Despite a not so great weather forecast, the rain held off and the Showjumping Canterbury Labour weekend Jumping Carnival was sprinkled in sunshine, and the good footing led to a great couple of days of competition.
It was a weekend to remember for Emma Gillies, as not only did she ride away with the quinella in the Property Brokers Grand Prix, locally supported by Kiwi Conveyancing Solutions, after jumping a double clear on Benrose Black Jack and Lafayet Ego Z, just picking up one time fault in the first round on Lafayet, she also took out the FMG Young Rider, locally supported by Syncroflex, on Benrose Black Jack.
Emma Gillies wins the Property Brokers Grand Prix on Benrose Black Jack. Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
Quinn Coutts riding LT Holst Harley also jumped a double clear in the FMG Young Rider, in a slightly slower time than Emma to finish in second place. Molly Moffatt rounded out the podium on Lazarus GNZ, just picking up four faults in the jump off.
Katharine Coleman carried on her winning form in The Brave Pants Company Pro Am, locally supported by The Dental Vet. Aboard her long time team mate, Double J Sunshine, she was the quickest of the double clears. Grace Percy slotted into second place on Sienna MVNZ, with Hayley Curd coming in third place after picking up four faults in the jump off, riding My Miranda.
Eva Wylaars had a good win in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider, in the saddle of Centanna II, she jumped a speedy double clear in 45.46. Jessica Hore riding Beaumont Cassanova and Molly Smith on Dynavyte Caribou DL both also jumped a double clear, finishing in second and third place respectively. Eva continued her good form as she also took out the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix, locally supported by Mike Greer Homes. Riding Larabelle, she finished in a quicker time than Peyton Mackintosh riding Meadowlands Lokial, making it three wins from as many starts for this talented combination.
Eva Wylaars wins the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix on Larabelle. Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography
Andrew Munro on Estelle produced the only clear in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider to take the win, as did Johanna Wylaars riding Demietta (Daminos x Octavia Queen/Don Quattro) in the NZPH Seven Year Old Breeding Series. Sonya Benison just picked up four faults on MF Titan (Larino TN x MF Starsha/Starpower TN, bred by Cherie Cournane) to finish in second place behind Johanna.
Johanna Wylaars wins the NZPH Seven Year Old Breeding Series on Demietta. Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
Both Molly Buist Brown riding SLE Limoncello (Pennsylvania x NVME /Voltaire II, bred by Jan Hunt), and Tamara Silcock riding Krystal Clear I (Clearway x Cassina K/ Cassini I, bred by Goldengrove Stud Farm) jumped a double clear in the New Zealand Warmblood Association Six Year Old Breeding Series to share first place.
The East Coast Performance Five Year Old Breeding Series saw two complete a clear first round. Amy McMullan riding Nightcap SP (Grandslam VDL x Sazerac GNZ/Cassini II, bred by Sarah Power), and Casey Gubb riding PL Peter Parker (Classico TN x Lirio/ Euro Sport Centavos, bred by Hayley Shaw) both picked up four points for their efforts.
Maurice Beats Them All!
Jumping Wairarapa’s Labour Weekend Champs was also blessed by the weather gods, as the worst of the wind came overnight, and the rain held off until they had the very last ring packed up.
Maurice Beatson picked up yet another Property Brokers Grand Prix win, this time riding Jeremy Clark’s big grey, Dynavyte Corysian Ego Z. Three made it through to the jump off, with two posting another clear round. Maurice stopped the clock in 44.53, with Francesca Corich van der Bas aboard Bannockburn ECPH coming home in 47.19 for second place. Kelly Smith completed the top three riding Kings Larkin.
Daniella Jelliman carried on her consistency in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix, this time winning on Tallyho Scoundrel with the only clear round.
There was a bit of a twist in the tale of the FMG Young Rider when the two competitors who made it through to the jump off both had an unlucky fall, meaning that Charlotte Conder riding Clariton, and Emily Oliver riding Campari, both shared first place.
It was like déjà vu in The Brave Pants Company Pro Am, when Lucy Fell riding Faratona STS took first place and sister Chloe Hansen, in the saddle of Stevenson ECPH, took second place, playing out the same scenario we saw a couple of weeks ago at the Cartown Central Districts Show.
All three combinations that went forward to the jump off in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider were double clear. Henry Martin riding Kiwi Strike was the quickest, with Hannah McConnell on Charlton Elite and Chloe Armstrong riding Benrose Casino ECPH finishing in second and third respectively.
The Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider also saw three double clears, Nigel Horton and Mandalay Cove were the quickest through the flags in 37.05. Not a lot separated second and third place with Hayley Fraser aboard Silverstar completing the course in 39.73, and Brent Anderson riding Fresco just behind in 39.99.
Three clear first rounds battled it out for the top prize in the NZPH Seven Year Old Breeding Series, four faults was the best score in the second round with Vania Mason finishing on top aboard the Laura McGregor bred Pure Silhouette (Chacco Silver MS x Pure Pink/Euro Sport Centavos). Also with four faults, Hana Bognuda came in second riding Daniel Webb’s owned and bred WSJ Bewitched (WSJ Astros x Kittywake/Damontez LS). Maurice Beatson rode LV Ellie (Elkintot x Black Grace/Postponed, bred by Little Valley Farms) to third place after picking up eight faults.
Robert Steele’s Ginny (Centarion x Affinity/Billy’s Dream) carried on her consistency in the New Zealand Warmblood Association Six Year Old Breeding Series, jumping a clear first round, with Robert electing not to jump the second round.
Luce Williams was the only double clear in the East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Breeding Series, very aptly riding the series sponsors bred Jingo ECPH (Jardonnay VDL x Cincinnati ECPH/ Cassiano).
The TiES Futurity saw seventeen starters, with five heading into the jump off. Sophie Dickson guided Oceans Away around the shortened course for the quickest clear round that put them at the top of the leaderboard. Danielle Taylor riding Bubbajock came in second, and Tessa Harre aboard Formula Ace in third spot.
Levi Strikes Again
Up in Northland, Isabelle Jameson made it two from two as she won her second Property Brokers Grand Prix in a row, this time locally supported by Tristram Northland. She was the sole competitor in the class, but a solid round for just four faults saw her ride away with maximum points on Levi Xtreme.
Michelle Wakeling was also the only one to front up in The Brave Pants Company Pro Am. Riding BMW Chaccolilli, she jumped a lovely clear to give her a well-deserved win.
Aboard Amorcito, Bailey Benshaw posted the only clear round to win the FMG Young Rider, locally supported by Whangarei A&P Society. Brooke Scrivener riding Araluan Donnergold jumped the only double clear in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider. Nicole Collier on Cassidina had a faster time, but four faults relegated them to second place.
Three went into the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider jump off, and all three jumped a double clear. Ashley Johnston was the quickest, riding BMW Chaccodaizie, she stopped the timers in 43.31. Helen McGrath riding Rosie J was good enough for second place with their time of 49.39, and Joanna Bullock aboard Kiwi Marksman stopped the clock in 51.37 for third place.
For full results go to:
31 October 2025
The Jumping Team