Saturday at the Tavendale and Partners NZ National Jumping and Show Hunter Championships is all about the age group series classes. Horses and riders battled with a blustery easterly in the morning and 27 degrees in the afternoon, however it was raining rails however in the Matthews Hanoverians Seven Year Old Breeders Series. 

Sam Whale and Fleur DeLacour retired, and Southern favourite and 2016 winner of the prestigious Norwood Gold Cup at Horse of the Year Show, Olivia Robertson, unfortunately came unseated from Casino GNZ and with injured ribs she will not return for Sunday’s championship classes. Oliver Croucher and Takapoto Casanova Xtreme were awarded the win as the only combination on four faults. Rose Alfeld and Eye Catcher NZPH, and Sally Spicer and Corrine HSH, were runners up and third, respectively, on eight faults each. The remainder of the placings were filled out by Rosa Buist-Brown and Bellick ST, and Victoria Brown and RH Renamour, in that order, on 12 and 16 faults each.  

A clear round also eluded riders in the first round of the Ultramox Six Year Old Breeders Series. Four combinations who sat on four faults each returned for the jump off, and three jumped clear. The fastest of them was Samantha Carrington and Double J Hurricane, who now holds the Five Year Old series (2020) and Six Year Old series titles. 

Second place went to Sophie Scott and Benrose Casino ECPH, third to Simone Kann and Lassandra GNZ, fourth to Rose Alfeld and Footloose NZPH, fifth to Katie Meredith and Vulcan GNZ, and sixth to Steffi Whittaker and Glenbrooke Rosarno.

The Donella Still-designed track proved a good test in the East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Breeders Series. Of the eighteen combinations who started, four advanced to the jump off while two were eliminated. 

Winners Makenzie Causer and Lord Axel GNZ were the only clear in the jump off – and the only double clear in the field. They were joined in the placings by Amy McMullen and Pure Cascade, Nic Grant and Sinaloa GNZ, Cherie Cournane and MF Lexicon, Todd Magner and Awatuna Rocketman, and Rose Alfeld and Celebration ECPH, respectively. 

In the FMG Young Rider Series, run in conjunction with The Rider Shop, Sophie Scott and Lakota managed the only clear in the round, making a jump-off redundant. Samantha Carrington and Double J Breeze On were the only four-faulters, claiming second for their efforts.  

This class also hosted the North versus South Island Young Rider teams competition. Four riders make up each team, and the three best scores from each team count. The North Island team of Emily Hayward and Centino, Sophie Scott and Laktoa, Samantha Carrington and Double J Breeze On, and Francesca Corich and LDS Cardo are the 2021 winners and recipients of the Cricklewood Ace Trophy, kindly donated by the White family. The South Island team comprised Peita Milne and Global PH Cassa Lena, Molly Moffat and Ataahua Mana, Grace Manera and Cazette HSH, and Steffi Whittaker and Whimsical WDS.

In the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series and Equitation, run in conjunction with Team Victoria Ltd, Pippa Collins and First Lady claimed the class title with the only double clear in the field, while Olivia Adams and Castelada II claimed the Equitation title. 

A field of seven lined up to contend the Harrison Lane Pro-Amateur Rider Series, which is run in conjunction with NRM. Two combinations were called back for a jump off – local favourites Kirsty Sharapoff and Shoot the Breeze jumped clear and fast to put the pressure on Courtney Townsend and Corofina ECPH, who managed to leave the rails up but could not eclipse Kirsty’s time.

The day closed out with the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series, run in conjunction with Kathryn Picton-Warlow Harcourts Gold. Of the field of 30 starters, two combinations retired, two were eliminated and seven jumped clear, with six of those clears advancing to the jump off. 

An impressively fast and clear effort from Kelly Chapman and Eye See Ruby awarded them the win. Also clear in the jump off were Florence Tapley and Ngahiwi Call Girl, and Sonia Mckerchar and Edward NZPH, who placed second and third respectively. 

Saturday also hosts another team jumping competition – the North versus South Inter-Island teams competition. This is contested over all classes in Ring 1 on Saturday, with each island nominating one rider per class whose score will count and allowing for one dropped score over the day. 

The South Island sat in poll position with one rail up their sleeve at the half way mark however a consistent, dominant performance from the North Island team saw them emerge victorious (24 to 32 faults) and hoist the Inter-Island Teams Trophy, kindly donated by the Skene-Scott family. The North Island team included Francesca Corich, Sophie Scott, Oliver Croucher, and sisters Samantha and Kimberley Carrington. The South Island team was comprised of Harriet Gardner, Amy McMullen, Kirsty Sharapoff, Samantha Gillies, and Molly Buist-Brown.

Riders return on Sunday for the final day of the Tavendale and Partners NZ National Jumping and Show Hunter Championships where the winners of the championship classes will be crowned our national champions for 2021. 

 

Jumping Team

24 January 2021