Katie Meredith and Vulcan GNZ winning the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix at Queenstown – Photo by Libby Law
The New Year opened the second half of the season with a bang, particularly for Tristan Thomas and Katie Meredith who couldn’t have asked for a happier new year when they both took out the Property Brokers Grand Pix at the GJ Gardner Homes Woodhill Sands New Year Show and the Oliver Road Inaugural Show in Queenstown, respectively.
We’ll begin in the South Island, where Queenstown hosted its first show with the Oliver Road Inaugural Show. Set in the valley with the snow capped mountains providing a stunning backdrop, it really was the place to be for all mainlanders. Aboard Vulcan GNZ, Katie Meredith picked up just four faults to secure the win in the Property Brokers Grand Prix – locally supported by Duncan Cotterill, with her fellow competitor, Tyler McKee and Corrida landing eight faults for second place.
Aboard the lovely Redcliffs Bill, Zara Hazledine produced the only double clear to top the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix – locally supported by Medrecruit Queenstown. Second place went to Grace Roy on Blue Crush who just dropped a rail in each round.
Two combinations headed into the jump off of The Brave Pants Company Pro-Am. It was great to see Tegan Fitzsimon back in the ring on her little coffee horse, Windermere Cappuccino and their slow and steady double clear took them to second place behind Ashley Konig and L’heure du Vin who stopped the clock exactly seven seconds quicker for first place!
The Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider – locally supported by Equus Equine – also saw double clears take out the top two spots of the podium. Lauren Bucklet and Valvhona GNZ were the quickest of these in 45.63, with Angela Ruddenklau on Red Rafferty just behind in 47.86. Annabelle Jones and Thornfield Luna completed the podium with four faults in the jump off.
Slow and steady won the race in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider – locally supported by Mountain View Dairies. Holly Mackenzie and Mellivora BP were the only ones to leave all the rails up, meaning their three time faults were good enough to take the top place.
Tristan Thomas and Matai Zarite cruising round the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix at Woodhill Sands – Photo by Lindy W Photography
Heading approximately 1,500kms up the country brings us to Woodhill Sands who hosted the GJ Gardner Homes New Year Show. As already mentioned, Tristan Thomas was one happy chappy when he took out the Property Brokers Grand Prix – locally supported by the naming sponsor, GJ Gardner Homes. Aboard his beautifully produced mare Matai Zarite, they jumped the only clear to open the 2025 season with their first Grand Prix win.
“Our goal for the season was to consistently jump around the 1.35/1.40m heights and maybe do a Grand Prix if she was ready to start. Zari jumped her first Grand Prix at the Young Horse Show and then again at the Auckland Christmas Cracker where she picked up placings in both. With her third start at Woodhill and to begin the New Year with a win, we are ecstatic with how well Zari has stepped up. She is confident, jumping effortlessly and loves her job. She keeps proving to be even more special. It’s an honour to be riding amongst some of the best riders in the country, and to place is just an added bonus”.
Both Laura Inkster (Rodrigo MVNZ) and Carissa McCall (Picasso MVNZ) picked up just the one rail to finish second and third respectively. And fun fact, Carissa produced both these horses, with Laura adding ‘Basil’ to her team a couple of years ago.
Adison Hall and Flaxhill La Rocco were the only ones to keep all the jumps standing in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix – locally supported by Shelley Bridgeman, to take the win whilst the other series classes saw a couple of combinations take the battlefield for the top spot.
Emily Ramsden & Euro Champagne winning the FMG Young Rider at Woodhill Sands – Photo by Lindy W Photography
Paula Mussen (Deja Vu NZPH) and Sophie Fisher (Zara PPH) went head to head in The Brave Pants Company Pro-Am jump off, with Paula’s four fault effort being good enough for the win. Emily Ramsden (Euro Champagne) and Maya Hegh (Corfu) both jumped a double clear, with Emily finishing just over a second quicker to ride away with the red ribbon in the FMG Young Rider. The Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider – locally supported by Fiber Fresh – also saw two double clears finishing in sharp times. Isabelle Hawkins and Haupouri Da Vinci NZPH were the quickest through the flags, ahead of Sarah Nie on Letino.
The Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider – locally supported by Veterinary Associates Equine – always brings great entertainment to the crowd and this class did not disappoint. Three combinations came back for the jump off where Kate Ormond and Ngahiwi Gruffalo were the quickest by a long shot, however, two rails fell leaving them in third place. Both other combinations picked up four faults apiece, the fastest of those, and continuing on from his fine form last year, was Josh Bremner and LT Holst Francis. After a little break, it was great to see Scott Borland back in the ring on SB Soulsister MSNZ, and they would have been stoked with their second place.
For full results see www.evoevents.co.nz
The Jumping Team – 9 January 2025