of eight-year-old Campari. “It was challenging for him because he is green at this level and we are still growing our partnership.”

It was the first time Tegan had competed at Gisborne, and unlikely to be her last. “It has been really enjoyable here. That was a very strong field – the quality of horses this season is phenomenal.”

Coming in runner-up spot was Brooke with Samantha third, Logan fourth and Tegan fifth with Campari.

It was a head-to-head in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix class with just Dylan Bibby (Onga Onga) aboard Daisy Patch and Annie Moffett (Napier) with Tane Mahuta progressing to the jump-off.

There, 16-year-old Dylan was first out on the roan skewbald mare and while he nudged one, everything stayed up to come home all clear. Thirteen-year-old Annie was unlucky when Tane Mahuta slipped coming around to the double and while he cleared the first he lost momentum for the second and they called it a day. The 15-year-old has been part of the Moffett family for 11 years now, joining them as a four-year-old stallion. He was a solid team member for both her older brothers, with Annie taking the ride when she was just eight and competing him in the pleasure ring. They started Pony Grand Prix at the end of last season.

But today belonged to Dylan and Daisy Patch, who is co-owned by Gisborne women Pam Hamilton and Lyn McPhail. It’s Dylan’s last year on ponies and his plan was for a steady clear in both rounds. They did a fair amount of rail tapping in the first and gave the last a good nudge in the jump-off, giving her rider a few heart-stopping moments. “She is so easy to have around and can do anything – eventing, Pony Club and showjumping.”

It is the first time the combination have won the Pony Grand Prix at the Gisborne Show and Dylan is hoping it will auger well for the season. “Hopefully we can get to the Pony of the Year – we’ve tried for the last two years but one of us was out so haven’t made it. Maybe this time!”

He was very complimentary of Roger Laplanche’s course which while twisty and turny had flowed well. The win topped off a good show for the teen.

The two big classes brought the curtain down on three brilliant days of jumping at Gisborne with everyone very happy to see the sun today after two of rain and southerlies.

Results –

ESNZ Horse Grand Prix (sponsored by East Coast Wools): Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) Windermere Cappuccino 1, Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Andrea 2, Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) Takapoto Alaid de Chez Nous 3, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Bravado Ego z 4, Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) Campari 5, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Central Park, Lisa Coupe (Cambridge) Lotte, Robert Steele (Dannevirke) LT Holst Bernadette and Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) McMillans Ariados =6.

Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Dylan Bibby (Onga Onga) Daisy Patch 1, Annie Moffett (Napier) Tane Mahuta 2, Annie Moffett (Napier) Piripi 3, Lily Beaufoy (Gisborne) Jakaranda 4, Dylan Bibby (Onga Onga) My Funky Monkey 5.

Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series: Tasha Hart (Hastings) Kiwi Windfall 1, Jo Bell (Atiamuri) Mauve 2, Trudi Mitchell (Frasertown) Cadbury 3, Lidy Loffler (Wairoa) Parafino 4, Shelagh Nolan (Gisborne) Ngahiwi Eyeza Blue 5, Holly Gaines (Gisborne) Halo 6.

Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series: Leeshelle Small (Auckland) Dolce NZPH 1, Dylan Bibby (Onga Onga) Wenrose Vertigo 2, Annie Moffett (Napier) Samantha the Dachshund 3, Madison House (Whakatane) CML Queen Castello 4.

FMG Young Rider Series: Sarah West (Te Aroha) Oaks Centurian 1, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Whiorau Ritchie 2, Leeshelle Small (Auckland) AMS Archie Bunker 3, Bobbie-Jo Hewson (Taupo) Ngahiwi Blue Moon 4.

Harrison Lane Pro-Amateur Rider Series: Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Victoria’s Secret 1, Alannah Jackson (Cambridge) Capbella 2, Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing 3, Sam Whale (Cambridge) Adloo Annabelle 4, Kim Best (Hastings) LT Holst Teacher’s Pet 5, Ashley Hart (Hastings) Kiwi Bonus 6.

Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Series: Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Global PH Caretinjo 1, Oliver Croucher (Cambridge) Casanova Xtreme 2, Sam Whale (Cambridge) Fleur De Lacour 3.

UltraMox Six-Year-Old Series: Jeremy Whale (Cambridge) Bannockburn ECPH, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Florence and Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Helen =1.

East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series: Aline Tirant (Cambridge) Takapoto Cartier 1.

 

Show hunter, NRM Open High Points: Lisa Coupe (Cambridge) Untouchable 1, Shelagh Nolan (Gisborne) Ngahiwi Eyeza Blue 2, Angela Morison (Gisborne) Gracious Lady 3, Tracy Riddell (Dannevirke) Rocket 4.

ESNZ Amateur High Points: June Berrington (Whakatane) Kiwi Iron Mark 1, Merran Hain (Gisborne) Untouchable 2, Lidy Loffler (Wairoa) Parafino 3, Trudy Riddell (Dannevirke) Rocket 4, Kirsty Harnett (Gisborne) Ngahiwi Prince 5, Angela Morison (Gisborne) Gracious Lady 6.

Gyro Plastics Junior High Points: no result.

Sure Grip Mats Pony Equitation: Zara von Dadelszen (Waipukurau) Star Waka 1, Wiremu Priest (Rotorua) Out of the Mist 2, Jessica Blackburn (Rotorua) Paradise Pride 3, Katie Bibby (Onga Onga) Greedy McCready 4, Crystal-Jaz Hudson (Opotiki) Costiera Amalfi 5, Charli Robinson (Edgecumbe) Black Shadow 6.

Aniwell Cat C High Points: Ella Rouse (Gisborne) Welldun Daisy 1, Crystal-Jaz Hudson (Opotiki) Costiera Amalfi 2, Jessica Blackburn (Rotorua) Paradise Pride 3, Carli Robinson (Edgecumbe) Black Shadow 4, Katie Bibby (Onga Onga) Greedy McCready 5, Toby Lane (Gisborne) Lysnar Valley Lily 6.

ESNZ Junior and Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Rider Equitation: June Berrington (Whakatane) Kiwi Iron Mark 1, Kirsty Harnett (Gisborne) Ngahiwi Prince 2.

Fiber Fresh Cat B High Points: Ella Rouse (Gisborne) Ruby Tunes 1, Hannah McConnell (Tauranga) Billy Blunt 2, Charlotte Schweizer (Rerewhakaaitu) Kaimai Hippy Chick 3, Emma Bates (Rotorua) Brahan Déjà vu 4, Lulu Tomlinson (Gisborne) My Sweet Nevaeh 5, Georgie Coop (Gisborne) Billy the Kid 6.

ESNZ 12 and under Rider Equitation Series: Molly McEwan (Gisborne) Pied Piper Alize 1, Maisey Alexander (Nuhaka) Showtym Mamma Mia 2, Georgie Coop (Gisborne) Billy the Kid 3, Stella Aulding (Gisborne) Hololio Sparkling Rose 4, Isobel Jayne Bevitt (Gisborne) Buffalo Man 5, Zoe McNaught (Gisborne) Mr Riley 6.

Float Factory Cat A High Points: Iyve Speirs (Gisborne) Miss Candy Floss 1, Molly McEwan (Gisborne) Pied Piper Alize 2, Zoe McNaught (Gisborne) Mr Riley 3, Isobel Jayne Bevitt (Gisborne) Buffalo Man 4, Stella Aulding (Gisborne) Hololio Sparkling Rose 5, Daisy Hoggard (Hastings) Glynmawr Quinine 6.

 

By Diana Dobson

October 17, 2020