EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix at Poverty Bay A&P won by Windermere Cappuccino and Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton)
Photo Credit Sandra Faulkner
Tegan Fitzsimon and Windermere Cappuccino bagged a perfectly-timed win in the EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix at the Poverty Bay A&P Show but it wasn’t without its challenges.
Horses, riders and organisers had everything thrown at them in Gisborne with the saturated main arena action moved to the smaller RDA indoor arena so the show could continue.
Course builder Kevin Hansen worked his magic, with plenty of support from volunteers and others to move jumps and set up the indoor which only got a new surface a month ago thanks to Merran Hain, Murray McPhail and the RDA.
Seven started the horse Grand Prix, which was held in conjunction with East Coast Wools, with just four coming back for the jump-off. A couple of fences proved tricky, both of which came off the back of corners in the tight arena. Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) and LT Holst Andrea were first out but an extremely unlucky slip on one of those corners saw them both come down and eliminated. Thankfully neither was injured.
Next out was veteran campaigner Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) and his big jumping Central Park who rode a cautious clear but picked up two time faults. Daniel Webb (Hunterville) and WSJ Centaur dropped one of the bogie fences for four faults. Tegan was late to the ring due to her 12-year-old gelding losing a shoe in the warm-up but the classy combo came in to give a masterclass.
“My plan was just for a nice steady double clear to prepare for next week’s POLi Payments World Cup Series opener,” said the South Island rider. “He was really well behaved in there.”
When he lost the shoe, she contemplated not coming back for the jump-off but later changed her mind. “It’s always good to get ring time before a World Cup. The course rode really well. Indoors is tight but we were lucky to have a little warm-up class in there yesterday. In that arena, everything came up quite quickly, but it all rode well.”
It’s the third time they’ve competed at the October Show for two wins and a third in the Grand Prix class.
The Country TV Pony Grand Prix produced a four-fault jump-off between debutant Isobel Jayne Bevitt (Gisborne) aboard Fire Bandit, and Tess Mason (Napier) on the well-performed Mr Acho. Both were clear, but Tess’ experience showed with her 46.2 second round to Isobel’s 49.53.
“We’ve always gone great at this show,” said Tess. “I feel so incredibly lucky to have this pony. We had a bit of a rough end of last season, so I was pretty nervous going into this one which is just our second of the season. I am stoked for the win.”
Second place was just as sweet for Isobel Jayne and Fire Bandit who just 18 months ago had a shocking accident that could have ended far worse for them. As it was, Isobel Jayne was airlifted to Waikato Hospital where she stayed for two weeks and the pony also needed time to recover.
Today was their first Grand Prix. “I just wanted to get around and have some fun,” said Isobel Jayne, who thanked her brother Oliver for shoeing her pony. She was so nervous she also pulled the pin on the jump-off. “I am so happy I did it. He is amazing – I just love his jump and he tries so hard.”
Results –
Showjumping, EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix Series (in conjunction with East Coast Wools): Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) Windermere Cappuccino 1, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Central Park 2, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) WSJ Centaur 3, Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Andrea 4, Kathryn Loiselle (Hastings) Haupouri Drama NZPH 5, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) WSJ Astros 6.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series: Tessa Mason (Napier) Mr Acho 1, Isobel Jayne Bevitt (Gisborne) Fire Bandit 2, Jessica McCann (Gisborne) Lay Z Lad 3, Jordyn Appleton (Auckland) Burma Chilli 4, Annie Moffett (Napier) Korokipo Kid 5, Lucy Hill (Gisborne) Mount Tullock Encore 6.
Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series: Ally Carson (Putaruru) Winston V Driene 1, Claudia Porter (Hawke’s Bay) Wooing 2, Tracy Mason (Hawke’s Bay) WP Stella 3, Becky Kidd (Dannevirke) Centriconia 4, Sofie Gaddum (Gisborne) Sentra 6.
Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series: Grace Kiava (Rotorua) Stormy Weather 1, Annie Moffett (Napier) Samantha the Dachshund 2, Abe Baker (Hastings) Hawkesdale Mahe 3, Libby Fussell (Omakere) Lord Rendition WS 4, Charlotte McGuire (Waikato) Matrix I Spy 5, Talia Good (Whakatane) Floriant DHU 6.
Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series: Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing 1, Alex Loiselle (Hastings) Haupouri Ferrari NZPH 2, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Victoria’s Secret 3, Noni Morgan (Hastings) Starlight Discovery 4.
FMG Young Rider Series: Jas Flowerday (Bay of Plenty) Hit Parade 1, Dylan Bibby (Onga Onga) Magic Dragon 2.
Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Series: Edward Bullock (Waiuku) Kiwi Sundance 1, Ike Baker (Hawke’s Bay) Double J Graduate 2, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Takapoto Tinka 3, Ike Baker (Hawke’s Bay) Zirrena 4, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Central Edition 5, Mikayla Herbert (Rotorua) Matai Serendipity 6.
UltraMox Six-Year-Old Series: Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Indiana Xtreme 1.
East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series: Holly Baines (Gisborne) Cherrio 1.
Show hunter, NRM Open High Points Series: Luke Dee (Hawke’s Bay) Blackall Park Pennylane 1, Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Untouchable 2, Cindy Kershaw (Gisborne) Kiwi Vision 3, Talia Good (Whakatane) Floriant DHU 4.
Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Equitation Series and ESNZ Show Hunter Junior Equitation Series: Leah Bibby (Waipukurau) Tiberus 1, Coco Fougere (Auckland) The Boss 2.
Sport Horse Junior High Points Series: Stephanie Schweizer (Rerewhakaaitu) CL After Dark 1, Coco Fougere (Auckland) The Boss 2, Leah Bibby (Waipukurau) Tiberus 3.
Carousel Equestrian Amateur High Points Series: Olivia Sutton (Auckland) Henton High Court 1, Cindy Kershaw (Gisborne) Kiwi Vision 2, Shelley Watts (Gisborne) Craighaven French Made 3, Julie Spence (Whakatane) Herman 4.
Vero Insurance Cat A High Points Series: Harlo Greaves (Gisborne) Hololio Sparkling Rose 1, Anna Spence (Gisborne) Greyfrairs Imp 2.
Fiber Fresh Cat B High Points Series: Zoe Newman (Gisborne) Seren Olos 1, Georgie Coop (Gisborne) Barney Rubble 2, Molly McEwan (Gisborne) Galaxy Firefly 3, Phoebe Rickard (Wanganui) Windermere Silvery Moon 4.
Aniwell Cat C High Points Series: Katie Bibby (Onga Onga) Greedy McCready 1, Lottie Bull (Atiamuri) Spritzer 2, Ella Rouse (Gisborne) Let’s Rumble Bumble 3, Maisey Alexander (Nuhaka) Showtym Mamma Mia 4, Lottie Bull (Atiamuri) Out of the Mist 5.
Bay of Plenty and Waikato Show Hunter Groups 12 & Under Equitation Series: Georgie Coop (Gisborne) Barney Rubble 1, Kyra Purcell (Te Puke) Onetai Black Diamond 2, Annabel Alexander (Nuhaka) My Sweet Nevaeh 3, Mollie Douglas (Gisborne) Twiggy 4, Phoebe Rickard (Wanganui) Windermere Silvery Moon 5.
Big on Writing Pony Rider Equitation Series: Maisey Alexander (Nuhaka) Showtym Mama Mia 1, Ella Rouse (Gisborne) Let’s Rumble Bumble 2, Zoe McNaught (Gisborne) Nitro Pandora 3, Jaimee Rika (Gisborne) Charlie Taplin 4.
Full results, www.main-events.com
Jumping Team
15 October 2022