It’s been a cracker of a weekend for New Zealand showjumpers competing at the 4CYTE Jumping@Willinga in Australia with three in the top 10 of the World Cup qualifier.
Logan Massie (Dannevirke) and Bravado Ego Z came oh-so-close to heading off eventual winner Billy Raymont aboard Caprino. The two riders notched the only double clears of the Mark Atkins-designed two rounder, with Billy crossing the flags in 53.9 seconds and Logan coming home in 55.33.
Julie Davey (Hastings) and LT Holst Fredia were sixth with a clear in the opener and four in the second where they stopped the clock in 51.54 seconds, with Luke Dee (Hawke’s Bay) on Gangster WW 10th on 12 faults from the two rounds, clocking 48.12 in the second. Twelve of the original 26 starters came back for the second in what was a very exciting class, showcasing some of the best from both sides of the Tasman.
Isabelle Jameson and Delphine NZPH were second in the Stal Tops Young Rider class, with a double clear in 86.85 seconds. Charlie Magnier and Notre Dame de Bourguignon won with a double clear in 83.86. Isabelle was also third with Levi Xtreme in the young rider on the opening day of the show, finishing with a clean slate in 64.76. Charlie won again in 63.46.
Earlier in the show New Zealand placed second in the Trans-Tasman senior showjumping clash.
Logan was very happy with the efforts of his chestnut stallion and said the trip had been valuable for all. “It’s been a good experience landing a horses in Aussie and keeping form,” he said. “Bravado was really consistent jumping seven clear rounds while here with some warm-up classes.” They were first in the 1.45m at SJA and double clear in both the Trans-Tasman teams rounds as well as second in the World Cup at Willinga Park. It had been excellent to “stack up against” the best from both sides of the Tasman.
He extended a big thank you to Bravado Ego Z’s owner Sue Holden who made trip possible. “We’ve competed at super facilities in Aussie and have enjoyed having a group of Kiwis here working like a team,” said Logan. “Hopefully we can keep doing mini trips like this to practice international competition while in the Southern Hemisphere.”
Annabel Francis has had a fabulous show in Ascona, Switzerland, picking up a second with Nebraska van’t Vianahof in the 1.45m CSI u25 Grand Prix. The Kiwi combo were one of just three from the 19 starters to go through to the jump-off where Noah Keller (SUI) and Atlanta des Sequoias Z were the winners. Annabel and Nebraska were also third in the CSI u25 1.45m speed round, and fourth on the 1.4m two-phase on the opening day.
Meanwhile in the UK at the Cornbury House International and Young Horse Championships near Oxford in the UK Olympians Clarke Johnstone, Tim Price and Jonelle Price have been in fine form.
Clarke Johnstone teamed up with his Paris Games mount Menlo Park to win the CCI-S 3* (section C) section and was also third with Rocket Man in the CCI-S 3* (section B). With both horses he only added a smidgen of cross country time penalties to finish on 25.7 penalty points and 31.4 respectively.
Tim teamed up with Jarillo to win the open intermediate (section D), with Jesse Campbell aboard Hickstead Musterd third and Jonelle with Senor Crocodillo fourth.
Tim and Falco were the winners in the open intermediate (section E) and with The Highlander he won the CCI2*-S (section G). He was also fourth with Gloire de Marchenval in the CCI2*-S (section N). Bruce Haskell aboard Bentley 127 were second in the CCI2*-S (section F).
Samantha Lissington and Mr Cookie Time were eighth in the CCI-S YH3* (section M).
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4CYTE Jumping@Willinga
Ascona, Switzerland
Cornbury House International and Young Horse Championships
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison