It’s been a few years between wins, but it was Chloe Hansen who ran away with the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix win at the Horowhenua AP&I Royal Show this weekend. Whilst Chloe is a respected rider, her last GP win was back in 2018 aboard her now retired superstar Kiwi Motto, so she was thrilled to be back in the winner’s circle, this time with the Myers & Muller homebred and owned Blueray. Chloe, who has only had the ride on Blueray since August of last year, said that Ray is the most gorgeous horse who tries his hardest and she’s so thankful for the ride and excited to be back at that level. She only made the decision to give Ray his first GP start in the morning of the class, but her last minute decision paid off as she was the only clear around the Gary Sinclair track that she described as a nice course.
Sofia Williams not only won the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix with Buzzie Bees Max by four seconds, but she also picked up the quinella by placing second with Black Betty. The only other double clear from the seven strong jump off came from Isla Bowley and Foxton’s Merlot. While Foxton’s Merlot is no stranger to this height, this was the combination’s first Grand Prix start together, so what a fantastic result. Sofia was thrilled to do her best jump off to date and she is super excited for the rest of the season, especially hoping to get to her first ever Horse of the Year – please everyone cross their fingers that after a three year hiatus, HOY will go ahead! – Sofia said “I’m very lucky to have two such competitive ponies, and also such a strong field of riders in the Grand Prix always makes for an exciting class”. Bayly Jacobs won the FMG Young Rider aboard Gabriel HH.
Aimee Collinson and Resolution winning the FMG Young Rider at the Power Farming Brookby Show Jumping Show – Photo kindly supplied by Julia Murch Photography.
The double clears and thrilling jump offs came thick and fast at the Power Farming Brookby Show Jumping show. Aimee Collinson cemented her partnership with the wonderful Resolution by taking out the FMG Young Rider in a tight three way jump off. Paula Mussen came out on top of an eight horse jump off with Deja Vu NZPH, finishing as the fastest of five double clears. Ashley Johnston on Miss Vee NZPH galloped around the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider course to come home over three seconds quicker than Tash Vincent & Coltrane who picked up second place in a six way jump off. Jordyn Appleton aboard Sobraon Park Coldplay kept all the rails up in a swift time to finish ahead of the other four combinations in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider.
Heading down south, Ashburton brought some fantastic competition.
While Cera Catalina and Jaimee Bird, Benrose Blackjack and Emma Gillies and Vapour Trail NZPH with Molly Smith were the only double clears to take the win in the Harrison Lane Pro Am, the FMG Young Rider and the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix respectively, the other series classes brought the spectators some fantastic competition with plenty going through to challenge the clock for the ribbons.
Suzanne Black on Castellane AF sped around an eleven horse jump off to finish some six and a half seconds quicker than second placed Lola Slaughter with Westgrove GNZ in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider. In similar style, Cara Quinn with Haupouri Dakota NZPH were the fastest double clear by nearly seven seconds in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider.
The young horse classes didn’t disappoint, with Nicholas Grant racking up yet another win in the NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction 7 Year Olds with the Golden Grove bred Goldfinch GNZ (Eurocommerce Pennsylvania x LS Dream On/Distlefink). The East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year olds saw two combinations picking up a red ribbon. Molly Buist Brown on Penniewise (Pennsylvania x Kaipara Beedle/Ramerez – bred by Claire Wilson). and Makenzie Causer with the Golden Grove bred Aspen Park Silver Strike GNZ (Candyman GNZ x Ursula/Corrado I).
Meanwhile, in the scorching hot Hawke’s Bay, Mana Stables held their first Show Jumping Masters, a boutique event that attracted competitors from all over New Zealand. Caira Manson was the overall winner of the Partridge Jewellers 1* 1.15m with her new mount, Kettle GNZ. Local boy Jesse Linton took out the Cambridge Grains 2* 1.25m in the saddle of Beau Balou. Kimberly Carrington and her lovely homebred stallion Double J Typhoon won the Karlswood Stables 3* 1.35m and the legendary Maurice Beatson won the Denys Holden Memorial 4* 1.45 with the consistent Central Park.
Maurice Beatson and Central Park – Photo by Cornege Photography
Ashburton local sponsors:
- Greg Jopson Property Brokers supported the Pro Am.
- Ray Mayne Hose & Fittings supported the Young Rider.
- Anzco Foods supported the Amateur Rider.
- The Lion Foundation/Braided Rivers Trust supported the Pony Grand Prix.
- Crawford Hill supported the 7 Year Olds.
- Annette Scott Communications supported the 5 Year Olds.
Brookby local sponsors:
- Wairoa Lodge supported the Young Rider
- SAS Sport Horses supported the Pro Am.
- Hawkins Homes supported the Amateur Rider.
- Inkster Landscapes supported the Junior Rider.
For full results for Ashburton, Brookby and Mana Stables, go to www.evoevents.co.nz
For full results for Horowhenua go to www.main-events.com
The Jumping Team – 22 January 2024