Tegan Fitzsimon and Windermere Cappuccino have been in the top three for each of their four starts this season, but today they were at the front of a competitive 14-strong field at the Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay pop-up show in Dannevirke.
The West Melton combination, who are currently based on the outskirts of Cambridge, were one of three combinations to come back for the jump-off over a solid Heather McDonald-designed course.
Logan Massie (Dannevirke) and Bravado Ego Z were out first, setting the scene with a clear round in 44.54 seconds. Next was fellow local, Maurice Beatson aboard Central Park who took it up a notch, leaving everything in place and crossing the flags in 41.42. Tegan had watched the two go and knew exactly where she could slice off a smidgen of time which is just what she did, coming home in 41 seconds to take the honours.
“The course took a bit of jumping actually,” said Tegan, who has been in the North Island with her team since early September. “It was a nice track to ride, but quite up there with the height. A few pulled out after walking it.”
Her aim was to give Windermere Cappuccino, a two-time winner of the World Cup Series, good preparation for the opening qualifier at Hawera later this month, with their last start Gisborne in mid-October. “I watched Logan and Maurie go and knew going into the double where I could make the time.”
And she was bang on. The World Cup Series is what brings her to the North Island with her team. “It was a bit of a risk coming up, but we just took the punt. I feel I need to be up here to achieve what I want to. It was going to be sit at home and do nothing or come north.”
While there are some excellent horses and riders in the South Island, Tegan says with bigger fields in the north she feels she has to work a lot harder for top results. “It is better for my riding, the horses and I feel I learn a lot more. It is hard to prepare for the World Cup Series down there when there aren’t as many Grand Prix.”
She and her team have been based with Bundy Philpot for the past month or so, with the Tokyo Olympian hugely helpful with Tegan’s flat work. She’s also been working with Jeff McVean on her jumping. “We are really enjoying being based there,” she said.
The Grand Prix win topped off a good show for Tegan who was a joint winner in the UltraMox Six-Year-Old Series with Global PH Cupid and was sixth in the mini prix aboard Campari.
“The shows have been doing a really great job in how they are running in very tricky times. As riders, we all really appreciate that effort.”
In the Country TV Pony Grand Prix just three came back for the jump-off where it became a head-to-head with two very well-performed ponies. In the end though, the golden run of Penny Borthwick (Masterton) and Rednalhgih Cowan continued, with them taking the class with a double clear in 41.49 seconds. Tessa Mason (Hawke’s Bay) and the perennial Mr Acho were also double clear, but their slightly slower 43.46-second effort saw them finish in second. Eilidh Gloyn (Feilding) and another very successful pony in The Dreamer were third in the 11-strong field.
The show attracted more than 500 horses but in the end 427 competed – there had been a number who entered from the north who were hopeful of a change in COVID restrictions, and there was also extensive flooding in Gisborne which prevented others making the trip.
The pop-up show was organised in just two weeks.
Results –
EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix: Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) Windermere Cappuccino 1, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Central Park 2, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Bravado Ego Z 3, Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Andrea 4, Katharine Van Tuyl (Palmerston North) Centavino 5, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) WSJ Centaur 6.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Penny Borthwick (Masterton) Rednalhgih Cowan 1, Tessa Mason (Hawke’s Bay) Mr Acho 2, Eilidh Gloyn (Feilding) The Dreamer 3, Milly Waldin (Havelock North) Arawood Upgrade 4, Annie Moffett (Hawke’s Bay) Korokipo Kid 5, Penny Borthwick (Masterton) Foxdens Merlot 6.
Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series: Kaleigh Kent (Otane) Double J Sponge Bob Square Pants 1, Toni Vincent (New Plymouth) Fleckwood Smarty Arty 2, Emma Deadman (Taupo) Avichii AF 3, Emma Deadman (Taupo) Super Duper 4, Amanda Steele (Dannevirke) That’ll Do ECPH 5, Cindy Dames (Hastings) Tanglewood 6.
Harrison Lane Pro-Amateur Rider Series: Lucy Fell (Longburn) Faratona STS 1, Jesse Linton (Hastings) Beau Balou 2, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Victoria’s Secret 3, Brigitte Smith (Taihape) HR Lanardo 4, Sophie Fourie (Taranaki) Budgie 5, Noni Morgan (Hastings) Starlight Discovery 6.
FMG Young Rider Series: Dylan Bibby (Onga Onga) Wenrose Vertigo 1, Samantha Carrington (Takapau) Double J Breeze On 2, Isabella Narracci (Hawke’s Bay) Good Time 3, Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) Lakota 4, Kimberley Carrington (Takapau) Double J Barmaid 5, Francesca Corich (Paraparaumu) LDS Cardo 6.
Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series: Tara Gower (Ohura) Double J Image 1, Chantelle Smith (Palmerston North) Cravino STS 2, Makayla White (Hastings) Kiwi Showtime 3, Jaimee Whittaker (Hawke’s Bay) Empress VWNZ 4, Charlotte Sowry (Palmerston North) Sunny Boy 5, Makayla White (Hastings) Kiwi Princess 6.
East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series: Tracy Mason (Hawke’s Bay) Kiwi Coco, Zara Sutton (Palmerston North) The Eleventh Hour, Dirk Waldin (Havelock North) Lagertha VWNZ, Anneke Van Rooyen (Taumarunui) Awaroa New Edition, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Knoxville ECPH, Harvey Nelson (Waimarama) Eye See Red, Samantha Carrington (Takapau) Double J Odin, Ike Baker (Hawke’s Bay) LT Holst Emric and Vicki Wilson (Hawke’s Bay) Captivate VWNZ =1.
UltraMox Six-Year-Old Series: Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) Global PH Cupid, Kimberley Carrington (Takapau) Double J Typhoon, Anneke Van Rooyen (Taumarunui) Awaroa Just a Dream, Chantelle Smith (Palmerston North) Glentai Maximum and Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Takapoto Tinka =1.
Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Series: Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Fiber Fresh Kasalla 1, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Florence 2, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) WSJ Astros 3, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) WSJ Apache 4, Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) Joopiter 5, Julie Davey (Hastings) LT Holst Freda 6.
For full results, head to www.main-events.com
Jumping Team
7 November 2021