Vicki Wilson on Daminos TWS winning the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix – Photo by Cornege Photography.

The PRO Physio Rotorua Spring Show attracted many competitors from around the country which led to some fantastic competition over the weekend. The star of the show was Vicki Wilson and her grey pocket rocket, Daminos TWS, who took out the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix – in conjunction with the John Couper Memorial – in fantastic style.

A field of eleven started the class, with a handful picking up four faults, leaving only two combinations to go through to the jump off. First out was Luke Dee and his impressive Gangster WW, who just recently returned from a successful Australian tour. This classy combination jumped a foot perfect round and threw the gauntlet down to Vicki who followed moments later. Vicki certainly disregarded any pressure put on her, and put the pedal to the metal from the very start. Her striking grey stallion answered every question asked of him as she sped around the shortened course, and they flew through the finish flags over three seconds quicker than Luke and Gangster.

“A very special win for the start of the season for us. John and Joan Couper were always an inspiration through my early years. The Rotorua Grand Prix was an important class for us, as other than night performances at Equifest, Daminos hasn’t jumped inside so essentially it’s a warm up for the World Cup in November at Taupo.

I had a life in the first round where he tripped on landing in the triple before 8B and C, I’m still not sure how he jumped me out of it as my heart dropped with the trip.

The jump off was wonderful, lots of questions and a very testing track. Watching Luke and his superb horse Gangster jump meant I had to really put my foot to the floor.  Daminos was spectacular to the last, jumping on the turn not knowing he was going to it really. A great show for us.”

It’s also notable to comment that Dakota VWNZ, who is a six year old daughter of Daminos, won both the 1.20m warm up and championship!

Sofia Williams was in flying form in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix. Three combinations made it through to the jump off, of which Sofia was two of. Isla Bowley gave it a good crack on her lovely Foxdens Merlot, but unfortunately a rail fell leaving them on four faults. Sofia and her nominated pony Buzzie Bees Max also dropped a rail, but a faster time saw them take the lead. Sofia was then last to go on her second ride, Sitarski. With only herself to beat, she guided the lovely grey clear around the course to not only take first place, but quinella the class.

Good fortune must be in the name, as Sophia Blackbourn also continued her flawless streak by winning her third FMG Young Rider on the trot. It was a big class, with eight going through to the jump off. Sophia and the consistent LT Holst Zalato Blue were second out and they certainly set a pace that just could not be caught.

“Blue jumped out of his skin, I’m so proud of how he has stepped up to Young Riders this season so confidently. He really is the horse dreams are made of”.

Emily Oliver and her new ride Campari were the only other double clear to finish in second place.  Sophia and Blue also placed second in the PRO Physio Mini Prix that was won by Penny Borthwick aboard Nikama MVNZ.

The Brave Pants Company Pro Am provided another thrilling class for the spectators, twenty four competitors lined up with eight going through to a speedy jump off. Samantha Megchelse on Rata Mill Eclipse were the outright winners, stopping the timers in 37.10 seconds. Just a couple of seconds behind were Stephanie Anderson and the extravagant LT Holst Elsie K, with Michaelee Head aboard Bellick ST and Kady Prujean on Calypso Xtreme also jumping double clear to pick up third and fourth place respectively.

Tara Gower certainly left it all in the ring in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider. She was early to go in a seven horse jump off with Double J Image who sliced every corner and galloped down every line to set a very quick time that the other competitors could only try and beat. None could rise to the challenge which left Tara in a very strong position as she entered the ring on her second mount, Pedro CSNZ. With only herself to beat, she rode a lovely steady and strategic clear, meaning that she quinella’d the class in great style.

The Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider did not disappoint. Just under half the starters made it through to a very competitive jump off, where five combinations went on to go double clear and really ramped up the competition. Jeremy Clark and Dynavyte Cancion HSH just pipped Alexia Searchfield on Warpaint Pandora to the post, crossing the finish line with just milliseconds to spare!

Bella Lockie (Weiti Fraise), Jess Mangen (Oahu Special) and Sarah Revis (Royal Blue) were the others to finish on a clean slate, for third, fourth and fifth place respectively.

Whilst only a few contenders came forward for the NZPH & A1 Reproduction 7 Year Olds, nothing can take away Jaime Campbell’s clear round to cement the win on the Paula Brocklehurst owned and bred Parisian Affair. (Euro Sport Centavos x Total Eclipse/John).

Rotorua committee member and show organiser, Mikayla Herbert said “it was an amazing show with big numbers. We were so lucky to get some amazing sponsors on board and we have a few new faces in our committee that made everything run so smoothly! It was a thoroughly enjoyable show to run”.

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

The Jumping Team – 30 September 2024