Sofia Williams and Buzzie Bees Max
The Alabaster Contracting Central & Southern Hawkes Bay Show brought in the New Year with a bang. Fifteen combinations started in the FEI World Cup Qualifier with seven combinations keeping a clean sheet in the first round. It was the hometown hero who came out on top, with Logan Massie and the athletic Bravado Ego Z leaving all the rails intact in a very smart time that could not be beaten. Read the full story here
Sofia Williams had a cracking start to 2024 by taking the quinella in the AMS Saddlery John Gilliland Memorial Pony Grand Prix. Six combinations made it through to the jump off where Sofia was the only one to jump double clear with both her ponies. Buzzie Bees Max took the top spot with Black Betty finishing in second place.
Bernard Denton with Electra NZPH
The series classes provided some fantastic jump offs, in the Harrison Lane Pro Am – locally supported by Horton Transport, Bernard Denton headed a three way jump off with Electra NZPH, finishing some three seconds ahead of second placed Sophie Fourie & Incendivity HSH. In a similar style, Kimberly Carrington & her stunning stallion Double J Typhoon were the clear winners in the FMG Young Rider – locally supported by NZPH, stopping the timers just over four seconds quicker than Johanna Wylaars & Cassera MS.
Jillian Watson and OhMyHolly
Jillian Watson continued her fantastic form with her daughter Nicole’s OhMyHolly, winning yet another Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider – locally sponsored by Puresport & Leisure – making that six wins from six starts for this consistent combination. The lovely Double J Sunshine gave Emily Oliver another win in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider – locally sponsored by Kyrewood Saddlery – they were the quickest in a four way jump off.
The Dannevirke crowd witnessed some fantastic jumping from the young horses. Three combinations shared first place in the East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Old Breeding Series: Tanya Hansen & Java NZPH (Cicave du Talus x Sparkles NZPH/Fetiche du Pas), Claire Wilson & McMillans Big Time (Ngahiwi One Eye x Everytime/Telegraph) and Vicki Wilson & Dakota VWNZ (Daminos x Empress VWNZ/Carrado MVNZ) who also took out the style prize.
Brooke Edgecombe and Inca NZPH
Just two combinations shared the red ribbon in the Equitak Excel 6 Year Old Breeding Series – locally supported by Fiber Fresh. Kimberly Carrington & Double J Saga (ES Centavos x Double J Barmaid/ Double J Repicharge) and Brooke Edgecombe & Inca NZPH (Up to You x Cinnamon NZPH/Pezetas du Rouet) who also won the style prize.
Samantha Carrington with Double J Odin
The NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction 7 Year Old Breeding Series saw seven combinations battle it out in the jump off, five of which kept all the rails up. Samantha Carrington scored another win for the Double J Stud, with Double J Odin (Double J Repicharge x Ophelia NZPH/Barbarian) with Tristan Thomas and the current National 7 Year Old champion, Matai Zarite (ES Centavos x Matai Perigree Moon/Corofino II) coming in second place.
Heading north to Woodhill Sands the GJ Gardner Homes New Year Grand Prix Jumping show saw over 200 horses compete in a variety of weather conditions, from pouring rain on the Saturday to scorching heat on Sunday. The show was very excited to welcome Peter Holmes from Canada as course designer in ring one, and the riders were very complimentary of his great courses.
Carissa McCall was thrilled to start her year off with a Property Brokers – locally supported by GJ Gardner Homes – Grand Prix win with her lovely Picasso MVNZ. “My horse felt fantastic, and it was especially good to get the opportunity to jump around the track designed by Peter Holmes. The time was very tight, but the course was nice and flowing – we just need to get used to the tighter times!” Peter is a top FEI course designer from Canada who has built at Spruce Meadows and the Thunderbird Nations Cup plus many more, so what a thrill to have him over here!
Saturday’s amateurs and 1.30m riders bore the brunt of the rain, but Ashley Johnston on the speedy Miss Vee NZPH triumphed in the Dunstan Horse Feeds, locally supported by Burmester Realty, class stopping the clock in 39.06 a fraction of a second ahead of second placed Sarah Revis & Royal Blue finishing in 39.10! The rain cleared somewhat for the Harrison Lane, locally supported by Fiber Fresh, Pro-Am Rider where Laura Lush on Cavalli Vista Coachello and Caroline Sutherland on Las Vegas RSNZ went clear in the first round. Caroline did a lovely clear in the jump-off, while Laura opted not to start, for the two to take first and second respectively.
Samantha-Lee Wakeling secured the win in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix, locally supported by Alltech NZ Ltd, by jumping the sole clear round on BMW Sharpshooter.
Sunday saw the last of the series classes. The Mainland Coachwork, supported by Veterinary Associates, Junior Rider was won by Maya Hegh on Corfu, double clear against Samantha-Lee Wakeling and Hula Xtreme’s four faults in the jump-off.
The Super Series classes had good turnouts – the Sport Horse Pony GP Super Series had three combinations clear in the first round, and Adison Hall on Crystal Clear clinched the win with a quick clear in the jump-off against second-placed Samantha-Lee Wakeling on BMW Sharpshooter. In the Burmester Realty Horse GP Super Series, Vicky Ridley on Mosaic II were the only pair to go clear, while Calypso Hill on Pythia took second with the fastest four-fault round.
We’re looking forward to seeing riders at the Archibald & Shorter Show Jumping Waitemata World Cup Final next weekend, with Peter Holmes building in the main ring.
For Dannevirke results, head to www.main-events.com
For Woodhill results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz
Jumping Team
8 January 2024