The Awards Dinner for the 2025 ESNZ Jumping Series Finals. Penny Tapley, Chair of Jumping, (left) presents the Bomac Trophy. Sophie Scott (centre) 1st, 3rd and 5th in the Harrison Lane Premier League, Julie Davey (right) 2nd. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
As it often does, the Series Finals held at the Taupo NEC, saw some top competition with competitors giving their all for the last valuable series points on offer for this year. Whilst some series classes already had clear winners, the majority really came down to the wire with these last points making all the difference.
A name that everyone will be familiar with, especially this season, is Sophie Scott – and what a season she has had! She kept up her fine form here at Taupo by dominating the two big classes. She won the Harrison Lane Premier League class on the extravagant Normandy GHP with the only double clear, but it was her second place on Benrose Stellar (4 & clear) that gifted them the points to overtake Julie Davey & LT Holst Freda to take out the Series title. Benrose Stellar also took out the ESNZ Top Ranking Mare title.
In the Property Brokers Grand Prix, it was Benrose Stellar that jumped the sole double clear for the win, with her stablemate Normandy GHP settling for second place (clear & 4). Despite this fantastic result, Sophie couldn’t quite catch the Series title winner – Molly Moffatt & Lazarus GNZ and she finished up second with Normandy GHP – joint with Tyler McKee & Corrida, and third with Benrose Stellar.
The AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix saw four faulters face the jump off where Molly Smith & Vapour Trail NZPH backed up their Pony of the Year title with another win. Sofia WIlliams also jumped a clear second round on Buzzie Bees Max where she gained enough points to cement her lead at the top of the series board. Emily Oliver & Doctor Jones had the fastest time in the jump off, but adding a further four faults to their score left them in third place.
Catalina Rocco carried on her flying form after winning the Young Rider of the Year on Orietta MVNZ when they took home the win in the FMG Young Rider here at Series Final. Sophia Blackbourn finished in second place with Roxette ECPH which gave them enough points to also take out the series.
Katharine Coleman had such a lead in The Brave Pants Company Pro Am that she didn’t even need to attend the final show – apart from collecting her trophy and many celebratory bubbles of course! Paula Mussen picked up the win here with Deja Vu NZPH which gave them enough points to overtake Lucy Fell on the Series leaderboard to finish in second place.
The Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider final was a thrilling watch, not only did six go forward to the jump off, but two of those were sitting in reaching point of taking home the series title. Tara Gower had a good win on her faithful Double J Image, they jumped the only double clear and moved up to fourth place on the series leaderboard. But it was the battle between Matisse Masterson (Jay Z GNZ) and Mitchell Cowan (My Centastage) that really had the crowd on the edge of their seats, as only seven points separated them before this class. Both had an unlucky rail and the times were tight, but it was Matisse that stopped the timers just a smidgen quicker in 45.27 which also meant that she took out the Series title. Mitchell stopped the clock in 46.41 for third place which gave him enough points to finish in second place in the series.
Four faults was the theme in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider, with four combinations picking up four faults in both the first and second round. Kate Ramsey & Lady Bug had a strong win in 48.53, with Hayley Fraser & Silverstar in second in 50.65 and Donna McKinley & Caldoctro ECPH rounding out the podium in 51.80. While the ladies dominated this class, it was Josh Bremner delivering the manpower to take out the series. It was a tight battle between Josh and Jillian Watson who entered this class on equal series points. Both had an unfortunate eight faults, but Josh’s slightly faster time on his Amateur Rider of the Year mount, LT Holst Francis saw him finish in fifth place, ahead of Jill & OhMyHolly in sixth, that gave him the edge in the overall series points.
Georgia Milner & LT Holst Teachers Pet finished their season in the best way when they took out the Main-Events Tertiary Series class with the only clear. Elyza McDonald took out the Series title as she also did in the TiES Jumping Series with De Silver Lining.
The Double J Stud absolutely smashed it out of the park in the East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Olds with three of their homebred horses dominating the podium. Sophie Scott & Double J Celine (Euro Sports Kalaska x Double J Whitney/ Repicharge) jumped the only clear for the win. Tylah Amrein had a fantastic day by filling second and third place. Four faults saw Double J Phyliss (Double J Typhoon x Irish Mac/ Omnicorp) pick up second place, and eight faults put Double J Britz (Double J Typhoon x Double J Juicy/ Answer Back) into third place. Fittingly, Double J Typhoon, the sire of the second and third places, was awarded the ESNZ Leading Stallion prize. It would be no surprise to many to hear that Fraser Tombleson & Mr Shelby – our National Young Horse AND Horse of the Year 5 Year Old Champions, added Series Final winners to their list!
Vicki Wilson & Dakota VWNZ led the New Zealand Warmblood Association 6 Year Olds heading in to the final, but as Dakota has jetted off to an exciting new venture in the USA, she obviously couldn’t compete here. Despite being relegated to second place in the overall series, I’m sure Vicki will still be smiling, as it was a daughter of her beloved Daminos that not only won the final, but also took out the series. Ridden by Johanna Wylaars and bred by Lily Sutherland, Demietta (Daminos x Octavia Queen/ Don Quattro) took out the class, and ultimately the series in fine style.
The NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction 7 Year Olds hosted just two combinations, but what an exciting two combinations it was, with both sitting well ahead of the rest of the field on the overall series leaderboard. Vicki Prendergast jumped the only clear on her homebred and National Young Horse 7 Year Old Champion, Stiletto C (Cohinoor VDL x Sofee/ Powerfee) to take out the class. BUT, picking up eight faults on AH California Dreaming (Euro Sport Centavos x Lilliana/ Littorio – bred by Amberley House), gave Johanna Wylaars just enough points to take out the series. It was oh so close, as Johanna finished just a single point ahead of Vicki!
Tristan Thomas had an outstanding season on his delightful Matai Zarite, a mare that has stolen many peoples hearts, so it’s well deserved that they take out the ESNZ 8 Year Old Title.
The ESNZ Jumping Breeders award was again taken out by New Zealand Performance Horses (NZPH).
The inaugural Equibreed ART embryo series was a battle of the two lovely grey mares with LT Holst Freda going into the weekend in the lead, and Benrose Stellar gaining sufficient points over the weekend to jump to the top of the table and take the title.
This wraps up our weekend show reports, from everyone at ESNZ we wish you all a happy and safe off season, enjoy the winter training, and we shall see you all in the spring!
For full results, go to www.evoevents.co.nz