Jaime Campbell and Oaks Centurian riding to victory in the EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix (co-sponsored by Giltrap Audi) at Show Jumping Waitemata’s Ray Burmester Memorial Grand Prix Show. Photo by Phoebe Jury Photography

 

It’s been quite a while between Grand Prix starts for Jaime Campbell but you wouldn’t have known it as she and Oaks Centurian rode off with the top honours in the EvoEvents sponsored class at Show Jumping Waitemata’s Ray Burmester Memorial Grand Prix Show.

“It was a bit of a shock to be honest,” said Jaime, a full time coach and rider based in Auckland who did her last Grand Prix seven years ago.

She’s only been riding the horse for owners Rebecca Steele and Amelia Munro since just before the Takapoto Classic and Sunday’s Grand Prix (co-sponsored by Giltrap Audi) was their first together. “I haven’t been riding that much because I have been so busy with (son) Leo and work but the opportunity just came up and I thought it a great reason to come out of retirement.”

She wasn’t sure the horse would be her type of ride, but the two gelled straight away and from their 10 starts, they’ve collected eight ribbons.

She hesitated about entering the Grand Prix at Woodhill Sands but the horse was going so well at 1.3m she threw caution to the wind and did so.

“I drew a lot of confidence from the accumulator class at Takapoto which was the biggest we had ever jumped together and we got fourth.”

She knew only too well the horse could easily handle the height, having done Grand Prix with previous owner Sarah West.

Ten started the Grand Prix with three back for the jump-off where Jaime and Oaks Centurian were double clear in 42.68 with Liam Rutland (Te Awamutu) aboard Kiwi Delux all clear in 46.36, and Sam van Lierde with Cadillac NZPH third on four faults.

“We were much quicker than I thought. He is a pretty cool horse – he can be a little hot but we have done a lot of work to settle that and he has really started jumping well.”

Samantha-Lee Wakeling (Warkworth) and BMW Sharpshooter took the Country TV Pony Grand Prix (co-sponsored by GJ Gardner Homes) with their four fault opening round effort in the nine-strong class.

The Ray Burmester Memorial Derby was won by Madison Stuart (Pukekohe) aboard Out Done, ahead of Maddison Greatorex (Mangapai) on Ronaldo GS , and Kate Hewlett (Kerikeri) on Capitano GNZ in third.

Around 300 combinations entered the Show Jumping Waitemata event with plenty of joy at being able to finally jump on their superb grass arena. Danielle Watts designed the courses in ring one, Edward Bullock in ring two and Gina Moss in ring three. For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz

 

Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) continued her winning ways at the Cartown Central Districts Show Jumping Group Spring Championship, steering Waitangi Skynet to a win in the EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix (co-sponsored with Cartown) after a thrilling jump-off against Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) on LT Holst Andrea.

They were the only two from the nine starters to move through the opening round of the Heather McDonald-designed course. Brooke was out first and laid the challenge for her younger rival.

“She definitely set the tone,” said Sophie. “It was a really slick jump-off. There weren’t any inside turns to take, you just had to be tight but there was a lot of room to get a big canter going, so we just put the pedal down.

“It was such a good jump-off and super competitive . . . it was so much fun.”

The combination have had a very consistent season and they’ve come back refreshed after a couple of weeks off.

Thirteen started the Country TV Pony Grand Prix (co-sponsored by The Brave Pants Company) with three of the five into the jump-off double clear. However, the day belonged to Johanna Wylaars (Christchurch) aboard Larabelle who won in 44.07, with Isla Bowley (Wellington) and Tui’s Tennessee right behind her in 44.13. Isla was also third with EB Esperanza, crossing the flags in 45.68.

For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz

 

At the Eastern Bay Show Jumping and Show Hunter Show in Te Teko, Talia Good (Whakatane) and WE Benson won the Country TV Pony Grand Prix with a four fault jump-off, with Isobel-Jayne Bevitt (Gisborne) and Mr Monochrome second, and also on four faults. Talia also took out the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series class aboard Floriant DHU, with Fraser Babbington (Gisborne) and Awanui’s Tennessee Honey winning the Dunstan Amateur Rider class, and Robbie McKay (Opotiki) on Haupouri Eldorado NZPH taking the Harrison Lane Pro-Amateur Rider.

In the show hunter arena, Lauren Forrest (Whakatane) and The Minginui Kid won the NRM Open High Points, with Aliya Berry (Tamahere) and Pintado Bravo taking he Sport Horse Junior High Points, Rebecca Wylie (Gordonton) on Larkspur Trinity the Carousel Equestrian Amateur High Points, and the Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult and ESNZ Show Hunter Junior Equitation Series going the way of Lauren Mitchell (Kumeu) aboard Craighaven Black Heart.

Georgie Coop (Gisborne) and Barney Rubble took out the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Show Hunter Groups 12 and under Equitation Series, and Molly McEwan (Gisborne) with Wembleybrook Giovanni winning the Big on Writing Pony Equitation Series.

The Vero Insurance Cat A High Points went to Pippa Dudding-Thomas (Pukekawa) aboard Hollybank Wildwind, with the Fiber Fresh Cat B High Points going to Georgie Coop (Gisborne) on Barney Rubble, and Ella Rouse (Gisborne) with Let’s Rumble Bumble winning the Aniwell Cat C High Points.

For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz

 

The Jumping Team – 28 March 2023