Fran Wilkin and Mirabella Molly rode off with the GJ Gardner Mighty Metre Series at the GJ Gardner Homes Grand Prix Show at the weekend.

 

The team at Woodhill Sands have perfected the art of pivoting. This time it was when flash flooding stormed through the venue cancelling the first day of competition in the GJ Gardner Homes Grand Prix Show.

Saturday was spent removing jumps, repairing damage and resetting arenas to ensure Sunday could go ahead.

Competition manager Emma Buckingham was hugely appreciative of the riders, volunteers and committee members who rallied to make Sunday happen.

“The venue was underwater late Friday afternoon causing significant damage to the arenas, pathways and driveways,” she said.

Riders on the road to the event were diverted to the Auckland A&P Showgrounds before heading to Woodhill to compete on Sunday, where many actually got sunburnt!

The show attracted 250 combinations, with riders coming from as far afield as Taranaki and Whakatane. Unfortunately some of the Northland riders were turned back due to road closures.

Tessa Harre (New Plymouth) and Perfect Little Rebel won the Country TV Pony Grand Prix (in conjunction with Alltech NZ) with their four fault first round effort. Stacey Brown (Pukekawa) and Delta Le Camouflage second and Abigayle Martin (Rotorua) with Jasmine Rose third.

Sarah Revis (Waitoki) and Royal Blue headed home the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series (in conjunction with Fiber Fresh), with Bella Lockie (Dairy Flat) aboard Weiti Fraise second and Jeremy Clark (Te Kauwhata) third and fourth with Dynavyte Ipso Facto and Dynavyte Cancion HSH.

Edward Bullock (Waiuku) and Kiwi Sundance won the Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider (in conjunction with Veterinary Associates Equine) class, ahead of Laura McGregor (Auckland) on Emmaville Dontango with Edward filling third on Weiti Pogo.

Fuatino Tasi Jahnke (Clevedon) steered Double J Barman to victory in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider (in conjunction with Veterinary Associates Equine), with a super speedy double clear jump-off. Matisse Masterson (Ardmore) and Jay-Z GNZ was second with Calypso Hill (Auckland) and Pythia were third.

Fran Wilkin and Mirabella Molly won the GJ Homes Mighty Metre Series Final, a very hotly-contested competition for riders who have not placed in any class higher than 1.1m in the current or previous season.

Gina Moss designed the courses in ring one, Danielle Bragg in ring two and Edward Bullock in ring three.

 

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

The Jumping Team – 1 March 2023