Tyler McKee rides Corrida to win the New Zealand Premier Championship. Photo by Michelle Clarke photography
Consistency was the key for riders keen to see their names etched on some of the nation’s top trophies at the Tavendale & Partners New Zealand National Jumping and Show Hunter Championships in Christchurch at the weekend.
The New Zealand Premier Championship – part of the Harrison Lane Premier League Series and locally sponsored by Tavendale & Partners – was won by the sole entrant Tyler McKee (Gore) aboard Corrida.
The 11-year-old warmblood/thoroughbred cross was bred by Tyler’s parents. The horse is by Corofino II and out of a Grosvenor mare and was clear in the opening round, picked up faults in the second, third and fourth, and finished on a high with a clear in the fifth. Their names will join a very prestigious honour roll on the historic Rutherford Cup.
Tyler was stoked with the win. “It’s pretty good,” he said. “It is a shame there weren’t some other competitors but good to be able to come out here and show what he is capable of.”
The southern combo will have a couple more shows before heading north for the Defender Horse of the Year Show where he will contest the Norwood Gold Cup, the Cavallino Silver Fern Stakes and 4CYTE Premier Stakes.
Molly Moffett rides Lazarus GNZ to win the New Zealand Grand Prix Championship. Photo by Michelle Clarke photography
The New Zealand Grand Prix Championship – part of the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix Series and also locally sponsored by Tavendale & Partners – was a closely fought compact class that saw Molly Moffett (Kaiapoi) and Lazarus GNZ take the win. There was just three faults across the top three – Molly, Emma Gillies (Timaru) aboard Lafayet Ego Z and Oliver Croucher (Cambridge) on NRS Ricochet MVNZ – coming into the final day.
In the end though, Molly held her line to finish on 14.95 faults with Emma second on 16 and Oliver in third on 25.67.
“I put a lot of work and time into my horses so it is pretty rewarding to have this win and on such a special horse,” said Molly.
The 13-year-old Holsteiner/thoroughbred cross is by Lordana out of a Grosvenor mare and was bred by Golden Grove Stud. He is owned by Amanda Stringer-Ferguson and Emma Ferguson.
“It’s been such a good partnership with the (owners) Fergusons. It is very cool.”
The two are off to the Takapoto Classic and then Defender Horse of the Year where they too will line up in the Norwood Gold Cup and the 4CYTE Premier Stakes.
Emily Oliver rides Doctor Jones to win the New Zealand Pony Championship. Photo by Michelle Clarke photography
Things were far tighter in the New Zealand Pony Championship which is part of the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix Series and locally sponsored by the Rangiora Vet Centre. There was plenty of quality on show in the 11 strong class and the Hampton Trophy which in the end belonged to Emily Oliver (Peka Peka) and Doctor Jones.
“It means the world to me to win this,” said Emily who was also third aboard Barbie Doll RSNZ. “It is a dream come true. It is just incredible.”
The 15-year-old piebald gelding had jumped his heart out for her the whole three days finishing on four faults across the five rounds.
Emily, who at 17 has only a handful of shows left in the pony division, was sitting in the top two spots coming into the final round but a pesky rail saw Barbie slip to third and Sofia Williams (Masterton) aboard Sitarski slip into second. There was nothing in it in the final points though, with Emily and Doctor Jones on four faults, Sofia on 4.04 and Emily with Barbie on 5.84.
The top classes brought the curtain down on four fantastic days of showjumping and show hunter. The national titles were all five round competitions, so called for consistency from horse and rider.
Entries were good with a number of combinations making the trek south for the annual event which this year also attracted plenty of public interest.
Heather McDonald, assisted by Donella Still, designed the courses in the Hampton Oval.
FULL RESULTS: www.evoevents.co.nz
Diana Dobson
3 February 2025