Vicki Wilson and Daminos TWS Winners of the Defender Gold Tour at Takapoto – Photo by Michelle Clarke
Takapoto Classic was where the majority of the country flocked to this past week. The sun shone, the arena’s glistened and the many spectators oohed and aahed at the competition brought before them.
While everyone had a fabulous time, whether spectating or competing, the show most certainly belonged to Vicki Wilson. The much admired horsewoman from the Hawke’s Bay made history when she took the quinella in the Defender Gold Tour Final.
“It’s a super show, Takapoto is a show that everyone wants to win at, it has to be the best show in the country! Huge thanks to the Plaw family for their vision, passion and support for our sport. Frank’s (Rothenberger) courses were outstanding to ride, open flowing courses with enough questions asked whilst giving the horses confidence”.
Vicki contended the eight horse jump off first with her eye catching stallion Daminos TWS, they were fast and cut every corner possible, setting the standard for those that followed.
“I went in to win on Daminos, he’s a horse that loves to show off and win, so to add some speed and tight corners, he’s right in his element. He’s a very special horse and consistent.”
On her second mount, Millionaire VWNZ, she opted for a slightly slower and safer clear, which they produced to end up in second place. “Millionaire is superb, everything is easy for him. He’s light, athletic and brave. As he was a late starter, he’s still green in the ring having only jumped at fifteen shows in his career!”
Sophie Scott came into the jump off in prime position with the ever reliable Waitangi Skynet, but a rail coming out of the double meant they finished in fourth place. Logan Massie was the only other double clear, finishing in third place with the flamboyant Bravado Ego Z.
Vicki was obviously thrilled with her achievement, “both horses are in the first season of Grand Prix, so it’s very exciting and I cannot wait to keep adding to their collection. HOY is our next aim with both boys entered in the Olympic Cup”.
Samantha Carrington had a weekend that she will remember for a long time to come. After taking out the second APL Window Solutions Silver Tour qualifier, she went on to take the big win in the final aboard her beautiful homebred Double J Hurricane with the only double clear. It was a bittersweet moment for Sam and her beloved horse as this was their last class together after a vet diagnosis just a few days prior means an early retirement for the lovely Gilbert, as he is known at home. “He deserves the best and has such a heart of gold. He’ll now be Uncle Gilbert at home with the babies and hopefully give them a few tips”. Second place went to Makenzie Causer & Copabella Camoflague who finished the jump off with four faults, and rounding out the podium was Emma Gaze and Kowhai Bug who had the fastest time of the day, but two rails prevented them from finishing in the top spot.
The in form Emma Gaze did however take out the Partridge Jewellers FOPE Bronze Tour. Last to go in a five way jump off, she knew what she and Shuttle Bug had to do, and of course they did it. Flying home over two seconds quicker than second placed Liam Rutland on Kiwi Delux.
Keira Featherstone was a popular winner of the Cambridge Grains Copper Tour Final with the ‘family horse’ Capatino GNZ. ‘Kev’, the gentle stallion has previously been competed by both Keira’s mum and dad with great success before Keira took over the reins recently and gained her biggest win to date! One of the most exciting classes was the GH Mumm Pro Am, with no clears in the first round, six combinations came back for a four fault jump off and boy was it fast and furious! In the end, it was Deanna Horsburgh who was brave enough to take the inside turns whilst keeping tight and fast to storm home for the win on Kan Kan NZPH.
Sophia Smyth may be new to Junior Rider level, but that didn’t stop her and her new ride Double Shott from winning the YaLocal Laundromat Junior Rider. Sheena Ross and Comme FU won the BTW Company Amateur Final with the only clear round, and Olivia Newsom had a great day by winning the Dawson & Co. Young Rider with Royal MVNZ, a horse that she has only been riding since Christmas! Meadow Stanford-Soons couldn’t have been happier when she won the BTW Company Pony Grand Prix with Spot the Difference. At only thirteen years old, this was just her second Grand Prix start, what an achievement!
Two other stand out events were the Brandt Anne Symes Derby that was won by Shannon Galloway aboard Day Walker, and the Takapoto Estate Corporate Teams that was aptly won by the APL Window Solutions Team, consisting of Jake Lambert on Takapoto Chacdasc, Tyla Hackett and Takapoto Checkito and Meg Bisset aboard Emmaville Dontango, who finished the two rounds on a collective score of four faults.
The mid week celebrations were for the young horses, with Daniel Blundell taking out the win of the Cambridge Grains 4 Year Old final with Carissa McCall”s HP Tulara Checkmate, bred by Tulara Warmbloods, By Checkter x Tulara Companion/ Companiero, this classy gelding also took out the Holsteiner Verband Australia & New Zealand Style Prize.
Jesse Linton flew the flag for Matthews Hanoverians by winning the Partridge Jewellers FOPE 5 Year Old final, riding the Angela Miller owned Copyright MH (Cornet Obolensky x Ma Mojo Pedale/Grosvenor). Peita Milne and Karisma HSH (C-Indoctro x Daimante HSH/ Diarodo) were awarded the style prize.
Logan Massie had success in the APL Window Solutions 6 Year Old final, taking the win on Gladiator ECPH (Grand Slam VDL x Pheobe Nimmerdor/Ephebe Forever), beating Tyla Hackett on Takapoto Saffron (Check In x Claire/ Chasseur I) who were awarded the style prize.
It was a dream day for Kylie McCambridge and Waitangi TikTok (Kannan x Waitangi Wiki/ Lansing) who not only won the style prize, but they also picked up the red ribbon and a pretty rug in the Defender 7 Year Old final.
PUKEKOHE
Auckland Showjumping Chairwoman Paula Mussen had a busy week, rushing home after competing for a couple of days at Takapoto to run the showjumping section of the Pukekohe A&P show.
“We had close to 200 horses competing which is great to keep the A&P shows alive and the grandstands were full of the general public. It’s really good to have the horses competing in an A&P environment which is a rarity up here and it was great to have Pip Howells course building for us. The A&P irrigated the rings well and are keen to grow the Show Jumping at this event, they are amazing to work with. It was lovely to see new faces, from grass roots to eventers. The smaller classes are helping to grow the grass roots in Auckland”.
Paula’s hard work for running the show paid dividends when she won the Harrison Lane Pro Am on Deja Vu NZPH. Tara Gower had a great weekend, winning the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix with The Lieutenants Daughter as well as the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider with Double J Image. Susie McLeod rounded out the series classes with a win in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider aboard Arrans Lad.
FEILDING
Clears were scarce in the Property Brokers Grand Prix, forcing a 12 fault jump off, but Heloise Tolo produced the goods in the second round to take the win with Can’t Touch This NZPH.
The AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix brought the spectators a thrilling jump off, with three combinations going double clear. Anna Wilson backed up last weekend’s win with Redcliffs Bill, stopping the timers marginally quicker than Ella von Dadelszen on Redcliffs Colour Me Quick. The new combination of Isla Bowley and Foxdens Merlot completed the podium.
Penny Borthwick had a fantastic show, she won the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider with her new mount Nikama MVNZ with the only clear, as well as the FMG Young Rider with Double J Breeze On, who galloped through the flags some 11 seconds quicker than second placed Charlotte Conder on Kiwi Bonus.
Shanae McKay took the win on her homebred M.E Joy Ride II in the Harrison Lane Pro Am, and Kaleigh Kent won yet another Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider with the ever faithful Double J Sponge Bob Square Pants.
Only two combinations started in the NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction 7 Year Olds, but it was still a fierce competition. With both combinations going double clear, it was Daniel Webb who finished first on his homebred WSJ Cartalusa (Cartell GNZ x Calusa/ES Centavos), with Tristan Thomas putting up a good fight to finish second on the National title holder, Matai Zarite (ES Centavos x Matai Perigree Moon/ Corofino II).
Heloise Tolo jumped an exceptional double clear with the flashy Haupouri Incognito (Amant du Chateau x Haupouri Du Jour/ Kannan – bred by Warwick Hansen) to take the win in the Equitak Excel 6 Year Old.
Ash Hart and Karen Patrick shared the win in the East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Old, with Kiwi Sky (Capatino GNZ x Kiwi Lexie/ Kiwi Legacy) and Tobruk (The Bold One x Taatledoya/ Faltaat) respectively.
Southland Circuit Show
The Property Brokers Grand Prix reflected the Feilding one, with Tyler McKee on Corrida taking the win after a 12 fault first round. In similar style, Sophie Fountain & TC Piano Man won the AMS Pony Grand Prix finishing on a total of 12 faults after two rounds.
The Harrison Lane Pro Am saw a four fault jump off where Talia Allison and Mustang Mochaccino jumped clear in the jump off to pick up the red ribbon. Molly Moffatt aboard Kingslea Couture and Anna Nalder on Letano jumped the only clear rounds to take out the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider and the FMG Young Rider respectively.
The TiES Jumping Futurity saw five double clears, making a very competitive class. It was Kimberleigh McCabe on Ray’s In Command who finished on top, with Jayne Beattie taking second and third place with BR Navarro & Flag Duty.
For full results for Takapoto and Southland, go to www.main-events.com
For full results for Pukekohe & Feilding, go to www.evoevents.co.nz
The Jumping Team – 20 February 2024