Emelia Forsyth and Henton Faberge win EvoEvents HGP at Auckland Show Jumping, 19th December 2021
Photo Credit: Amy C Photography
Emelia Forsyth’s work during lockdown paid big at the weekend when the 22-year-old Waikato University student steered Henton Faberge to a solid win in the EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix at the Red is Go Christmas Show in Auckland.
“This is her first real weekend back competing,” says the Clevedon rider. “We started the previous weekend as a training run just so I could see where we were at. So my plan this weekend was to see if she is actually ready for the Dannevirke World Cup Qualifier.”
Emelia and Dot – as she calls her 16-year-old chestnut mare – were primed and ready for the cancelled POLi Payments FEI World Cup opener in Hawke’s Bay back in October.
“I figured you can’t keep it up on old legs so I put her out for a few weeks and this is her coming back in really. I may be a little optimistic for Dannevirke with just one show under our belts but what else could I have done?”
While she says she didn’t back herself to win the Grand Prix at the weekend, she was keen to push things along and “give it a proper go”.
Nine started the class with five back for the jump-off where the top four were all double clear. Emelia and 16-year-old Dot crossed the flags at 35.84 seconds, ahead of Nakeysha Lammers (Waikato) aboard Balboa NZPH in 36.79, Nakeysha with her homebred Resolution in 38.31, and Samantha van Lierde (Cambridge) aboard Cadillac NZPH in 40.24.
“It is very exciting that the pace we can go keeps up with the rest,” says Emelia. “Dottie really is the best thing ever!”
It has been a busy couple of weeks for the honours student who is also on the Auckland Showjumping committee. “It was a bit tiring doing the two weeks, lugging jumps around, taking the horses home and then coming back to take them all down,” she said. “The committee did an awesome show. It was a lot of fun and really worth it. It was amazing to be back out competing properly.”
Emelia kept herself busy over the lockdown riding her new horse Wall Flower as well as a young Henton mount. “I got Wallflower at Takapoto so have been able to keep up my riding fitness on her. I have quite a team coming through – it is exciting!”
Jordyn Appleton (Auckland) and Burma Chilli were the only clear in the opening round of the Country TV Pony Grand Prix to take the win ahead of four-faulter Samantha-Lee Wakeling (Wellsford) aboard BMW Sharpshooter, with Zara Preece-Twose (Auckland) and TC Piano Man filling third spot in the 10-strong class.
Auckland Showjumping chair Paula Mussen said while it was challenging to run two shows back to back, much of the set-up was already in place, so not too onerous.
“We had a weather event in the middle which made it a bit stressful with 100ml of rain between the two shows,” said Paula.
The committee was grateful to sponsor Siteland Developments who brought in a big roller to repair the arenas after the rain and get the grounds back to new.
The first show was for Auckland riders only due to the borders being closed, but the second one attracted 275 horses, including plenty from the surrounding regions.
“Usually we pay the hunt to do our rails but couldn’t do that this year so we put a lot of expectation on our Auckland riders to step up and some were absolutely brilliant. We plan to be back to our full bells and whistles with 700-odd horses next year for this show. We definitely see the restrictions as purely temporary.”
Paula was full of praise for her “brilliant” committee. “Auckland Showjumping as a group is in a very strong position moving forward – it is a great thing to be a part of.”
The uncertainty around COVID and restrictions had seen plenty of planning and replanning but in the end, all rolled out successfully. “We would usually have dress rugs and fancy ribbons but this was a more scaled down event to minimise financial risk. It was a heap of fun running it for everyone. There were so many smiley faces and people were so happy to be out. It really did bring a little normality to the world for us all.”
Course builders over the two shows were Edward Bullock and Wayne Bragg who swapped around between rings.
Results –
EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix Series: Emelia Forsyth (Clevedon) Henton Faberge 1, Nakeysha Lammers (Waikato) Balboa NZPH 2, Nakeysha Lammers (Waikato) Resolution 3, Samantha van Lierde (Cambridge) Cadillac NZPH 4, Daniel Blundell (Tauranga) Cadenza NZPH 5, Emma Gaze (Ohaupo) Kowhai Bug 6.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series: Jordyn Appleton (Auckland) Burma Chilli 1, Samantha-Lee Wakeling (Wellsford) BMW Sharpshooter 2, Zara Preece-Twose (Auckland) TC Piano Man 3, Isabelle Hawkins (Auckland) Spotified 4, Francesca Bishell (Auckland) Galaxy Disco Fever II 5, Zara Main (Auckland) Blue Crush 6.
FMG Young Rider Series: Tyla Hackett (Waiuku) Global PH Cocofino 1, Olivia Prendergast (Matamata) Stellar 2, Natalia Lammers (Whangarei) Absolute NZPH 3, Amara Green (Woodhill) LC Underberg 4, Isabelle Jameson (Whangarei) Kiwi Storm 5, Natalia Lammers (Whangarei) Puro Chaccola 6.
Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series: Harley Ferguson (Whangarei) Code-Air 1, Cassie Topper (Whangarei) Cavalli Vista Coachello 2, Aimee Collinson (Clevedon) Deo Volente 3, Isabelle Saxton (Tuakau) Double Shott 4, Sacha Thomas (Mercer) Kiwi Fern 5, Georgia Milner (Auckland) Double J Angelic 5.
Harrison Lane Pro-Amateur Rider Series: Susie McLeod (Dairy Flat) Arrans Lad 1, Rosie Commons (Waimauku) Lotte 2, Renee Faulkner (Papakura) Mi Focus 3, Olivia Glen (Clevedon) Coconella 4, Vicki Ridley (Karaka) Mosaic II 5, Laura McGregor (Auckland) High Command 6.
Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series: Jeremy Clark (Te Kauwhata) Dynavyte Cancion HSH 1, Jessica Trow (Whitford) Kiwi Sunup 2, Taryn Skelton-Kyd (Auckland) BMW Numero Uno 3, Sarah Revis (Waitoki) Royal Blue 4, Jeff Chapman (Auckland) Chrialka Kapiti Blue 5, Jeremy Clark (Te Kauwhata) Dynavyte Ipso Facto 6.
For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz
Jumping Team
22 December 2021