Liam Rutland rides Kiwi Delux, March 2022
It was all go at the Metalform Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay Showjumping and Show Hunter Champs. The impending weather saw a juggle in the schedule which proved the right thing to do for the Poli Payments FEI (NZ League) World Cup qualifier https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2023/01/delightful-dior-dominates-dannevirke/
but torrential rain on Saturday night saw the cancellation of the final day of the show.
Organisers said it was a “sad end to a great event” but they were “fortunate and proud to have still run two great days of jumping and completing our highlight, the World Cup event”.
Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) and Edison DN won the FMG Young Rider class (co-sponsored by NZPH) while Bernard Denton (Feilding) and Electra NZPH were the victors in the 15-strong Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series class (co-sponsored by Horton Transport), with Kimberley Carrington (Takapau) and Double J Barmaid winning the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider (co-sponsored by Duwell). The Country TV Pony Grand Prix John Gilliland Memorial (co-sponsored by Kelso Genetics) and Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series class (co-sponsored by Puresport & Leisure) were both cancelled.
In the age group classes, the East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old (co-sponsored by Fiber Fresh) went the way of Samantha Carrington (Takapau) on Double J Jean Jennie and Double J Nike, Ashley Hart (Hastings) with Kiwi Bonanza, and Julie Davey aboard Inca NZPH;
the UltraMox Six-Year-Old (co-sponsored by Fiber Fresh) won jointly by Ike Baker (Hawke’s Bay) on LT Holst Emric, Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) with Indiana Xtreme, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) aboard Adele 13, Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) on Beaumont Rockafella, Alex Loiselle (Hawke’s Bay) with Kiwi Cocokee, Dirk Waldin (Havelock North) on Lagertha VWNZ, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) aboard Centriconia, and Jeremy Whale (Hampton Downs) on Kingslea Centrose. The Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old (co-sponsored by Equilume) was cancelled.
The Main-Events Tertiary Series class was won by Macy Heaton (Hastings) aboard PHS Armando.
In show hunter, Mandy Illston (Masterton) and Arizona Park won the NRM Open Horse High Points as well as the Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Equitation.
The Carousel Equestrian Amateur High Points went the way of Jacqui Symes (Waipukurau) on Takapoto Sienna, Elyza McDonald (Masterton) and Powerofsuggestion taking out the Sport Horse Junior High Points, Jordan Hall (Waipukurau) on Mac Black the ESNZ Show Hunter Junior Equitation, and Sofia Williams (Tinui) with Grassendale Gin the Big on Writing Show Hunter Pony Equitation. The Vero Insurance Cat A High Points was won by Aggie Shearer (Feilding) on Vanace Rosalie, Lucy Oliver (Peka Peka) with Mr Mika Choo took the Fiber Fresh Cat B High Points, and Emily McMaster (Greytown) aboard Onetai Cover Girl the Aniwell Cat C High Points (co-sponsored by Sea Horse Supplements). Kensi McCarty (Hastings) and Pied Piper Time Will Tell won the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Show Hunter Groups 12 and under Equitation.
Meanwhile, in the north at the Alltech New Year Grand Prix Showjumping at Woodhill Sands, the weather was a little kinder for the 230 combinations.
It was Liam Rutland all the way in the EvoEvents Horse Grand prix (co-sponsored by Alltech NZ Ltd), with the Te Awamutu teen taking the quinella aboard his horses Whiorau Ritchie and Kiwi Delux.
It was just his fourth ever grand prix start and he was chuffed. He’s had 13-year-old Whiorau Ritchie for about a year now, and 10-year-old Kiwi Delux for two, but it is only this season he has stepped them up to the big time.
“As soon as I got on Whiorau Ritchie, I knew he was the right horse for me,” says Liam. Today’s Danielle Watts-designed “twisty turnie” course suited the horse well. “I was first out on him and set quite a good time. It was nice to do because we haven’t done a lot of jump-offs before.”
Kiwi Delux couldn’t quite match his stablemate but respectively left all the rails up in the jump-off.
“It is quite an achievement for me to get first and second,” said Liam who is trained by Toni and Colin McIntosh as well as Christine Weal with input from Daniel Blundell. “It has been on my goal list for three years now so it is nice to have that done.”
Liam does his schooling by correspondence, riding early in the morning on their lifestyle block before hitting the books. He is now looking towards Takapoto Estate where he hopes to start both in the Gold Tour.
The Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series class (co-sponsored by Veterinary Associates Equine) was won by Samantha-Lee Wakeling (Wellsford) and BMW Sharpshooter after an exciting four-way four fault jump-off that saw both her and eventual runner-up Elizabeth Pennington-Leaney (Cambridge) aboard Fast and Fabulous adding nothing more to their tallies but separated by 1.25 seconds.
Ben Weir (Auckland) and Amorcito took out the FMG Young Rider Series class (co-sponsored by Burmester Realty and GJ Gardner Homes), Paula Mussen (Pukekohe) and Déjà vu NZPH won the Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider (co-sponsored by Veterinary Associates Equine); Liv Teixeira (Kerikeri) took the quinella in the Mainland Coaches Junior Rider Series class (co-sponsored by Fiber Fresh) with Yalambi’s Cassino Rosso and Lafayet Ego Z; and Amy Gravatt (Whangarei) aboard Totaranui Ripslinger the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series (co-sponsored by Burmester Realty). Ring two was designed by Pip Howells, with Gina Moss in ring three.
For full results from Dannevirke, head to www.main-events.com
For full results from Woodhill Sands, head to www.evoevents.co.nz
Jumping Team
8 January 2023