Julie Davey and LT Holst Freda, winners of Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix at Poverty Bay A&P Show

 

 

Luke Dee and Gangster WW, 2nd = Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix at Poverty Bay A&P Show

Photos courtesy of APS Creative Photography

 

Julie Davey figures she’s probably in her fourth decade of competing at the Poverty Bay A&P Show and over the many years it has been a happy hunting ground for the Hawke’s Bay rider.

This year she – again – won the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix (in conjunction with East Coast Wools Ltd). She and her star mare LT Holst Freda were the only combination of the nine-strong field to go clear in the opener of the Heather McDonald (Dannevirke) designed course. Last year she and Just D did exactly the same for the win at the popular Gisborne show.

Finishing second equal on Saturday afternoon were former Gisborne rider Luke Dee (Havelock North) on his imported mount Gangster WW who were terribly unlucky to take the last rail for four faults, and Alex Loiselle (Norsewood) aboard Haupouri Ferrari NZPH, with course builder Edward Bullock (Waiuku) on Kiwi Sundance fourth, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) with WSJ Centaur fifth, and Tara Gower (Ohura) on Riverhills Bayliner rounding out the top six.

There were some quality combinations in the class but Davey and Freda had to be favourites from the get-go. They’re not long back from Australia where they edged out other top combinations to take their first World Cup Qualifier win together.

Gisborne was their first start onshore for the season. “We’ve been back (from Australia) for about a month but I’ve kept her fitness up,” says Julie.

“It was a good course out there. It was tough and that showed in the final results. Freda has done a few miles but it still had to be jumped.”

The 10-year-old mare showed her class with superb jumping. “She’s always been very careful.”

A&P shows add an extra layer of challenges for horses and riders.

“A&P shows are all about the atmosphere and there aren’t many left,” she said. “You can’t practice competing while there are kids screaming and balloons going off around you. I just wanted to keep her focused.”

Freda is very horse shy making even warm-ups challenging sometimes.

Next is a premier show in Hawke’s Bay followed by the opening round of the FEI World Cup Series (NZ League). Julie was third in the series last season and she’s pretty keen to go better this time round. She’s likely to take her horse offshore again at the end of the New Zealand season but just where is yet to be decided.

The win wrapped up a good show for Julie and partner Andrew Ormond – Freda won the 1.4m on the opening day of the show and Julie was also picked up a win and a place with her youngster LT Holst Elle Star.

It was a slender field that started in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix with three combinations coming back for a 12-fault jump-off. In the second it was birthday girl Isobel Jayne Bevitt (Gisborne) and Mangatu Solar Eclipse who came home clear for the win. They had the luxury of being last to go and crossed the flags in 43.41 seconds.

It is the second time Isobel has won a Grand Prix but a first for her pony.

Ahead of them Pony Grand Prix debutant Georgie Coop (Gisborne) and Barney Rubble had set a cracking pace with their 37.33 second round but paid for their speed with a rail at the first of the double to finish with four faults and second place.

Next out was Lottie Bull (Atiamuri) and Rascal Flatts OS who were unlucky to take the last in their 41.69 second round for third place.

The two grand prix brought the curtain down on another excellent Poverty Bay Show where the weather gods played ball, competitors enjoyed challenging courses and the competition was fierce but friendly.

 

Results –

 

Showjumping, Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix (in conjunction with East Coast Wools Ltd): Julie Davey (Meeanee) LT Holst Freda 1, Luke Dee (Havelock North) Gangster WW and Alex Loiselle (Norsewood) Haupouri Ferrari NZPH =2, Edward Bullock (Waiuku) Kiwi Sundance 4, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) WSJ Centaur 5, Tara Gower (Ohura) Riverhills Bayliner 6.

 

AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix: Isobel Jayne Bevitt (Gisborne) Mangatu Solar Eclipse 1, Georgie Coop (Gisborne) Barney Rubble 2, Lottie Bull (Atiamuri) Rascal Flatts OS 3.

 

Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series: Sophie Gaddum (Gisborne) Sentra 1, Cindy Kershaw (Gisborne) Kiwi Vision 2, Simone McConnell (Tauranga) Chicago LS 3, Heather Gee-Taylor (Rangiwahia) In Another Life 4, Heather Gee-Taylor (Rangiwahia) Pumpkin 5.

 

Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series (with equitation): Tara Gower (Ohura) Double J Image 1, Coco Fougere (Auckland) The Boss 2, Ella Rouse (Gisborne) Halo 3, Tessa Mason (Napier) McMillans Small Talk 4, Lottie Bull (Atiamuri) Self Portrait 5, Tara Gower (Ohura) Pedro CSNZ 6.

 

The Brave Pants Company Pro Amateur Series: Mark Brooks (Cambridge) First Class NZPH 1, Bernard Denton (Feilding) Electra NZPH 2, Caroline Sutherland (Whakatane) Las Vegas RSNZ 3.

 

FMG Young Rider Series: Annie Moffett (Napier) Samantha the Dachshund 1, Tara Gower (Ohura) Riverhills Legend 2, Meg Bisset (Cambridge) Emmaville Dontango 3, Tessa Mason (Napier) WP Stella 4,

 

East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series: Fraser Tombleson (Gisborne) Mr Shelby 1.

 

NZ Warmbloods Association Six-Year-Old Series: Julie Davey (Meeanee) LT Holst Elle Star and Hannah Roll (Havelock North) Grassendale Xtreme =1.

 

Show hunter, NRM Open Horse High Points: Hollie Falloon (Gisborne) Untouchable 1,

Hannah Roll (Havelock North) Grassendale Xtreme 2.

 

Equimatch Junior High Points Series: Hollie Falloon (Gisborne) Untouchable 1, Georgie Coop (Gisborne) Zola 2.

 

ESNZ Show Hunter Amateur High Points Series: Annabelle Gourlie (Gisborne) Arlo 11 1, Jane Rau (Gisborne) French Lync 2.

 

Auckland and Waitemata Show Hunter Junior Equitation Series and Sea Horse Supplements Adult Equitation Series: Hollie Falloon (Gisborne) Untouchable 1, Annabelle Gourlie (Gisborne) Arlo 11 2, Emma Gibson (Gisborne) Midweek Martini 3.

 

Show Hunter Ponies, Bay of Plenty and Waikato Show Hunter Groups 12 and under Rider Equitation Series: Tilly Alexander (Nuhaka) My Sweet Nevaeh 1, Olivia Bayliss (Hastings) Afallon’s Conquistador 2, Jennifer Hofman (Gisborne) Tik Tok Tony 3, Ashlee Officer (Whakatane) Our Gucci Girl 4, Olivia Fay Briant (Gisborne) Totaranui Hope 5.

 

Vero Insurance Cat A High Points Series: Jennifer Hofman (Gisborne) Tik Tok Tony 1, George Cooper (Otane) Little Gold Rush 2, Olivia Bayliss (Hastings) Afallon’s Conquistador 3, Iyve Speirs (Gisborne DC Myteee Atlas 4, Lacey Cribb (Te Karaka) Corivale Texas Lights 6.

 

Grains and Feeds Cat B High Points Series: Lucy Harrison (Hawke’s Bay) Mt Tulloch Skylark 1, Tilly Alexander (Nuhaka) My Sweet Nevaeh 2, Millie White (Otane) Afallon’s Royal Arabesque 3, Hannah Andrew (Gisborne) Mt Tulloch Fantail 4.

 

Big on Writing Pony Rider Equitation Series: Kyra Purcell (Whakatane) Mikado Johnny Angel 1, Zoe McNaught (Gisborne) Nitro Pandora 2, Chloe Garbett (Gisborne) MJK Halin Park 3, Matilda Richmond-Field (Waipawa Major Major 4, Hannah Andrew (Gisborne) Mt Tulloch Fantail 5.

 

The Brave Pants Company Cat C High Points Series: Zoe McNaught (Gisborne) Nitro Pandora 1, Annabel Alexander (Nuhaka) Showtym Mamma Mia 2, Kyra Purcell (Whakatane) Mikado Johnny Angel 3, Matilda Richmond-Field (Waipawa) Major Major 4.

 

Diana Dobson

20 October 2024