Tegan Fitzsimon will be chasing maximum points when she and her ever-consistent mount Windermere Cappuccino line up in a very talented POLi Payments FEI World Cup qualifier field on Sunday at the Metalform Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay Showjumping Show.
The South Island combination are two-time winners of the series and sit at the top of the leaderboard – thanks to two wins and a third from the three rounds this season – on 57 points, with Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) on 49, Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) on 41, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) on 40 and Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) rounding out the top four on 37.
It has been a challenging season for the top riders. World Cups have been cancelled, postponed and run in tough conditions. Sunday’s qualifier is the penultimate round, with the series final scheduled at the Taranaki Equestrian Jumping Show at the Egmont Showgrounds in late January. On offer for the final will be points-and-a-half, so all riders will be chasing maximum points in this weekend’s lead-in. Just their best four rounds will count, with the series winner having the opportunity to travel to the World Cup final later this year – should it go ahead.
Tegan says consistency is the key for this weekend. “My focus is about keeping my plan on track, and I am looking forward to being back out competing after the Christmas-New Year break.”
Maurice, another former series winner, is entered aboard Central Park, with whom he has bagged a second, third and fifth this season, and Brooke, a two-time final winner and current Olympic Cup holder, is in on her stella mare LT Holst Andrea.
Young gun Sophie Scott is one to watch. The teen from Palmerston North won the last round at Hawke’s Bay aboard her non-nominated horse but this week is only starting Waitangi Skynet so won’t face that dilemma. The 14-year-old Waitangi Skynet is relatively new to her stable but the combination has had a win and a second from their two World Cup starts this season.
Logan Massie (Dannevirke) and the stallion Bravado Ego Z will be looking for a good result after just a single start in the series this season. Phillip Steiner (Tauranga) and Cassina Dior have shown plenty of promise already in their first season at World Cup level, as have Daniel Webb (Hunterville) and WSJ Centaur in their second season.
Emelia Forsyth (Clevedon) and Henton Faberge did well at the Dannevirke qualifier last season and certainly have the x factor to be able to pull off a top result. Melody Matheson (Havelock North) and Cortaflex Enya MH are in their first season of World Cups as a combination, but Melody is well versed at this level.
On debut are Matamata’s Vicki Prendergast with her 10-year-old homebred Holsteiner cross mare Selena C as well as Jeremy Whale (Hampton Downs) aboard Idol D but the horse has previously competed at this level in Australia.
The POLi Payments and Metalform FEI World Cup Qualifier will be designed by Roger Laplanche and will run on Sunday afternoon. Keep an eye on the show’s Facebook page for the latest information – Central and Southern Hawkes Bay Jumping Show .
The Metalform Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay Showjumping Show, which is being held at the Dannevirke A&P Showgrounds, starts on Friday and runs through to Sunday.
POLi Payments FEI World Cup (NZ series) leaderboard (after three rounds): Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) 57 points 1, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) 49 2, Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) 41 3, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) 40 4, Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) 37 5, Melody Matheson (Havelock North) 23 6, Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) 21 7, Phillip Steiner (Tauranga) 17 8, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) 9 9.
Jumping Team
6 January 2022