Brooke Edgecombe rides LT Holst Andrea, Dannevirke & Districts A&P Show
Photo Credit: KAMPIC / Jaimee Whittaker
Sophie Scott rides Waitangi Skynet, Marlborough Show Jumping and Show Hunter Waitangi Weekend Champs.
Photo Credit: Michelle Clarke
Grand Prix riders across the country enjoyed some good competition at three events, and for some the wins were all the more sweeter for the journey they’re on.
Shows were held in Dannevirke, Auckland and Blenheim as the season heads to the business end of things.
DANNEVIRKE A&P SHOW
Brooke Edgecombe and LT Holst Andrea know just when to really start hitting their straps. The Waipukurau combination – who also happen to be the reigning Olympic Cup holders – were convincing winners in the EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix class at the Dannevirke A&P Show, heading home a competitive 13-strong field.
“She was good out there,” says Brooke, who was last out in the jump-off. “I didn’t see Daniel (Webb) go but I knew he wouldn’t be slow, and I watched Shanae (McKay) go and she was really quick but had the last.”
A slick inside turn to the last saw Brooke and Andrea romp home with an easy 5.01 second buffer over runner-up Daniel Webb (Hunterville) aboard WSJ Centaur.
Just four came back for the jump-off where only Brooke and Daniel managed to keep their slates clean. Shanae McKay (Levin) and ME Little Shogun was third and Vicki Wilson (Hastings) on Millionaire VWNZ fourth.
“Andrea has been very consistent,” said Brooke. “She is experienced and older and knows her job well.”
They’ve certainly been far more consistent in the second half of the season and Brooke hopes that bodes well for the business end of things, including Takapoto Estate and the Land Rover Horse of the Year Show.
“She feels really good and is jumping well, so I don’t see why she won’t have a couple of good shows, but you do need a little luck on the day. The Grand Prix horses in New Zealand are strong and competitive at the moment, so it is a pretty open call as to who will win those big classes.”
It was an all too familiar result in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix where Penny Borthwick (Masterton) claimed another quinella, winning on Rednalhgih Cowan and placing second on Foxden’s Merlot. Four of the 11 starters came back for the jump-off, with the top three all double clear. Penny and Rednalhgih Cowan crossed the flags in 37.46 seconds, with Foxden’s Merlot coming home in 38.55 and third-placed Tessa Mason (Napier) aboard Mr Acho in 38.84.
Takapau’s Carrington family quinella in the FMG Young Rider with Samantha and Double J Hurricane flying home 5.33 seconds ahead of younger sister Kim aboard Double J Typhoon.
Charlotte Conder (Wellington) and Kiwi Bonus rounded out the top three, all of whom were double clear. Kaleigh Kent (Waipawa) and Double J Sponge Bob Square Pants won the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider; with Elyza McDonald (Masterton) and De Silver Lining taking the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider; and Delta Smit (Hawke’s Bay) and Hawkesdale Mahe the Main-Events tertiary Series.
In the age group classes, Samantha Carrington with Double J Nike, Brooke Edgecombe on Inca NZPH, and Ash Hart (Hastings) aboard Kiwi Bonanza shared the top honours in the East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old. It was Samantha and Brooke to the fore again in the UltraMox Six-Year Old, with the two women finishing first equal aboard Double J Odin and Indiana Xtreme respectively.
In the show hunter arena, Olivia Woodward (Palmerston North) and Whittaker II won the NRM High Points; Mandy Illston (Masterton) aboard Arizona Park took out both the Carousel Equestrian Amateur High Points and the combined ESNZ Show Hunter and Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Junior and Adult Rider Equitation; Leah Bibby (Waipukurau) with Tiberus claimed the Sport Horse Junior High Points; Poppy Tatham (Masterton) with Wembleybrook O’Driscoll taking the Big on Writing Pony Rider Equitation; and the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Show Hunter Groups 12 & under Equitation going the way of Lucy Oliver (Peka Peka) with Mr Mika Choo.
The Vero Insurance Cat A was won by Lily Kent (Waipawa) on Ataahua Rapture; the Fiber Fresh Cat B went to Kate Procter (Palmerston North) on Trevellyn Blue Bell; and the Aniwell Cat C High Points to Emily McMaster (Greytown) aboard Onetai Cover Girl.
For full results, head to www.main-events.com
VETERINARY ASSOCIATES EQUINE AUCKLAND SHOWJUMPING AND SHOW HUNTER CHAMPS, WOODHILL SANDS
Carissa McCall can’t say enough about her beloved Spud – or Picasso MVNZ as he is officially known. The eight-year-old, who is in his first season at Grand Prix, bagged his second such victory, this time at the Veterinary Associates Equine Auckland Showjumping and Show Hunter Champs at Woodhill Sands.
The Kumeu combo won with their four fault first round, which Carissa is fully claiming as her rail. “It was a bit of survival of the fittest,” said Carissa. “We had our rail in the first of three doubles in the course. I went a little too forward down to it.”
It is just the eight-year-old’s fourth Grand Prix start – two of which he has won, and he’s placed in the other two.
“We bought Picasso in the first COVID lockdown because the horse I was meant to be buying got stuck in Australia,” said Carissa.
The horse hadn’t been to a single show and by her own admission, Carissa says it was probably the most “inappropriate” buy. However, history tells a different story. “He is really brave, careful and just everything you want. He has just been amazing. We never expected him to be quite like this.”
Carissa had a frustrating three years on the sideline due to injury and has to be super careful these days. She turned to Daniel Blundell to help in the early days with Picasso, and since then she and the gelding have established a solid partnership.
“He couldn’t be more perfect for someone like me to come back on. He tries so hard, is such a genuine horse and has lots of ability. I don’t think I have had a horse as nice as him before – he is the complete package.
She and husband Mike are now looking to head to North America next year with the horse for her to ride. “I was hoping to go this year but it has been difficult with flights.”
Her win in the Grand Prix came the same weekend Katie Laurie rode their horse Cera Caruso to victory in the $50,000 FEI2* Grand Prix at Desert Horse Park in California. “What an amazing weekend for us!”
Second in the Grand Prix was Liam Rutland (Te Awamutu) aboard Whiorau Ritchie, with Rylee Sheehan (Te Aroha) and Bandito NZPH third.
James Steiner will be claiming Woodhill Sands as his happy hunting ground when he picked up his second Country TV Pony Grand Prix (in conjunction with Alltech) win at the grounds, steering TCG Centadel to the only clear of the opening round to take the victory. Isabelle Hawkins (Auckland) and Wembleybrook Tiffany were second with Zara Main (Auckland) aboard Blue Crush third.
Liam Rutland added another FMG Young Rider (in conjunction with Fiber Fresh) to his season with a win aboard Kiwi Delux. Ben Weir (Auckland) and Lanice van de Heffinck were second and Maddison Greatorex (Mangapai) with Groove Girl PSH third. All three were double clear. Five of the original 12 starters came back for the jump-off.
Olivia Glen (Papakura) and Balmoral Lassandra GNZ won the 12-strong Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider (in conjunction with GJ Gardner Homes) that saw a hotly-contested jump-off where three of the eight combinations were double clear.
Lucas Bremner (Whangarei) and LT Holst Francis took out the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider (in conjunction with Shelley Bridgeman), ahead of Matisse Masterson (Ardmore) and Jay-Z GNZ were second and Emily Ramsden (Auckland) on Euro Champagne were third. Six of the 15 starters came back for the jump-off where the top were all double clear. Lucas flew home in 40.75 seconds, to Matisse’s 41.44-second effort, just ahead of Emily who crossed the flags in 41.98.
Kate Hewlett (Kerikeri) and Capatino GNZ notched the only double clear of the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider (in conjunction with Burmester Realty) to take the win ahead of Amy Gravatt (Whangarei) on Totaranui Ripslinger, with Brooke Knight Willis (Auckland) on Everything Equine Totara in third. Brooke went on to win the GJ Gardner Homes horse 1.1m Auckland Cup class.
It was finals day for the two Grand Prix Super Series, with Michelle Wakeling (Wellsford) and BMW Charccolilli taking the Fiber Fresh Horse Grand Prix Super Series, and Zara Main (Auckland) aboard Dingmac Demoiselle winning the Veterinary Associates Equine Pony Grand Prix Super Series.
For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz
Marlborough Showjumping and Show Hunter Waitangi Weekend Championships
Sophie Scott is back in the winner’s circle, this time taking out the EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix with her World Cup final winner Waitangi Skynet at the Marlborough Showjumping and Show Hunter Waitangi Weekend Championships at Blenheim.
“It was nice for Skynet to have a good run around over a slightly smaller track than the World Cup final,” said the 21-year-old from Palmerston North. “Lex (Peddie) designed a really good track there – it rode well and had a few good options.”
Sophie was one of just two to come back for the second round where she and Skynet were double clear, with runner-up Heloise Tolo (Wellington) and Kiwi Bird finishing on four faults from the two rounds.
Sophie is en route to the Nationals, an event she has supported for many years. “Mum just loves coming down here. Our family are down here so they get to come out and watch the horses, and so is one of my owners.” It is a busy run for the team as they’ll be heading north to compete at Takapoto and the Land Rover Horse of the Year Show.
Jumping Team
6 February, 2023