Julie Davey & LT Holst Freda flying in the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix – Photo by CLG Photography
Can you believe it’s that time of the year already?! With Christmas just a couple of days away, and 2025 just around the corner, it also marks the halfway point of the season and what a jam packed one it has been so far.
This weekend, we closed out 2024 with the Site Land Development Auckland Christmas Cracker.
Julie Davey and her ever impressive LT Holst Freda finished the year on a high by taking out the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix – locally supported by Veterinary Associates Equine – with the only double clear. Sarah West and Six Sixty SP were the only other combination to jump a clear in the first round, but an unfortunate course error in the second kept them out of the prizes. Emma Gaze with Kowhai Bug produced a slick clear in the second round, but their four faults carried over from the first round left them in second place. Mathew Dickey and Fernando CSNZ picked up just one time fault in round one, going on to add four faults to their total which saw them finish in third place.
From Julie Davey – “It was a great show and we were very lucky with the weather as we didn’t get the rain forecast. I was very pleased with how Freda jumped and how we finished off the first half of the season, hopefully we can carry on our good form in the second half of the season ”.
The AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix – locally supported by Chris Fougere Orthopaedic Surgeon – had 11 starters, which in the end saw two double clears battle it out for the red ribbon. Isla Bowley and Foxdens Merlot stopped the timers in 55.45, just ahead of Adison Hall aboard Flaxhill La Rocco in 56.51.
Isla Bowley & Foxdens Merlot during the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix – Photo by CLG Photography
Dylan Burton is a name we’ve mentioned a few times already and this weekend he picked up his fourth FMG Young Rider win in a row! Aboard Kenny G MS, he was nearly four seconds quicker than second placed Aimee Collinson and her new ride Be Mine NZPH. Aimee also picked up a couple of time faults in the first round to finish in third place with Resolution.
“Kenny has been jumping out of his skin! This is my first season at the Young Rider level, so four wins in a row seems unreal. Hopefully we can continue this form heading into the business end of the season”.
The Brave Pants Company Pro Am – locally supported by The Workshop 1924 – saw three double clears from a five horse jump off. Deanna Horsburgh and Kan Kan NZPH finished just a cat whisker ahead of Sandra Stanford on El Vira to take the win, with Caroline Sutherland and Las Vegas RSNZ finishing in third. The Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider was another competitive class. Five combinations also faced the jump off with four coming home double clear. Jeremy Clark on Dynavyte Cancion HSH were the fastest of these to secure the win.
Caydance Patel and RS Stanley may have had the fastest time in the jump off of the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider – locally supported by Hawkins Homes, but a single rail down relegated them to second place. Top honours went to Matisse Masterson aboard Jay-Z GNZ who jumped the only double clear. In a similar scenario, whilst Mikayla Rogers and the Lawman sired Viva la Bop may have recorded the slowest time in a four horse jump off in the TiES Futurity Series, they were the only ones to leave all the rails up to steal the win.
Candice Fox finished her year on a high, riding away with the win on the Imogen Neale bred Atticus Et Audax, (LC Telepathy x Skyhi Sabine/ Comet Von C), where they jumped the only double clear in the East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Old Breeding Series – locally supported by Site Land Development.
Maddison Greatorex and Chacco Sylvia SF (Chacco Silver x Rakaunui Gazzelle/ Loewenherz – bred by Nikita Seaforth O’Donnell) were also the sole double clear in the NZ Warmblood Association 6 Year Old Breeding Series – locally supported by Fiber Fresh.
Vicki Prendergast and her homebred Stiletto C (Cohinoor VDL x Sofee/ Powerfee) proved once again why they are the current seven year old National champions by backing up last week’s win with another! They were the fastest of the bunch to take out the NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction 7 Year Old Breeding Series.
Auckland SJ Chair, Paula Mussen said “Thanks to the wonderful support of the committee and sponsors for moving the date of the show to such a busy time of the year. We appreciated the support from competitors who came from far and wide. We had such great feedback about the fun atmosphere, evening entertainment and attention to detail with the ribbons, rugs and Site Land Development teddies”.
Course Designers were Edward Bullock (Ring 1), Danielle Watts (Ring 2) and Philippa Howells (Ring 3)
From the Jumping Team – well done to all our members and associates, our sponsors, judges, committees and volunteers. We wish you all, along with your four legged friends, a safe and happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you all in the new year.
2024….over and out!!
For full results, go to www.evoevents.co.nz
The Jumping Team – 23 December 2024