Winners of EvoEvents Grand Prix – Brooke Edgecombe and LT Holst Andrea with show sponsor John Larsen.  Photo credit Paul Rickard, The Gisborne Herald

Brooke Edgecombe is heading home from the Larsen Sawmilling Equestrian Championships in Gisborne happy in the knowledge that she and LT Holst Andrea have had a near-perfect prep for next weekend’s POLi Payments FEI World Cup final, but more chuffed with the stable seat she won as part of her EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix prize.

The Waipukurau combination headed home a small field in the big class of the show. Just she and Jesse Linton (Hastings) aboard his mounts Kings Larkin and LT Holst Elsbeth were clear in the opening round over a lovely flowing Kevin Hansen-designed course.

Jesse was out first aboard the Kelly Smith owned chestnut Kings Larkin. They’d nudged the first in the opening round but left that all behind for the second and rode a gorgeous clear in 57.59 seconds to lay the challenge for Brooke.

Brooke and 13-year-old Andrea didn’t need to be told twice, flying home all clear in 53.90 seconds. “It really didn’t feel that much faster,” she said. Jesse opted not to start LT Holst Elsbeth but still filled third place.

Brooke was rapt and particularly to win a second Larsen Sawmilling garden seat – she won her first in 2020 and says she needed another one for the stables. “Jesse’s horse jumped super and pretty quick too so I knew what I had to do. Kevin built a nice inviting course out there. It was quite windy in the jump-off though. It can take a little to get her going when it is like that but by the end she got into her rhythm.”

She said the 13-year-old mare felt great and the win was a good run-in to next week’s final.

“She is better with not too much down time.”

This week will see some fitness work at the racetrack and a little schooling at home. “I really just wanted a good outing for her this weekend, so to win is a bonus, and especially with a double clear. It is a good confident lead in.”

Brooke’s husband Oliver, who finished sixth aboard Briar Burnett-Grant’s Fiber Fresh Chesall in their first horse grand prix start, looked to be on track for a lovely clear in the opening round when the horse stopped at the second of the treble. The horse grand prix rounded out an excellent show for the family.

“We really do love to come here,” said Brooke. “It is a great show. The courses have been really good all weekend and the ground excellent too.”

The Country TV Pony Grand Prix went the way of Zara Preece-Twose (Auckland) and her showy piebald TC Pianoman with the only clear in the opening round. Tessa Mason (Hawke’s Bay) and Mr Acho were second with Samantha-Lee Wakeling (Wellsford) aboard BMW Sharpshooter third.

It was the second time 15-year-old Zara had made the long trip to Gisborne but, according to her, well worth it. She’s had the pony one-and-a-half years. “He really does know how to win and he is always fast thanks to a big stride.”

The combination, who are trained by Danielle Maurer, only did their first Pony Grand Prix start around a year ago. “She has brought me all the way through from 1m to this level.”

This was their second win. “He can be a bit arrogant and doesn’t like to be told what to do but he always wants to please you in the ring. I think he is really just coming into his own.”

She was surprised to be the only clear in the opening round. “It was a nice course and really suited him.”

Zara was grateful to her mum Karen (Twose) for driving her all the way down. “It is a good show – very chill and good grounds. It is a bit of a family affair – TC Pianoman stays with Zara’s 80-year-old grandmother Pat (Twose) during the week while the teen is at school in the city. “She feeds him and does his rugs and everything for me. She is really fit and loves to do it.”

The two grand prix classes brought the curtain down on an excellent three days of jumping at Showgrounds Park. Friday’s rain had been a perfect top-up for the well-prepared grounds. While entries were a little down on previous years, the show was a huge success with riders appreciative of the effort the very dedicated committee put in.

 

Results –

Showjumping, EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix Series: Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Andrea 1, Jesse Linton (Hastings) Kings Larkin 2, Jesse Linton (Hastings) LT Holst Elsbeth 3, Tyla Hackett (Waiuku) Global PH Cocofino 4, Julie Davey (Hastings) Just D 5, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Fiber Fresh Chesall 6.

Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series: Zara Preece-Twose (Auckland) TC Pianoman 1, Tessa Mason (Hawke’s Bay) Mr Acho 2, Samantha-Lee Wakeling (Wellsford) BMW Sharpshooter 3, Annie Moffett (Napier) Korokipo Kid 4.

Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series: Amanda Pottinger (Havelock North) Good Timing 1, Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing 2, Mikayla Herbert (Rotorua) Grand Caballo 3, Noni Morgan (Hawke’s Bay) Starlight Discovery 4, Robbie McKay (Opotiki) Haupouri Eldorao NZPH 5, Michelle Wakeling (Wellsford) BMW Chaccolilli 6.

Main-Events Tertiary Challenge Series: Ally Stevenson (Hastings) Fashion NZPH 1.

Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series: Anna Kincheff (Rotorua) Red Socks 1,  Anna Kincheff (Rotorua) Request 2, Amelia Clark (Karaka) Master of Hossack 3.

FMG Young Rider Series: Tyla Hackett (Waiuku) Global PH Cocofino 1, Nayton Mitchell (Palmerston North) Floriant DHU 2, Tyla Hackett (Waiuku) Eye Candy 3, Jas Flowerday (Bay of Plenty) Hit Parade 4.

Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series: Grace Stevenson (Hastings) Brigadoon 1, Jas Flowerday (Bay of Plenty) Finch Farm Corsage 2, Samantha-Lee Wakeling (Wellsford) BMW Braveheart 3, Tessa Mason (Hawke’s Bay) High Plains Drifter 4, Abe Baker (Hawke’s Bay) Hawkesdale Mahe 5.

Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Series: Geordie Bull (Atiamuri) Marius 1, Julie Davey (Hastings) LT Holst Freda 2, Ashley Hart (Hastings) Kiwi Windfall 3, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Fiber Fresh Kasalla 4, Michelle Wakeling (Wellsford) BMW Chaccolilli 5, Jesse Linton (Hastings) Aeronautic 6.

UltraMox Six-Year-Old Series: Penny Borthwick (Masterton) Chelsea CSNZ, Ike Baker (Hawke’s Bay) Double J Graduate, Hannah Bodle (Morrinsville) Haupouri Galileo NZPH, Ashley Hart (Hastings) Kiwi Royal, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Normandy GHP, Nayton Mitchell (Palmerston North) REI Huia Hemi and Ike Baker (Hawke’s Bay) Zirrena =1.

East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series: Tracy Mason (Hawke’s Bay) Kiwi Coco and Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) Matai Zarite =1. 

 

Show hunter, Aniwell Cat C High Points Series: Janey Pease (Piopio) Rascal Flatts OS 1, Jaimee Rika (Gisborne) Charlie Taplin 2, Annie Moffett (Napier) Carlton Royal Tiger 3,  Kaitlin Brown (Wairoa) Tawa 4, Sam Brooks (Gisborne) The Tontonator 5.

ESNZ Show Hunter Pony Rider Equitation Series: Annie Moffett (Napier) Charlton Royal Tiger 1, Wiremu Priest (Rotorua) Diva Las Vegas 2, Kaitlin Brown (Wairoa) Tawa 3.

Fiber Fresh Cat B High Points Series: Hannah McConnell (Tauranga) Billy Blunt 1, Lulu Tomlinson (Gisborne) My Sweet Nevaeh 2, Georgie Coop (Gisborne) Billy the Kid 3, Georgie Coop (Gisborne) Barney Rubble 4, Victoria Dorward (Hawke’s Bay) Mount Tullock Skylark 5.

Bay of Plenty and Waikato Show Hunter Groups 12 years and under Equitation Series:  Lottie Bull (Atiamuri) Out of the Mist 1, Molly McEwan (Gisborne) Buffalo Man 2, Stellar Aulding (Gisborne) Hololio Sparkling Rose 3, Zoe McNaught (Gisborne) Mr Riley 4.

Hokonui Sport Horses Cat A High Points Series: Zoe McNaught (Gisborne) Mr Riley 1, Molly McEwan (Gisborne) Buffalo Man 2, Stellar Aulding (Gisborne) Hololio Sparkling Rose 3.

Sport Horse Junior High Points Series: Macy Heaton (Hastings) PHS Armando 1.

Carousel Equestrian Amateur High Points Series: Merran Hain (Gisborne) Untouchable 1, Cindy Kershaw (Gisborne) Kiwi Vision 2, Lucy Win-Hewetson (Gisborne) Tangaroa 3, Jasmine Priest (Rotorua) Meersbrooke Big Ears 4, Kim Leckner (Gisborne) Sassafras 5.

Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Equitation and ESNZ Show Hunter Junior Equitation (combined): Kate Herdson (Auckland) Kaboom GNZ 1, Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) Matai Zarite 2.

NRM Open High Points Series: Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) Matai Zarite and Anna Parsons (Havelock North) Snapchat Me 2.

Hokonui Sport Horses Cat A High Points Series: Molly McEwan (Gisborne) Buffalo Man 1, Stellar Aulding (Gisborne) Hololio Sparkling Rose 2, Zoe McNaught (Gisborne) Mr Riley 3, Anna Spence (Gisborne) Greyfriars Imp 4.

Bay of Plenty and Waikato Show Hunter Groups 12 years and under Equitation Series: Lottie Bull (Atiamuri) Spritzer 1, Coco Fougere (Auckland) Totaranui Hope 2, Molly McEwan (Gisborne) Buffalo Man 3, Zoe McNaught (Gisborne) Mr Riley 4, Stellar Aulding (Gisborne) Hololio Sparkling Rose 5.

Fiber Fresh Cat B High Points Series: Victoria Dorward (Hawke’s Bay) Mount Tullock Skylark 1, Molly McEwan (Gisborne) Galaxy Firefly 2, Hannah McConnell (Tauranga) Billy Blunt 3, Coco Fougere (Auckland) Totaranui Hope 4.

ESNZ Show Hunter Junior Equitation Series: Jaimee Rika (Gisborne) Charlie Taplin 1, Annie Moffett (Napier) Carlton Royal Tiger 2, Maisey Alexander (Nuhaka) Showtym Mamma Mia 3.

Aniwell Cat C High Points Series: Zoe McNaught (Gisborne) Nitro Pandora 1, Jaimee Rika (Gisborne) Charlie Taplin and Kaitlin Brown (Wairoa) Tawa =2, Sam Brooks (Gisborne) The Tontonator 4, Annie Moffett (Napier) Carlton Royal Tiger 5.

Sport Horse Junior High Points and Carousel Equestrian Amateur High Points Series (combined): Merran Hain (Gisborne) Untouchable 1, Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) Matai Zarite 2, Lucy Win-Hewetson (Gisborne) Tangaroa 3.

ESNZ Show Hunter Junior Equitation and Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Equitation Series (combined): Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) Airborne MVNZ 1.

 

For full results, head to www.main-events.com

 

Diana Dobson

January 23, 2022