Brooke Edgecombe, Tegan Fitzsimon, Sophie Scott, Maurice Beatson at Glistening Waters ESNZ Series Final Awards, Masterton, Saturday, April 23, 2022 Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall

 

It’s been both a season to remember and yet one to forget for newly-crowned POLi Payments Premier League Series winner Tegan Fitzsimon.

The 31-year-old from West Melton and her beloved Windermere Cappuccino nabbed their third Premier Series crown after an exciting Nations Event-sponsored grand final at the Glistening Waters Show.

The South Island combo spent five months in a very challenging season based up north, returning for the series final show but it paid off with their names now etched in the two top national showjumping series trophies – the POLi Payments FEI World Cup (NZ) League Series and now the Premier League Series.

A challenging Donella Still-designed course proved just the ticket to end a very competitive and exciting Premier League Series. It was a two round affair for the grand final with eight on eight faults or less coming back for the second. Each combination gave it their all and in the end the day belonged to Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) aboard Waitangi Skynet with the season owned by Tegan.

“Windermere Cappuccino was super consistent at the start of the season and while not the greatest at our last two shows, he was really good today,” said Tegan. “I am just relieved it is all over . . . it has been a very tough season. It takes a lot to base up here (in the north) for so long. I sacrificed a lot to do that this time.”

She praised Donella’s courses, saying they had ridden well all weekend. “I would have liked this show to go a little better, but it just wasn’t to be.”

Now Tegan is contemplating an offshore campaign with her superstar horse. “It would be nice to do some World Cups in Australia to see how we go there.”

Winning the World Cup for the third time, and on a perfect score, was certainly the highlight for her.

In the grand final just Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) aboard LT Holst Andrea and Sophie were clear, with three combinations on four faults and three on eight. Clears were a little more forthcoming in the second round with six leaving all the rails up but the final placings decided on accumulated faults. Sophie took the win with her double clear in 53.62 seconds, with Brooke second, also all clear, in 55.65, Daniel Blundell (Auckland) continuing his stellar series final show in third with four faults in 51.23, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) also carrying on with his purple patch in fourth with four faults in 55.73, and series winner Tegan fifth with four faults in 58.95. Sophie placed second in the series with Maurice third and Brooke fourth.

 

Results –

 

POLi Payments Premier League Grand Final (sponsored by Nations Events); Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) Waitangi Skynet 1, Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Andrea 2, Daniel Blundell (Auckland) Cadenza NZPH 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Central Park 4, Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) Windermere Cappuccino 5, Samantha van Lierde (Cambridge) Cadillac NZPH 6.

 

POLi Payments Premier League Series: Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) Windermere Cappuccino 187 points 1, Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) Waitangi Skynet 181 2, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Central Park 125 3, Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Andrea 104 4, Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) Glenbrooke Rich as Roses 56 5, Phillip Steiner (Tauranga) Cassina Dior 52 6.

 

For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz

 

Jumping Team

April 25, 2022