Samantha Gillies and Doctor Jones Photo Credit – Michelle Clarke
Samantha Gillies has continued her solid form with more success, this time at the South Island Jumping and Show Hunter Championship Show in Waimate.
The Oamaru teen took the win in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series class aboard Doctor Jones and was also second in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series with Socrates De La Ve Z, third in the FMG Young Rider Series with Lumarzo, and won both the South Island Speed Pony crown and the Hussey Paint and Panel Pony Mini Prix Series on Destellar.
She was the only one to go double clear of the 11 starters in the Pony Grand Prix, and while she picked up four faults in the Mini Prix, she was more than 10 seconds faster than the opposition to take the win.
“The horses did jump very well,” said Samantha. “They all felt really good coming into the weekend and while I knew we could do it, I didn’t think it would happen the way it did. Like with the speed pony, I thought I would have had more of a chance with Doctor Jones but Destellar was last to go so I had to give it a good go.”
It was busy weekend for her, with five horses competing at the champs. She was particularly chuffed to have such a purple patch on the back of earlier success at the Canterbury Champs where she won the Pony Grand Prix and Canterbury Pony Grand Prix Series with Doctor Jones and the horse mini prix and Canterbury series with Lumarzo. Samantha is now eyeing the National Champs and she’s crossing her fingers all will continue their fine form.
Just three started the FEI CSI 1* class with the honours going to Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) aboard Whimsical WDS. Angus Taylor (Ohoka) and Sea Coral were second with Tamara Silcock (Nelson) and FF Lisandro third. While none were clear in the first, Steffi and Whimsical WDS left everything up in the second to finish on a total of eight faults from the two rounds.
Steffi Whittaker and Whimsical WDS Photo Credit-Michelle Clarke
Event director Harriet Gardner was a late call up to take the reins of the show after area president Tim Douglass was sidelined with injury. “It was a very big week in the lead up to the champs,” she said, “with the red traffic light level announced and Tim being injured. A massive thank you to him for being so organised and having all the info I needed ready to hand over. Even from his hospital bed he was making sure the show would go on.”
Harriet also tipped her hat to event secretary Rebecca Drummond, the show’s 34 sponsors, the committee and others who had helped to make sure the show ran smoothly, and the Southern Canterbury A&P groundsman who had done “an absolute top job”. “The footing was fantastic and I even heard the word perfect used, so the riders were all very happy,” she said.
“Everyone was very grateful to be able to compete and they all followed our COVID bubble policies with a smile – under their masks.”
The “picture perfect” two day show was hosted by the South Canterbury and North Otago Area ESNZ group. The 381 horses and riders were split into six bubbles across the grounds.
Lex Peddie designed the courses in ring one, where he was assisted by Emma Barker, Donella Still was tasked with ring two, and Barry Manson in ring three.
Results –
FEI CSI1* 1.4m: Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) Whimsical WDS 1, Angus Taylor (Ohoka) Sea Coral 2, Tamara Silcock (Nelson) FF Lisandro 3.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series: Samantha Gillies (Oamaru) Doctor Jones 1, Molly Moffatt (Christchurch) Te Ngaio Raggamuffin 2, Johanna Wylaars (Christchurch) Wembleybrook Tiffany 3, Harriet Laing (Banks Peninsula) Springvale Tama 4, Angus Price (Winton) Fun House 5, Molly Smith (Geraldine) Vapour Trail NZPH 6.
Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series: Molly Moffatt (Christchurch) Glenmark 1, Samantha Gillies (Oamaru) Socrates De La Ve Z 2, Angus Price (Winton) Veroana 3, Jessica Hore (Millers Flat) Centino 4, Pippa Collins (Palmerston Otago) First Lady 5, Amy Brenssell (Tapanui) KWL Midship 6.
Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series: Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing 1, Molly Buist-Brown (Christchurch) Payback 2, Molly Buist-Brown (Christchurch) Vali 3, Katie Meredith (Ohoka) Vulcan GNZ 4, Zoe Shore (Ashburton) Quainton Labyrinth 5, Molly Buist-Brown (Christchurch) Clear Ambition 6.
FMG Young Rider Series: Makenzie Causer (Christchurch) Copabella Camouflage 1, Anna Nalder (Canterbury) Letano 2, Samantha Gillies (Oamaru) Lumarzo 3, Brianna Bailey (Amberley) Duke 4, Jessica Hore (Millers Flat) Beaumont Birdie 5, Holly Crean (Leithfield) Dexter 6.
Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series: Kate Beattie (Dunedin) Smartymarty 1, Tanya Davie (Clinton) Glenbrooke Final Rose 2, Sonia McKerchar (Oamaru) Edward NZPH 3, Elizabeth Bell (Ashburton) Archie Amor 4, Gayle Baker (West Melton) Clariton 5, Danielle Guiver (Nelson) My Lion Heart 6.
Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Series: Lucy Olphert (Queenstown) Kiwi Strike 1, Katie Meredith (Ohoka) ES Quincy 2, Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) Glenbrooke Rosarno 3.
UltraMox Six-Year-Old Series: Georgina Dormer (Christchurch) Google NZPH 1, Makenzie Causer (Christchurch) Lord Axel GNZ 2, Emily Cammock (Christchurch) Zealand Blue HSH 3, Tanya Davie (Clinton) Glenbrooke Final Rose 4, Amy McMullan (Timaru) Pure Cascade 5.
East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series: Gayle Baker (West Melton) Riverdown Rock N Roll 1, Ella Rae Wood (Greymouth) TMS Annabella 2, Georgina Dormer (Christchurch) Hugo Boss NZPH 3,Katie Meredith (Ohoka) Foxy Lady GNZ 4, Amy McMullan (Timaru) Cosmopolitan ECPH 5, Tamara Silcock (Nelson) Carlotta GNZ 6.
Main-Events Tertiary Jumping Series: Sophie Sinclair (Southland) Hashtag Murphy’s Law 1, Lola Slaughter (Wellington) Celebrity VWNZ 2.
Cavalleria Toscana Horse Mini Prix Series: Holly Crean (Leithfield) Dexter 1, Angus Taylor (Ohoka) Sea Coral 2, Makenzie Causer (Christchurch) Copabella Camouflage 3, Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) Whimsical WDS 4, Courtney Townsend (Darfield) Corofina ECPH 5, Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Floriant DHU 6.
Hussey Paint and Panel Pony Mini Prix Series: Samantha Gillies (Oamaru) Destellar 1, Angus Price (Winton) Benrose Starlight 2, Molly Smith (Geraldine) BG Lennox 3, Maygen Gubb (Oamaru) Bespoke 4, Stella Bowles (Dunedin) Windward Finnick 5, Jade Miller (Tai Tapu) Eleanor Rigby 6.
Show hunter, NRM Open High Points Series: Katie Meredith (Ohoka) Vulcan GNZ 1, Louise Marriott (Rangiora) Clicquot 2, Kirsty Sharapoff (Christchurch) Shoot the Breeze 3, Lucy Olphert (Queenstown) Kiwi Strike 4, Emily Cammock (Christchurch) Zealand Blue HSH 5.
Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Equitation Series: Katie Meredith (Ohoka) Vulcan GNZ 1, Emily Cammock (Christchurch) Debatable Miss 2, Jade McRae (Invercargill) Swayze 3, Sarah Ormandy (Canterbury) La Dama Vegas 4, Louise Marriott (Rangiora) Clicquot 5.
Sport Horse Junior High Points Series: Fabriana McQuarrie (Christchurch) Shaw Lee 1, Sophie Townsend (Darfield) Pinstripe II 2, Summer Borrie (Oamaru) Daisy Duke 3.
Carousel Equestrian Amateur High Points Series: Jade McRae (Invercargill) Swayze 1, Sarah Morris (Rangiora) Montalto 2, Kylie Lyders (Lawrence) Volonte II 3, Dee Grant (Canterbury) Sinaloa GNZ 4, Kirsty Anderson (Southbridge) Ayrdene Banjo 5.
ESNZ Show Hunter Junior Equitation Series: Madeline Jones (Marlborough) Starborough Sandman 1, Sophie Townsend (Darfield) Wildheart 2, Fabriana McQuarrie (Christchurch) Shaw Lee 3, Lucy Swain (Gore) Stone River Titan 4, Summer Borrie (Oamaru) Daisy Duke 5.
Hokonui Sport Horses Cat A High Points Series: Olivia Mehrtens (Rangiora) My Gemma Bear 1, Casey Reynolds (Rangiora) Sunny Brae Patrick 2, Milly Dampier-Crossley (Rotherham) Minks 3.
Fiber Fresh Cat B High Points Series: Harriet Baker (Gore) Moonspirit Jitterbug 1, Anna Smith (Wyndham) Starlight Smarda 2, Jane Paton-Smith (Oamaru) Jubilee Modern Warrior 3, Bianca Reynolds (Rangiora) Dream Diva 4, Anna Smith (Wyndham) El Alpha G Wizz 5.
Aniwell Cat C High Points Series: Summer Borrie (Oamaru) Missing Pieces 1, Georgette Laing (Little River) Triple Star Picture Puzzle 2, Emily Henderson (Rolleston) Kolour Me 3, Sophie Smith (Timaru) Pacific Gold 4, Hazel McRae (Wanaka) Brackenleighs Requim 5.
ESNZ Show Hunter Pony Equitation Series: Bianca Reynolds (Rangiora) Dream Diva 1, Sophie Smith (Timaru) Pacific Gold 2, Harriet Baker (Gore) Moonspirit Jitterbug 3, Anna Smith (Wyndham) Starlight Smarda 4, Molly Smith (Geraldine) BG Lennox 5.
Bay of Plenty and Waikato Show Hunter Groups 12 & under Equitation Series: Milly Dampier-Crossley (Rotherham) Minks 1, Grace Roy (Gore) Afallons Royal Arabesque 2, Greta Dale (Timaru) Highland’s Lad 3, Olivia Mehrtens (Rangiora) My Gemma Bear 4, Casey Reynolds (Rangiora) Sunny Brae Patrick 5.
For full results, head to www.main-events.com
Jumping Team – 2 February 2022