Central Otago Early Bird Show at Cromwell – Beautiful Scenery

A huge weekend of showjumping was had, with four shows all putting on the highly contested series classes, from the top (ish) of the north, to the bottom (ish) of the south! We’ll start at Woodhill Sands in Auckland and make our way down the country.

A wet build up to the Veterinary Associates Equine Spring Series Show ended with nothing but some much appreciated sunshine for the two days of fantastic jumping at Woodhill Sands. Sophia Blackbourn continued her winning ways with her fabulously consistent LT Holst Zalato Blue by winning her second FMG Young Rider on the trot. Kindly supported by Fiber Fresh, this class saw four combinations go forward to a hotly contested jump off. Sophia and Blue came out on top, finishing nearly 13 seconds ahead of Grace Klava and the lovely Lanice van de Heffinck. Sophia also finished in third place with Octavia MVNZ and was thrilled with her horses:

“I’m very excited for the season ahead with Blue jumping so consistently, and my Octavia jumping clear in her first Young Rider back after surgery”.

 Michelle Wakeling is another lady that had come into the new season hot. Riding her lovely BMW Chaccolilli, they not only won The Brave Pants Company Pro Am – kindly supported by GJ Gardner Homes – by just pipping Glen Beal and Replica to the post, but also won the Fiber Fresh 1.30-1.40m in a four horse contest where all combinations went double clear!

Sunday saw some fierce competition with Charlotte Amos on Lazarus FPH fronting a seven horse jump off in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider – kindly supported by GJ Gardner Homes.  Matisse Masterson aboard Jay-Z GNZ were triumphant in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider – kindly supported by Fiber Fresh. They headed the ten combinations that came back for the jump off, seven of which jumped double clear! Only a split second divided the top three – second went to Matt Taylor on Starlight Dalaman, and Liv Teixeira on Balmoral Candyapple I GNZ brought home third.

Feilding hosted their Spring Show which also brought us the first Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix of the season, and it would seem that Sophie Scott has added another talented bow to her string with Normandy GHP by taking out this class with the sole double clear. Having only recently returned from Australia where she would have picked up some invaluable experience with her superstar Waitangi Skynet, Sophie has certainly hit the floor running into the new NZ season.

The Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider was won in fine form by the new partnership of Emily Oliver and Campari who jumped the only clear with Sofia Williams finishing as the fastest four faulter aboard Off the Cuff.

This friendly rivalry continued through to the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix where it was once again Emily Oliver vs Sofia Williams. Emily may have had the upper-hand, having both her ponies through to the jump off. In the end, she was the victor with Barbie Doll RSNZ, who jumped a speedy double clear to take the red ribbon home. However, Sofia Williams did prevent Emily’s quinella by also jumping a double clear to take home second place, leaving Doctor Jones in third place.

Annie Moffett and her ‘overgrown dog’ Samantha the Dachshund were two seconds quicker than Penny Borthwick on Nikama MVNZ to lead the victory lap in the FMG Young Rider. In similar fashion, Laura Knight and Sentosa headed the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider, finishing just ahead of Kayleigh Kent and her faithful Double J Spongebob Square Pants.

Emma Gillies and Benrose BlackJack Winners of the FMG Young Rider – Photo by Bella Maitland Photography

Now we head to the “Mainland”, starting with the PGG Wrightson Nelson Spring Jumping Show. A self-proclaimed boutique show that prides themselves on providing amazing footing and great jumping, and this weekend did not disappoint. While the entries weren’t huge, the classes provided some quality jumping and the small area were rapt and very grateful with the support, especially from the Cantabrian’s who had made the effort to come up and were extremely helpful.

Gayle Baker had a ripper of a show, first of all, she won the East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Breeding Series, riding Larnake (Remi Lion King x Lorelei/Limonit – bred by Kaaron Meares). She then went on to also win the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider (kindly supported by Beaufort Horses) on Riverdown Rock N Roll.

Johanna Wylaars also had a show that some only dream of. Aboard Cassera MS, she took out the FMG Young Rider – supported by Total Oil NZ Ltd – with the only clear. She also quinella’d the class by being the fastest four faulter with Centanna II.

Oh, and Johanna’s dream show didn’t stop there….yes, there’s more! She went on to win the NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction Seven Year Old Breeding Series with AH California Dreaming. (Euro Sports Centavos x Lilliana/ Littorio. Bred by Amberley House). Thanks to Global Performance Horses who kindly sponsored the rosettes for the age series classes.

Caitlin Draper was the sole clear on Cutting Edge NZ in the TiES Futurity series, as was Mitchell Cowan on My Centastage who won the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider – kindly supported by Southcote Performance Horses, while Jack Ford & Masaii Mara GNZ finished just fractions ahead of Linda Cotton on Kingsway Khan to snatch first place in The Brave Pants Company Pro Am – kindly supported by Pre Ignition.

Emma Gillies cleared up at the inaugural Hawkeswood Mining Central Otago Early Bird Show held in Cromwell. Set in the basin of the ranges, this stunning setting hosted great grounds and an overall fantastic venue. Emma was victorious in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider with Grandeur ECPH, jumping the only clear in a three horse jump off. She also took out the FMG Young Rider with the only clear aboard Benrose Black Jack, finishing just ahead of Cara Quinn and Haupouri Dakota NZPH who picked up a single time fault to prevent a jump off.

In the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider, Amy McMullan took out the win by jumping the only clear in a four fault jump off.

The president of Otago, Anne Beattie gave full credit to the new team from Central Otago who got this show off the ground and were thrilled with the excellent feedback.

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

The Jumping Team – 24 September 2024