Emma Gillies rides Benrose Black Jack to win the FMG Young Rider Series. Photo by Michelle Clarke
It was a busy weekend for many riders at the Tavendale & Partners NZ National Jumping Championship, especially for those juggling titles with series crowns.
It was a super head-to-head Gillies sister contest in the NZ National FMG Young Rider, locally sponsored by The Rider Shop. The very in-form Emma was aboard Benrose Black Jack, with Samantha on Lumarzo. In the end, Emma took the honours going double clear in 32.3 seconds, with Samantha crossing the flags in 35.24.
“It means so much to win,” says Emma. “He has been out for a little while, so it is great to have him back and humming again. It was a great competition against Samantha – it is usually pretty friendly but it is always great to win!”
Rounding out the podium was Charlotte Conder (Wellington) on Kiwi Bonus as the fastest four faulter from the opening round.
Tanya Davie & Glenbrooke Final Rose – winners of the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider series – Photo by Michelle Clarke
The well subscribed NZ National Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider – locally sponsored by Performance Equine – was won by Tanya Davie (Mosgiel) on her homebred Glenbrooke Final Rose.
“It means everything to win on a horse I have bred and broken in myself,” said Tanya. “I am pretty stoked with that.”
Four of the 18 starters came back for the jump-off where Tanya’s 36.95 second round edged out runner-up Candace Kingsbury (Ashburton) on Allie Saab with their double clear 41.4 second effort, with Olivia Harkerss (Canterbury) and Haupouri Icandy third with their eight fault 38.44 second round.
Mitchell Cowan & My Centastage – winners of the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series – Photo by Michelle Clarke
Mitchell Cowan (Blenheim) and My Centastage rode off with the NZ National Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider with the only double clear from the 12 combinations on the start list. Just Mitchell and Jessica Hore (Millers Flat) aboard Global PH Mylorde came back for the jump-off where an unfortunate elimination for Jessica gave the honours to Mitchell.
“It’s been a good show and she jumped really well out there for me,” said Mitchell.
Coming in for third place was Emma Gillies (Oamaru) aboard Grandeur ECPH who was the fastest four faulter from the opening round. Emma was also fourth aboard Mini Cooper G.
Katherine Coleman & Double J Sunshine – winners of The Brave Pants Company Pro Am Rider Series – Photo by Michelle Clarke
Former eventers Katharine Coleman (Blenheim) and Double J Sunshine took the honours in the NZ National The Brave Pants Company Pro Am Rider – locally sponsored by Canter for Cancer.
“I am really stoked to have won it,” said Katharine. “He has won a lot of national eventing titles when he was younger so it is pretty cool that as he gets to the end of his career he wins a national showjumping title.”
Just three of the seven original starters came back for the jump-off where both Katharine and Paula Mussen (Pukekohe) aboard Déjà vu NZPH were double clear but Double J Sunshine’s 35.71 second effort pushed Paula to second on 40.02. Kate Houston (Canterbury) and Cera Chanel were third with their four fault 35.42 second round.
Tamara Silcock & Belles Big Boy – winners of the TiES Jumping Futurity Series South Island Final, sponsored by NZTR. Photo by Michelle Clarke
Tamara Silcock (Nelson) could barely contain her pride in Belles Big Boy for winning the TiES Jumping Futurity Series South Island Final.
“This is just his fourth show so he is very, very green, so to win means a lot on this horse,” said Tamara. “He gave us some trouble at his first couple of shows and only qualified at Waimate a week ago.”
But she had every confidence in the horse. “I knew he had it in him to win if we could keep him under wraps. He is such a cool horse.”
She got him in April to sell on behalf but a broken ankle saw him head back to his owner. “He is the biggest personality in the yard,” says Tamara. “He is a complete thoroughbred with angry faces but loves to be played with.”
She hasn’t entered him in the Defender Horse of the Year Show yet but his success at the weekend means she’s now considering it. “Otherwise I will be slowly stepping him up and preparing him for next season.”
Tamara and Belles Big Boy were the only double clear, coming home in 51.76 seconds, with Katie Doncliff (Kirwee) aboard Sabrage second with four faults in 55.3, and Lauren Enright (West Melton) on Vapor Trail third on eight faults, crossing the flags in 49.86.
Phoebe Howson & Inferno NZPH – winners of the Main-Events Tertiary series. Photo by Michelle Clarke
Just four lined up in the NZ National Main-Events Tertiary class – locally sponsored by Whiterock Stud and Feed – which was won by Phoebe Howson (Christchurch) aboard Inferno NZPH. It was Phoebe and Sarah Peterson (Ohoka) with Dubai 2 who came back for the jump-off where both had eight fault rounds but Phoebe came home in 38.96 to Sarah’s 42.24 second round.
Phoebe had high praise for the series that allowed uni students who weren’t able to ride full time to still have something to look forward to and be competitive. “It’s really nice to have this,” she said. “It’s great to win.”
Makenzie Causer & Aspen Park Cera Casallo – winners of the East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Breeding Series. Photo by Michelle Clarke
The 11-strong NZ National East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Breeding Series class – locally sponsored by Fixine – went the way of Makenzie Causer (Christchurch) aboard Aspen Park Cera Casallo after an exciting jump-off that saw four of the five returning combinations go double clear. Makenzie and Casallo crossed the flags in 39.73 seconds, with Georgina Dormer (Rangiora) on LT Holst Cambridge second in 43.26 and Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) with Double J Celine third in 44.72. Aspen Park Cera Casallo (Casall x Beate / Askari) is a Warmblood bred by Kerri Parker.
Johanna Wylaars & Demietta – winners of the NZ Warmblood Association Six-Year-Old Breeding Series – Photo by Michelle Clarke
It came down to a head-to-head between Johanna Wylaars (Christchurch) on Demietta and Peita Milne (Nelson) aboard Karisma HSH in the 10-strong NZ National Warmblood Assn Six-Year-Old Breeding Series – locally sponsored by P3 Equestrian.
There was only a whisker in it, but Johanna’s 41.83 second effort just edged out Peita’s 41.88. Third was Makenzie Causer aboard Aspen Park Silver Strike GNZ as the fastest four-faulter from the opening round. Demietta (Daminos x Octavia Queen / Don Quattro) is a NZ Warmblood bred by Lily Sutherland.
Johanna Wylaars & AH California Dreaming – winners of the NZPH and A1 Equine Reproduction Seven-Year-Old Breeding Series. Photo by Michelle Clarke
Johanna was also the victor in the NZ National NZPH and A1 Equine Reproduction Seven-Year-Old Breeding Series – locally sponsored by Majestic Horse Floats. She and AH California Dreaming picked up four faults in the opening round, but it was enough to secure the win ahead of Tamara Silcock (Nelson) aboard CachaCin NW on eight faults, with Charlotte Conder (Wellington) and Captain Xtreme in third on 12 faults. AH California Dreaming (Euro Sport Centavos x Lilliana / Littorio) is a NZ Warmblood bred by Amberley House.
For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz
Story by Diana Dobson – 4 February 2025