Sophie Scott & Waitangi Skynet after winning the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix – Photo by Julia Murch Photography
This weekend was the turn of the Nelson September Spring Jumping Show and the Cambridge Grains Rotorua Spring Show. While the middle of the North Island was battered with some wild weather and torrential rain, the upper South Island brought only sunshine and joy!
The Rotorua committee were thrilled with the fantastic indoor facilities at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre at Taupo as their weekend was dampened by some torrential rain. Rotorua Area Show Jumping group President, Mikayla Herbert said “ the show was another success despite the weather. We had good numbers to kick off the show season. I couldn’t have done it without my hard working committee and supporters – the Taupo NEC team, the show and series sponsors. It was especially lovely to see the team from brand new Horse Grand Prix series sponsors Property Brokers, make their way down on Saturday to help cook our barbecue for us”.
The Property Brokers Team cooked up a storm on Saturday night.
The Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix – incorporating the John Couper Memorial, showed some fantastic jumping, bringing 6 combinations back for the jump off. Liam Rutland and Whiorau Ritchie set the standard with a lovely double clear in 37.94. Next out was Logan Massie and Bravado Ego Z who shaved some 4 seconds off Liam’s time and almost looked unbeatable. Then came Sophie Scott and her striking grey, Waitangi Skynet. Just when you didn’t think it could get any faster, it did! Sophie and Sky went through the finish flags over a second quicker than Logan to take the big win!
Sophie was over the moon with her team, she said “ He (Waitangi Skynet) was so good out there. It was a competitive jump off with some fast riders to go up against, but Sky knows his job and loves a challenge. He is feeling amazing heading into the season, also winning the 1.40m on the first day. I also had great success with my new team member Stellar, winning the 1.30-1.40m Mini Prix”. Sophie will now focus on the World Cup Series with Waitangi Skynet. We wish them all the best after a perfect start to their season.
The FMG Young Rider was thrilling from start to finish. Eleven combinations got through to the jump off, with 8 of those combinations going double clear, so it was a battle of the fastest! Liv Teixeira and the lovely Lafayet Ego Z were early to go in the jump off. They were fast with some super tight turns from the get go, which set the standard that couldn’t be caught.
The Harrison Lane Pro-Am brought another thrilling jump off with thirteen combinations getting the call back. Five of which produced double clears. Jaime Campbell and Dynasty NZPH were lightning fast with the quickest time but a flyer to the last saw the back rail fall, leaving them in 6th place as the fastest 4 faulter. Caira Manson and the big, scopey Dolce NZPH produced a slick jump off to take the win, just ahead of Mathew Dickey and Waitangi Imak.
The Double J stud once again dominated the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider. Eight combinations made it through to the jump off with three going double clear. Penny Borthwick and Double J Breeze On were sure winners, coming in almost three seconds ahead of Sarah Nelson and Zabambi. Tara Gower picked up third and fourth places with Midway Alaska and Double J Image respectively. Liv Teixeira and Yalambi’s Cassini Rosso were 5th and Emily Oliver and Double J Sunshine in 6th.
Tara Gower continued her successful day with a win in the NZPH and A1 Equine Reproduction 7 Year Old Series. She guided Riverhills Legend around a two horse jump off for 4 faults, against Jeremy Whale on Kingslea Centrose, who took two rails for second place.
Kayleigh Kent and her faithful mount Double J Sponge Bob Square Pants had a convincing win in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider, stopping the timers over 5 seconds before Georgia Wiltshire and Sandali GNZ who were also double clear. Sarah Revis and Royal Blue also made it into the jump off with an unfortunate rail leaving them in third place.
The Five and Six year old series competitors had to battle the outside elements on Saturday. Trudi Mitchell and Justified NZPH and Jeremy Whale and Lulu MSNZ shared the win in the East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Old Series Class and Vicki Prendergast on her homebred Stiletto C were the only double clear in the Equitak Excel 6 Year Old Series Class.
The last class of the day, and indeed the show, was the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix – incorporating the David Snowden Memorial – which brought us a four fault jump off between three riders. Tara Gower and The Lieutenants Daughter and Chloe Armstrong and Benrose Eclipse both had an unlucky 4 faults in the jump off and last to go was Annie Moffett and Korokipo Kid who jumped clear in the jump off to take home the win.
The President of the Nelson Area Show Jumping group, Linda Cotton, stated that while their show was low on numbers – with around 100 horses taking part – there was some great jumping and quality competition which made for a super weekend of jumping. Taking place at a new venue, Linda said the show was a great success. They were very lucky to have brilliant weather and the footing was amazing which led to all positive feedback from the competitors. The small area were thrilled to have some “out of towners” attend and very much appreciated their support.
In the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series, Gayle Baker was the runaway winner, jumping the only clear aboard Riverdown Rock N Roll.
Gayle Baker and Riverdown Rock n Roll – Photo by Wilde Photography
The Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider saw a three way jump off, with all three combinations jumping double clear. It was a Wylaars quinella with Eva Wylaars aboard the small but mighty Blossom NZPH taking the win from older sister Johanna and Centanna II by almost 3 seconds! Molly Moffet & Kingslea Couture were a fraction slower than Johanna to pick up third place.
Becky Harkerss and LT Holst Chief took home the win in the Harrison Lane Pro-Am with Linda Cotton and Kingsway Khan coming in second. Anna Nalder & Letano were the only combination to start in the FMG – in conjunction with Waimea Contract Carriers – Young Rider, but they solidified their win by jumping a cracking clear.
Eva Wylaars and Blossom NZPH – Photo by Wilde Photography
For full results, go to www.evoevents.co.nz
The Jumping Team – 25 September 2023