Rylee Sheehan and Bandito NZPH winners of the EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix, co-sponsored by Larsen Sawmilling, at the Larsen Sawmilling Equestrian Championships. Photo Credit Kampic.
There was certainly plenty of action all over the country this weekend, with shows in Gisborne, Christchurch and Hawera. Big or small, the competition was keen and for some, the weather even played ball.
GISBORNE
Te Aroha teen Rylee Sheehan had a Larsen Sawmilling Equestrian Championships to remember in Gisborne, winning both the EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix (co-sponsored by Larsen Sawmilling) and FMG Young Rider aboard Bandito NZPH, taking out the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider on Maddox Letino, and made his debut as a member of the New Zealand team for the Trans-Tasman Test.
“I am pretty stoked,” said the 17-year-old. “This is a great show for us.”
He last won the Horse Grand Prix – which comes with the much-coveted garden seat from Larsen Sawmilling – in 2021. “I was hoping we would do well (in the Horse Grand Prix),” said Rylee. “I thought the course was not massive but was technical. It has just been a great weekend.”
Just he and Duncan McFarlane (Taupo) aboard the lovely scopey grey Be Mine NZPH came back for the jump-off where Rylee’s four fault effort won the day.
Rylee, who works for Te Akau Racing, is looking forward to the big events at the end of the season, and especially the Land Rover Horse of the Year Show where he is hoping to etch his name on some of the major trophies.
His New Zealand team mate Tyla Hackett (Cambridge) aboard Global PH Cocofino was third in the class.
The Kiwi Young Rider team finished second by three points to the visitors in the Trans-Tasman Test https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2023/01/aussies-bag-trans-tasman-victory/
The Country TV Pony Grand Prix (co-sponsored by the East Coast Wool Company) was won in fine style by Tess Mason (Napier) and her 18-year-old campaigner Mr Acho with the only clear of the seven-strong opening round over the John Vallance-designed course.
They’re no strangers to winning Pony Grand Prix and have won before on numerous occasions at Gisborne. “He is just such a great little pony,” she says. But it is her last season on the bay, who will go to her coach Sally Clark’s grandchildren.
“It was a big track out there and quite long, but I just focus on each fence as it comes. It means a lot to win today, and especially as we are leading up to the Land Rover Horse of the Year Show.”
It will be their first chance to contest the prestigious Pony of the Year at the Horse of the Year Show, and Tess is hoping it will all go well. “I am just so thankful to have him,” she says of the pony.
They were also third in the 1.25m. Tess teamed up with WP Stella to win the 1.2m and place second in the Junior Rider. She was also fourth in the 1.15m aboard Small Talk.
The Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider class went the way of Kaleigh Kent (Otane) and Double J Sponge Bob Square Pants, the Main-Events Tertiary Challenge Series was won by Macy Heaton (Hastings) aboard PHS Armando; with Bernard Denton (Feilding) taking the Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series on his showy Electra NZPH.
In the age group series, Edward Bullock – course designer for ring two – won the Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Series on Kiwi Sundance; the UltraMox Six-Year-Old went to Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) aboard Matai Zarite; and the East Coast Performance Horses class jointly won by Kimberly Carrington (Takapau) on Double J Saga and Jesse Linton (Hastings) aboard Icarus NZPH.
In the show hunter arena there were two rounds of series classes, with Cindy Kershaw (Gisborne) and Kiwi Vision winning the NRM Open Horse High Points Series (co-sponsored by EJ Livestock) on the first day and Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) aboard Matai Zarite on the second; Tristan and Matai Zarite also took out one of the combined ESNZ Junior Equitation and Petticoat Lane Performance Horses, with the second going to Ella Rouse (Gisborne) and MJK Durham; the Carousel Equestrian Amateur High Points also went to Tristan and Matai Zarite, along with the second day of the amateur which was combined with the Sport Horse Junior High Points; the first day of the Sport Horse Junior High Points was won by Jaimee Rika (Gisborne) on Tuahu Castaway; Jaimee teamed up with Charlie Taplin to take the Big on Writing Pony Rider Equitation, with Ella Rouse and Let’s Rumble Bumble taking the opening day of the series class.
Both of the Vero Insurance Cat A classes went the way of Lily Kent (Waipawa) on Ataahua Rapture; while the Fiber Fresh Cat B was won by Lily Beaufoy (Gisborne) on Simply Sassy and Victoria Dorward on Mount Tulloch Skylark; and the Aniwell Cat C went to Greer Newman (Gisborne) aboard Night Beetle, and Jaimee Rika (Gisborne) on Charlie Taplin.
The Bay of Plenty and Waikato Show Hunter Groups 12 & under Equitation Series was won by Georgie Coop (Gisborne) aboard Barney Rubble, and Kensi McCarty (Hastings) on Pied Piper Time Will Tell.
For full results, head to www.main-events.com
TARANAKI
Wild and windy conditions at the Taranaki Jumping hosted Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre World Cup Final Premier Show in Hawera didn’t deter either competitors or organisers.
Plenty of effort went into preserving the main arena for the World Cup final, with classes shifted to ensure the footing was preserved as best as possible.
Phillip Steiner (Tauranga) and Cassina Dior wrapped up the POLi Payments FEI World Cup (NZ League) Series, with the final round going to Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) aboard Waitangi Skynet.
Olivia Prendergast (Matamata) will still be buzzing no doubt after winning the FEI CSI1* 1.4m (co-sponsored by Craig’s Investment Partners) aboard Stellar. It was their third 1* star start with their best previous a third placing. All three combinations at Taranaki finished on 12 faults from the two rounds but Olivia was a clear 3.69 seconds ahead of runner-up Robert Steele (Dannevirke) on Rosehill Park Hermes, with Tara Gower (Ohura) and Riverhills Bayliner in third.
Penny Borthwick (Masterton) nabbed another quinella in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix (co-sponsored by Egmont Horse Coaches), winning with a double clear aboard Foxden’s Merlot and placing second on Rednalhgih Cowan.
Francesca Corich van der bas (Paraparaumu) and Bannockburn ECPH headed home the 10-strong FMG Young Rider Series class (co-sponsored by Craig’s Investment Partners), with the in-form Sophie Scott second aboard Edison DN.
Kim Winks took out the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series class (co-sponsored by Skin on 45) on her homebred mare Damiana, crossing the flags a smidgen ahead of Jillian Watson (Hawera) aboard OhMyHolly in second place.
Nicola Hammond (Cambridge) and Carlo I were comfortable winners in the Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series class (co-sponsored by Specsavers), which saw the top five combinations all double clear.
Tara Gower topped off her excellent show with victory in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series class (co-sponsored by Skin on 45) aboard Double J Image, with Penny Borthwick second on Double J Breeze On.
In the age group series, Carolyn Hinton (New Plymouth) and dancing Queen MW won the East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series class (co-sponsored by Oro Equestrian); Sophie Scott and LT Holst Eloquent, Maurice Beatson on Central Zone, Tara Gower with Riverhills Legend and Brooke Edgecombe aboard Indiana Xtreme were first equal in the UltraMox Six-Year-Old Series class (co-sponsored by Specsavers); and the Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Series (co-sponsored by Greymouth Petroleum) went the way of Sophie Scott, this time with Valrhona GNZ.
For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz
CANTERBURY
Six combinations started the Country TV Pony Grand Prix (co-sponsored by Saddlery Barn) with all coming back for the second round. Clears were sparce in the opener, with just Molly Moffatt (Christchurch) aboard Te Ngaio Raggamuffin leaving everything up. They were a bit more forthcoming in the second with four combinations clear, but all carrying faults.
In the end the day belonged to Sonya Benison (Springston) and MF Spotlit, with Molly Moffatt aboard Freestyle Twyst & Shout second, and Molly Smith (Geraldine) on Vapour Trail NZPH third.
The FMG Young Rider Series class (co-sponsored by Hussey Paint & Panel) was won by Phoebe Howson (Christchurch) aboard Dallas NZPH; with the Harrison Lane Pro-Am class (co-sponsored by EquiMatch) going the way of Jaimee Bird (Ashburton) on Cera Catalina; the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider won by Molly Moffatt (Christchurch) on Glenmark; and the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider (co-sponsored by Tavern Harewood) taken out by Georgia Allison (Oxford) on Sonhos Bailarin.
In the age group series, the Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Series (co-sponsored by Canterbury Saddlery) was won by Rose Alfeld (Leeston) and Celebration ECPH; the UltraMox Six-Year-Old Series (co-sponsored by Hazlett Rural) went to Makenzie Causer (Christchurch) on Anouk GZ.
In the show hunter ring, the very competitive Adrienne Crombie Memorial Class was won by Mark Cowie on Solar Edition.
For full results, head to www.main-event.com .
BAY OF PLENTY SHOW HUNTER SUMMER SHOW
Rising waters and flooding in the early hours of the morning saw this show cancelled and competitors on the grounds sent home while it was safe to do so.
Jumping Team
30 January 2023