Vicki Wilson receiving her awards at the Graeme Hart Memorial Awards Evening at the National Young Horse Show – Photo by KAMPIC/Kerry Marshall
This weekend, all eyes were on Hawkes Bay as we focused on the efforts of New Zealand’s thriving young stars. As it often does, the mighty Hawkes Bay turned on the weather, and while the temperatures soared, the wind also howled, but all in all, it provided a fantastic few days of jumping. A smattering of rain on Thursday meant the ground was in tip top shape for the following days and that certainly showed with some top notch competition.
The star of the show was none other than local horsewoman Vicki Wilson, whose ongoing hard work certainly paid dividends this weekend. Despite dislocating her thumb whilst riding her first horse of the show, she battled on like the warrior she is and achieved some unbelievable results and took home many titles that we’ll come to a little later.
The first Young Horse National title went to Gisborne, with Henry Gaddum finishing the three days of competition on just 8 faults aboard Bertie in the LT Holst Sporthorses sponsored 4 Year Old Championship. A pretty special win, as Bertie was bred by Henry’s wife, Sofie, and is out of Betty (Pharaoh II), a mare that Sofie’s sister Megan Humphreys competed, and by The Boss that was competed by his good mate Fraser Tombleson. As if one Championship title wasn’t enough, Henry and Bertie went on to also claim the Canter for Cancer 4 Year Old Show Hunter title. Sharron White and Ash Hart were proud to also award Henry with the Graeme Hart Memorial Trophy for the best performing four year old of the show. A new award that came about after the sad loss of Graeme in April this year, and very fitting for a man who was always a friendly face around the shows with a huge wealth of knowledge.
“I had an awesome show that was so well run by the committee and the grounds were great. This is my first time riding at the Young Horse Show, so it was great to have some success against some nice horses, and it was pretty cool to win on Sof’s homebred horse”.
Jaime Campbell aboard Paula Brocklehurst’s Ataahua Rose (Dakar VDL x Jelly/ Littorio – bred by Amanda Brown) took out the BMW Sporthorses style award.
The Gisborne boys kept the winning theme running into the East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Old Breeding Championship, where Fraser Tombleson jumped four smart clears to emerge victorious on the Euro Sport Diamant B sired Mr Shelby. Another very special win, as Mr Shelby was bred by Fraser’s dad, Warwick and out of his very special and talented mare Mea I (Ngahiwi One Eye) that they very sadly lost earlier this year.
“We lost Mea earlier this year, so he is very special to us. Credit goes to my dad for breeding Mea, and my wife Jaime for picking Euro Sport Diamond B as the sire. Also Claudia Hay as she has some amazing bloodlines and is great to deal with. After a few years out of the game, I am really enjoying being back in the ring. Huge thanks to all of the organisers and sponsors, especially East Coast Performance Horses for sponsoring the 5 Year Old Breeding Series. And all of the organisers of the Young Horse Show, it’s such an amazing show to be a part of”.
Two other combinations also managed to keep a clean slate over all four rounds. Coming in a close second place was Oliver Edgecombe and the Tom McDermott bred Carlo 1 (Clarimo x Laguna Beach/ Lord Pezi), with Vicki Wilson and Dark N Spicy (Daminos x TSH Isabella/ Berwick Destinado – bred by Shelly Smith) completing the podium in third place.
Fraser and Mr Shelby also won the BMW Sport Horses style award.
Over in the Show Hunter arena, Brooke Edgecombe and LT Holst Hektor Q (Halifax van de Heffinck x LT Holst Quasi/ Quasimodo) took out the Canter for Cancer 5 Year Old Show Hunter Championship.
Now, we’ve just read that Vicki Wilson placed third in the 5 year Old Championship, so let’s continue talking about the start of her winning streak. Her homebred Dakota VWNZ didn’t disappoint by jumping four clear rounds to take out the New Zealand Warmblood Association 6 Year Old Breeding Championship title. By her stunning stallion Daminos TWS, and out of Empress VWNZ (Carrado MVNZ), this young superstar is the epitome of a homebred, and answered every question asked of her. She sped around the jump off in 43.07, giving Vicki a very convincing win.
“Dakota VWNZ is having a great season, bringing home a win at each start this season, she has a big future. She is so much fun to ride; simple and competitive with a huge heart and desire to jump clean, just like her sire, Daminos. In February she will be heading to the USA where she will be based out of New York. For her to head north with the NZ Young Horse 6 Year Old Championship title under her belt is a real thrill”.
Ike Baker and Kentucky ECPH (Kannan x Picarla/Pioneer) and Kylee McCambridge and the Joss Bayly bred Waiting Starlink (Hector van de Adjihoeve/ Waitangi Cloud) both kept a clean pair of heals, finishing in second and third place respectively. Kylee and Waitangi Starlink also won the BMW Sport Horses Style Prize.
The Oakridge Equestrian Show Hunter 6 Year Old title went to Tanya Hansen and Java NZPH (Cicave du Talus x Sparkles NZPH/Fetiche du Pas).
Vicki continued her good fortune in the NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction 7 Year Old Breeding Championship where she placed equal second with another homebred, Apollo VWNZ (Argento ST x Quiz Me VWNZ/Euro Sport Centavos). A class that was deservedly won by a combination that were the only ones to keep a clean slate over the three rounds, Vicki Prendergast and Stiletto C. Vicki is no stranger to the winner’s circle in the class, having won it two years ago on Leanne & Sarah West’s Six Sixty SP, another horse that she bred and was lucky to get the catch ride on after selling him, so was very special to win on another homebred horse, who is by Cohinoor VDL and out of Sofee (Powerfee), a mare that has produced numerous top prospects for Vicki.
“Stiletto C is a very special homebred mare. She’s a bit smaller than I’m used to, but she has the heart of a lion. She’s out of the same dam as my very special Selena C who I sold last year, so I’m really excited to have another future champion on my hands. Thank you to NZPH for sponsoring the class. Young Horse Show is my favourite show of the season, the rain we got on Thursday made the ground very nice and it’s held up fantastic for three days”.
Chloe Hansen may not have won this class since her best mate Kiwi Motto was a young lad, but aboard Ngahiwi Cruiser (Ngahiwi Cardento x Distlefink Daughter/ Ratahiwi), she made her mark back in the Show Hunter ring by taking out The Wilson Family 7 Year Old Show Hunter Championship.
Vicki Wilsons next win came from the eye-catching Daminos TWS. The imported Diarado x B’Lanca Nieve (Cashas) stallion flew around the Performance Hoofcare Gelding/Stallion 1.30m to take the win in fine style. A resoundingly apt win, as Daminos was awarded the Leading Stallion of the show thanks to the outstanding results of his up and coming progeny.
From all her successes, it may not surprise you that Vicki also picked up The Fernhill Stud Leading Rider of the show award -particularly fitting as we celebrate the late Graeme Hart’s birthday on the closing day of the show – where she received the Trevor Gregory Cup, as well as The Global Performance Horses Leading Breeder award.
“The Northern Hawkes Bay committee provided stunning weather, superb ground conditions and competitive courses that enabled us the opportunity to show case our up and coming horses from our breeding programme. Taking out the leading rider, breeder and stallion award is a first for this show. Graeme Hart was a big fan of Daminos and in recent years has supported him by breeding a number of his mares to him, so it was a fitting tribute to Graeme to have Daminos named as the top stallion.
It is incredibly satisfying to be able to breed and produce everything we sit on now, it’s taken us eight years to get to this point and it all started with our foundation stallions, Daminos and Carpaccio BVDZ whom we imported from Europe. It is exciting to ride when we are sitting on our horse power of today however, as our breeding programme evolves, we are sure to have better young stars already in the paddocks! Breeding isn’t a simple game, but after a show like this, it gives us comfort that we are on the right track”.
Nikama MVNZ (Canto x Dolche MVNZ/ Orame VDL) was the top mare of the show, winning the Mare 1.30m – sponsored by Helen the Physio – with Penny Borthwick in the saddle.
Viggo Pedersen & Tribesmen’s Warrior winning the FMG Young Rider at the National Young Horse Show – Photo by KAMPIC/Jaimee Whittaker
Viggo Pedersen had a good win on Tribesmen’s Warrior in the FMG Young Rider, locally supported by The Riders Shop, where he topped a five horse jump off, well ahead of second placed Meg Bisset and Emmaville Dontago. The Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider – locally supported by Volume Contracting – also gave the crowds a thrilling jump off, with six combinations coming forward. Josh Adamson and Her Silver Lining were the best of these, with Amelia Clark in second place on Blackall Park Pennylane and Laura Knight with Sentosa rounding out the podium. Sofia Williams and Off the Cuff had the quickest time in the jump off of the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider – locally supported by Equus Auctions – but a costly rail saw them finish in second place behind the sole double clear that was Lottie Bull aboard Self Portrait. Anna Stephen rode away with the red ribbon on the O’Rielly sired Zion Hill in the TiES Futurity Jumping Series, as did Siobhan Ryan with Freehold in The Brave Pants Company Pro Am – locally supported by Sven & Friends.
Lottie Bull & Self Portrait – Winners of the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider at the National Young Horse Show – Photo by KAMPIC/Jaimee Whittaker
The show closed with the Property Brokers Grand Prix – locally supported by Isaacs Plumbing, Pumping & Electrical, and it was a great win for local boy Luke Dee and his lovely Gangster WW, who jumped the only clear round.
“I’m thrilled with Gangster, who Fiona (Hall) and I own together. He has really proven himself especially of late. It was special to get the win today at our local show. Well done to all the other competitors, and thank you to the Northern Hawkes Bay committee and sponsors for having us and a great show”.
Both Julie Davey on LT Holst Freda and Sophie Fourie on Incendivity HSH also kept all the rails up, but picking up one time fault each prevented a jump off. They finished in second and third place respectively.
The Hawkes Bay committee were thrilled with how the show panned out and were especially grateful to all sponsors, especially the naming sponsors – Tony Rasmussen, Luke Dee and James McPherson from Bayleys Hawkes Bay – “We couldn’t have done it without them!” The sponsors were acknowledged on Saturday at a Sponsors lunch where the committee were able to connect and thank their amazing supporters. That evening came the very special Graeme Hart Memorial Awards night. “This was an event close to our hearts after sadly losing Graeme earlier this year. The evening was about honouring the man who started this event 29 years ago and was filled with great stories and memories about ‘Harty’, as well as acknowledging all of the riders that had great success throughout the show. Thanks to everyone who made this weekend so special. We can’t wait to do it again next year!’.
Down the country, Gore hosted the Southland Festival Show. The Property Brokers Grand Prix was a small event, with only Tyler McKee and Corrida stepping up to the challenge, but they did just that. Finishing with a total of ten faults over the two rounds, they took home the top points. Redcliffs Bill seems to be settling in to South Island life very well, as he added another AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix win to his collection. Expertly guided by Zara Hazledine, this pair jumped a clean second round after picking up just four faults in the first round.
Clears were scarce in the FMG Young Rider, with Summer Borrie and Pure Cascade’s eight fault effort being good enough for the win. The Brave Pants Company Pro Am was won by a sole clear coming from Jane Hunt and Rabbit, and the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider saw two contend a jump off after both picking up four faults in the first round. Jessica Hore on For Harmony HSH went on to jump clear to take the win, with Holly Mackenzie and Mellivora BP finishing in second after adding a further four faults to their score.
The Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider saw two combinations jump clear to head into the jump off. Tanya Davie aboard Glenbrooke Final Rose finished on top, with Jaquita Warren and Macaroon in second place.
The TiES Jumping Futurity Series saw a tight finish, with Margaret Ridley and Rockfort completing their round in 40.50, and coming in hot on her heals was Kimberleigh McCabe on Ray’s In Command in 40.88.
For full results, visit www.evoevents.co.nz and www.main-events.com
The Jumping Team – 17 December 2024