Nakeysha Lammers and Balboa NZPH during the FEI CSI 1* at the Taupo Christmas Classic – Photo Copyright Cornege Photography/Christine Cornege
The slide into Christmas week didn’t stop plenty of New Zealand equestrians getting out and chasing those last series points for the year and generally having fun. It was colourful and fun at the Taupo Christmas Classic where on Saturday evening Brooke Edgecombe and LT Holst Andrea won the POLi Payments FEI World Cup (NZ League) qualifier https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2022/12/beauty-win-for-brooke-and-andrea-in-taupo-world-cup/ before a full house.
On Sunday, Nakeysha Lammers (Taranaki) and Balboa NZPH bagged their third consecutive FEI CSI1* win when they took out the hotly contested Fiber Fresh-sponsored class.
Sixteen started the class with 10 coming back for the second round where just Nakeysha and Emma Gaze (Ohaupo) on Kowhai Bug remained all clean, however Nakeysha came home in 49.23 seconds with Emma stopping the clock at 52.89. The next five combinations all finished on four faults from the two rounds.
Nakeysha was rapt. “I know he likes the ground there and does seem to go really well in the indoor,” she said. “I definitely wanted to go in there and do well. As soon as he started jumping in the first round I knew he was trying super hard.”
It was his fourth 1* win. “I think he is at his best at 1.4m, 1* level.”
She bought the horse as a three-year-old and describes him as “the sweetest little horse” “He has a bit heart and while he can be quite spooky he almost uses that to his advantage. The quicker you go on him the better he jumps. He is just an awesome horse.”
She’s aiming him for his first premier Grand Prix start at Woodhill with an eye to the Gold Tour at Takapoto Estate in February and the Lady Rider of the Year at the Land Rover Horse of the Year Show in March.
They had their first World Cup start at Waikato and while they had a few rails down, Nakeysha says she was happy with him. “It was a massive step up for him and even taking a few rails, he was so brave and just kept going,” she said. “We’ll see how he handles a premier Grand Prix and go from there I think.”
Penny Borthwick’s golden run continues with another win in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix, this time aboard Rednalhgih Cowan. The Masterton teen has been in stellar form this season, backing up her team’s brilliance of last season.
Just two of the field came back for the jump-off where Penny’s 38.53 second effort edged out runner up Tessa Mason (Hawke’s Bay) and Mr Acho, who while also double clear, crossed the flags in 41.74 seconds.
Samantha Carrington (Takapau) and Double J Hurricane took out the FMG Young Rider Series class, Nicola Hammond (Cambridge) and Carlo I won the Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series, with the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider going the way of Penny Borthwick (Masterton) on Double J Breeze On, and Janine Kirkbeck (Otaki) aboard Leandres GNZ winning the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider.
In the age group classes, the Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old went the way of Kimberley Carrington (Takapau) on Double J Typhoon; the UltraMox Six-Year-Old was shared between Nayton Mitchell (Palmerston North) on Brosnacroft Centilivi and Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) aboard LT Holst Ellie; and the East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old won by Vicki Prendergast (Matamata) on Stiletto C.
Honours were shared around at the SCNO Summer Classic, which were held at the Waimate Showgrounds over the weekend.
Molly Smith (Geraldine) and Vapour Trail won the County TV Pony Grand Prix, with Emma Gillies (Oamaru) and Chic Xtreme taking out the FMG Young Rider Series class with a super speedy double clear.
In the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series class (run in conjunction with Petticoat Lane Performance Horses), Kathryn Manson (Nightcaps) and Lusetti headed home 10 other combinations to take the win with a double clear effort. The Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series class was won by Molly Moffatt (Christchurch) and Glenmark after an exciting seven-strong jump-off. Molly Buist-Brown (Christchurch) and Payback were the victors in the Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series class (run in conjunction with Big on Writing).
Sarah Peterson (Swannanoa) and Dubai 2 took the Main-Events Tertiary Jumping Championship Series class.
Johanna Wylaars (Christchurch) ruled in the age group series classes, picking up wins in both the five and six-year-old classes. Makenzie Causer (Christchurch) and Lord Axel GNZ took the Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old; Johanna on Centanna II, Sophie Townsend (Darfield) with Haupouri Heidi NZPH, and Maygen Gubb (Timaru) aboard PI Fox d’amour were first equal in the UltraMox Six-Year-Old; and in the East Coast Five-Year-Old, Johanna starred again, this time with AH Californian Dreaming, sharing the honours with Amy McMullan (Timaru) aboard Copacabana GNZ.
In show hunter, Kirsty Sharapoff (Christchurch) and Shoot the Breeze won the NRM Open Horse High Points, with Emily Cammock (Christchurch) and Debatable Miss taking the Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Equitation Series, Sophie Townsend (Darfield) and Carabawn Comet winning the ESNZ Show Hunter Junior Equitation, Harriet Gardner (Waimate) aboard Endeavour T taking the Carousel Equestrian Amateur High Points, Eva Wylaars (Christchurch) and My Buffalo Soldier were victorious in the Big on Writing Pony Equitation Series, Samantha Gillies (Oamaru) and Socrates De La Ve Z 2nd in the Junior Equitation, then saddling up Rednalhgih Edit It to take the Aniwell Cat C High Points, Grace Roy (Gore) and Afallons Royal Arabseque won the Fiber Fresh Cat B High Points, and her sister Summer taking the Vero Insurance Cat A High Points with Afallons Royal Salute, and Briar Sharp (Gore) with Afallons Imperial Distinction won the Waikato and Bay of Plenty Show Hunter Groups 12 years and under Equitation.
For full results for both shows, head to www.main-events.com
The Jumping Team – 19 December 2022