Anna Wilson and Redcliffs Bill winning the Tavendale & Partners NZ Pony Championship – part of the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix Series – Photo by Michelle Clarke
Mcleans Island hosted the Archibalds NZ National Championships this weekend, and boy-o-boy did it bring some exciting competition.
Anna Wilson (Redcliffs Bill) and Jade Miller (Eleanor Rigby) were pretty much neck and neck going into the final rounds of the Tavendale & Partners NZ Pony Championship – part of the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix Series, but it was the Hawke’s Bay girl that managed to keep a cool head and retain a clean sheet to take out the national title that she dedicated to her beloved pony.
Anna Wilson was thrilled with her win and the efforts of her very special pony, Redcliffs Bill in their last class together, as sadly Anna has now aged out of ponies:
“It was awesome to be able to make the trip to the Nationals this year, for what was such a fun and well run show. The organising committee did an amazing job, the ground conditions were perfect and everyone was so welcoming and friendly. We hope to come back and bring lots more North Islanders with us. I am so happy to finish my time on ponies on a note like this. The title is definitely the highlight and I owe it all to my special pony Bill. He is just so consistent, always tries his heart out for me and has the coolest personality. Bill is so talented and really deserved this title, I am so grateful to have been able to finish our time together with five faultless rounds”.
Everything came down to the final round, where Anna & Bill had just over two rails in hand. Not that they needed it as they made easy work of the track, finishing on a cumulative total of 0.58 penalties. Anna also gave great thanks to her parents, Simon and Claire “who have made it all possible – from the driving to shows, helping with my riding, as well as keeping Bill fit and happy while I’m at boarding school”.
Well done Anna, I’m sure we will only see great things from you in the future.
Tyler McKee and Corrida during the Archibalds NZ Grand Prix Championship – Part of the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix Series – Photo by Michelle Clarke
Tyler McKee & his homebred Corrida completed some tough tracks to come out on top in the Archibalds NZ Grand Prix Championship – part of the Property Brokers Grand Prix Series.
The Majestic Horse Floats NZ National Young Rider – part of the FMG Young Rider Series – saw a four fault jump off where Molly Moffat and Lazarus GNZ stopped the timers a second quicker than Johanna Wylaars and Campari.
Summer Borrie with Pure Cascade ran away with the Mainland Coachwork NZ National Junior Rider title, speeding around the jump off almost three seconds quicker than Molly Smith on Dynavyte Caribou DL who also jumped double clear for second place.
The Martins Collins NZ National Pro Am – part of the Harrison Lane Pro Am Series – proved to be tough track, with Ashley Konig & L’heure du Vin taking home the winners garland with their four fault round.
The time allowed weighed heavily for some in the Quality Garlands NZ National Amateur Rider Series – part of the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series – with Kathryn Manson and Lusetti picking up one time fault and Angela Ruddenklau on Red Rafferty picking up two time faults to finish in second and third place respectively. Anya Johnston and Pocket Rocket II were the only combination to jump clear within the time, to give them the title.
Hanna Lowe will be thrilled with the efforts from Double J Jac OMalley, who finished on top of the leaderboard in the Main-Events NZ Horse 1.20m Tertiary Challenge. Quinn Coutts would be equally pleased with Mini Cooper G who jumped the only double clear to take the top spot in the TiES Jumping Futurity Series South Island Final.
The young horse championships provided some great competition and thrilling jump offs. The Zealandia Horticulture NZ National 5 Year Old – part of the East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Old Series – saw a two way jump off where the times couldn’t have been tighter. Maddi Thompson and My Alfie (Andretti x Jasmin) were first out and took every inside turn to set a very smart time of 37.35 whilst picking up four faults along the way. The only one to challenge the leader was Molly Buist Brown on Granttorio (Candyman GNZ x Grattorio/ Littorio) , and challenge they did. Also picking up four faults, they stopped the clock at 37.06 to take out the title.
Nicole White and Danny DeVito ECPH – Winners of the Double J Stud NZ National 6YO Title – Part of the Equitak Excel 6YO Breeders Series – Photo by Michelle Clarke
The Double J Stud NZ National 6 Year Old – part of the Equitak Excel 6 Year Old Series also brought the spectators a two way jump off. First out was Katie Meredith and her homebred Bloomberg SSNZ (Emerald x Vogue Blue NZPH/ Mr Blue) who set a challenging standard of clear in 48.59. Last to go was Nicole White and Danny DeVito ECPH (Dallas VDL x Caberet SL/ Cardento VDL) , and they gave it their all to come home clear in 46.56. A very special win for this pair as Danny is owned by Nicole’s mother Karen who very sadly recently passed. Well done Nicole, you are in all of our thoughts.
Grace Percy and Sienna MVNZ (Leopoldo MVNZ x Heidi/ Cassini I) pulled off the only clear to win the Canterbury Equine Clinic NZ National 7 Year Old – part of the NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction 7 Year Old Series.
For full results, go to www.evoevents.co.nz
The Jumping Team – 25 March 2024