It has been a while since he was in the Grand Prix winners circle, but this weekend Oliver Edgecombe returned in style after spending the last few years producing his young horses through the grades. Riding the classy Takapoto Tinka, he jumped the only clear in the Property Brokers Grand Prix at the Larsen Sawmilling Equestrian Championships. 

Team Edgecombe had a very successful trip over the gorge to Gisborne as Oliver’s wife, Brooke, also picked up two red ribbons of her own in the young horse classes.  Firenze du Rouet (Balou du Rouet x Nebraska MVNZ/ Cervelt MVNZ) won the NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction 7 Year Olds with the only clear and Inca NZPH (Up to You x Cinnamon NZPH/ Pezetas du Rouet) won the Equitak Excel 6 Year Olds, placing equal first along with Tyla Hackett and Takapoto Saffron (Check In x Claire/ Chasseur I). Rounding out the young horse classes was Jesse Linton and the Matthews Hanoverians bred Copyright MH (Cornet Obelensky x Ma Mojo Pedale/Grosvenor) who jumped the sole clear in the East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Olds. 

Johanna Wylaars effort to come up from the South Island is certainly paying off.  This weekend she added to the great success she is already having by taking out the quinella in the FMG Young Rider. She was first on Campari and second on Cassera MS who were the only ones to jump clear in the first round. 

In the Harrison Lane Pro Am, Noni Morgan and Starlight Discovery kept up the sole clear round trend, as did Samantha-Lee Wakeling on Hula Xtreme in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider.  The Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider saw two combinations get through to the jump off with Sofie Gaddum finishing on top with Sentra.

A four fault opening round was good enough for Ella Von Dadelszen and Redcliff’s Colour Me Quick to win the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix and finish their weekend on a high.

Sophie Scott rides Waitangi Skynet, HB A&P Show – Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall

On the opposite side of the island, Taranaki Equestrian Jumping held their Grand Prix Show. TEJ equestrian Chairwoman Tanya Hansen said “We had a lovely few days jumping at the Taranaki Equestrian Jumping Grand Prix Show. The Spot You Later Kids Classic was a real highlight, inspired by the Answer Back Cup. It was great to see the next generation riding so beautifully. We had lots of quality jumping over well designed courses and saw some very competitive jump offs in all of the ESNZ series classes. The Dickey Stables BTW Taranaki classic 1.35-1.45m proved to be a very popular class with 17 combinations starting and a great height range for those wanting to step up a level. Thank you to the sponsors, officials, volunteers and riders who all came to support our show and a special mention to New Zealand Community Trust, Toi Foundation and Aotearoa Gaming Trust who help keep the show jumping alive in Taranaki”

Sophie Scott finished off her weekend with a bang by taking the quinella in the Property Brokers Grand Prix, winning on Benrose Stellar and second on Waitangi Skynet.

“I am stoked with how they both jumped out there today! Nice course that all the horses jumped really well over. Great weekend with Sky winning the 1.35-1.45 Dickey Stables Classic yesterday and Whitey winning the Grand Prix today. It was a shame about the rain but Taranaki put on a super show.”

The AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix followed in exactly the same fashion with Sofia Williams taking the quinella on her dream team for the second weekend in a row.  This week it was Black Betty that took the win and Buzzie Bees Max in second place.

Alannah Jackson was the convincing winner in the Harrison Lane Pro Am, speeding around the jump off on Chellar Silver MS nearly four seconds quicker than second placed Sophie Fourie & Incendivity HSH. The Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider produced some fabulous jumping with six making it through to the jump off, four of which produced another clear round. It was Louise Mulholland and Mr McTaggart who stopped the timers first. 

The Double J bred horses continued to shine and lit up the leaderboard in many classes.  Penny Borthwick and Double J Breeze On headed a six horse jump off in the FMG Young Rider, with Aimee Collinson coming in second place and proving a force to be reckoned with on her new ride, Resolution.

Double J Sunshine is certainly enjoying his “retirement” as together with Emily Oliver, they picked up another win in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider. Following closely behind was Double J Image and Tara Gower.

Double J Odin (Double J Repicharge x Ophelia NZPH/ Barbarian) jumped the only clear in the NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction 7 Year Olds to take the win for Sam Carrington. The Equitak Excel 6 Year Olds saw a couple of double clears from Iconic NZPH (Vleut x Emilie NZPH/Kannan) and Samantha van Lierde and Inferno NZPH (Contendo I x Appletini NZPH/ Fuego du Prelet) with Ike Baker.  Ike was also the only double clear in the East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Olds, aptly aboard Kentucky ECPH (Kannan x Picarla/ Pioneer).

Taranaki Local Sponsors:

Pro Am – JVK Contractors

Young Rider, 5 Year Olds & Junior Rider – Waikato Equine Vet Centre

6 Year Olds – Lease Solutions

7 Year Olds – Highfields Equestrian

Amateur Rider – Screen Art New Plymouth

Pony Grand Prix – Mag & Tyre

Grand Prix – Craig’s Investment Partners.

For Gisborne full results go to www.main-events.com

For Taranaki full results go to www.evoevents.co.nz