It wasn’t a fairy tale start to the Hawkes Bay A&P show, with strong winds ripping through the Tōmoana Showgrounds, forcing a partial cancellation on Thursday, but Friday brought warm temperatures under overcast skies with a gentle breeze, providing ideal conditions for the remainder of the show.
The equestrian side of the show concluded with the first Premier League Grand Prix of the season and a strong field of nine competitors came forward to show off their skills to the spectators that filled the ring side. With a mix of horses, ranging from the experienced, to those just making the step up to this level, it was a class that didn’t disappoint.
Julie Davey rides LT Holst Freda, Hawkes Bay A&P Show, Friday, October 24, 2025 Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
It was a big and technical course, built by the South Island’s Sarah Ching, but the first round jumped well with just a few rails falling here and there and six going forward to the second round. Julie Davey and Kimberly Carrington both sitting on a faultless round, Sophie Scott, Makenzie Causer and Tristan Thomas on just the four faults and Maurice Beatson carrying eight faults.
Maurice Beatson rides Dynavyte Corysian Ego Z, Hawkes Bay A&P Show, Friday, October 24, 2025 Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
First out was Maurice on the big, scopey grey gelding, Dynavyte Corysian Ego Z, they completed the course with a steady clear, finishing on a total of eight faults. Sophie Scott was a lady on a mission, she set off on Benrose Stellar with only a fast clear on her mind, and while they had a heart in mouth moment when Stellar slipped just a couple of strides out from the tall Kelso vertical, they recovered well and laid down the gauntlet to those who followed – a total of four faults in a quick in a time of 49.13.
Sophie Scott rides Benrose Stellar, Hawkes Bay A&P Show, Friday, October 24, 2025 Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Makenzie Causer rides Dolce Del Colle, Hawkes Bay A&P Show, Friday, October 24, 2025 Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Makenzie Causer was next to enter the ring on her flashy Dolce Del Colle, who put on an expedition of jumping to also nail a clear in a slightly slower time of 50.45. Tristan Thomas and Matai Zarité also made light work of the track, going clear in a time of 53.77, both combinations finishing on a total of four faults from the two rounds, ending up in third and fifth place respectively.
Tristan Thomas rides Matai Zarité, Hawkes Bay A&P Show, Friday, October 24, 2025 Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
With just the two combinations sitting on a clear round to go, nervous energy filled the air. Kimberly Carrington and her stunning stallion, Double J Typhoon were incredibly unlucky to knock the first fence, and their time of 51.46 left them in fourth place.
Kimberly Carrington rides Double J Typhoon, Hawkes Bay A&P Show, Friday, October 24, 2025 Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
In prime position, Julie Davey and her crowd favourite, LT Holst Freda, were last to go. They completed the course in the same exuberant style that we have seen so often from this lovely mare, as they flew over the last fence with all the rails still intact, the crowd whooped and cheered as the Hawkes Bay local rode away with the win.
Julie Davey rides LT Holst Freda, Hawkes Bay A&P Show, Friday, October 24, 2025 Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Julie Davey rides LT Holst Freda, Hawkes Bay A&P Show, Friday, October 24, 2025 Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
“I’m pleased with Freda, she felt good. I went in banking on another clear round, but I wasn’t trying to be slow. It’s fantastic to have a Premier League Show to prepare for the upcoming World Cup, it’s a shame we don’t have more. It was a good course, a good lead up to Takapoto. Sarah built the courses to maximum height all weekend, which is what a Premier show should be. The grounds and the show were all looking really good despite the weather, and the horses all jumped well. Big thanks to the Northern Hawkes Bay committee for running a great show.”
Woodford House student, Lottie Bull juggles school and riding and is lucky enough to have mum, Jo Bell, keeping her ponies in top shape during the week while she is boarding. On Friday, riding TCG Centadel, she jumped the only clear in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix to pull off her biggest win yet.
Lottie Bull rides TCG Centadel, Hawkes Bay A&P Show, Friday, October 24, 2025 Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
“Dad (Geordie Bull) walked the course with me and told me what to do, it was my first Premier Grand Prix win and I’m really really pleased with Jet (TCG Centadel). I really want to win Pony of the Year, and I’m aiming both my ponies for that. Thank you to Fiona and Sophia Hall for letting me ride Jet”.
Sofia Williams had a good win in the FMG Young Rider, she guided Grassendale Enzo around for the only clear round. Sophia Blackbourn and Roxette ECPH also jumped clear, but picking up four time faults along the way left them in second place.
The Brave Pants Company Pro-Am saw two combinations head into a four fault jump off. Kristi Salonius and MF Starbound set the standard with a steady clear in 42.82. My Alfie tried his hardest for Maddi Thompson and they completed the course in a quicker time of 37.42, but one rail on the floor gave the win to Kristi.
Adison Hall rides Waitangi Connection, Hawkes Bay A&P Show, Friday, October 24, 2025 Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
The Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider was a fast and furious class, with six combinations heading into the jump off. Four went on to jump a double clear, however Adison Hall was the convincing winner. Riding the flashy grey, Waitangi Connection, she finished in 34.56, ahead of Chloe Armstrong riding Lakota in 36.18 and Lily McIntyre and Fly By Night GNZ rounded out the podium in 38.42.
Simone Mcconnell rides Chicago LS, Hawkes Bay A&P Show, Friday, October 24, 2025 Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Three contested the jump off in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider, with the top two posting a second clear round. Simone McConnell rode Chicago LS to victory in a time of 38.45, with Alexa Massie and Bravado Ego Z finishing in second place in 44.32. Marcus Rose and Royal Otis had a smart time, but four faults saw them take third place.
Maurice Beatson finished at the top of the leaderboard in the NZPH Seven Year Old Breeding Series, riding LV Ellie (Elkintot x Black Grace/ Postponed, bred by Little Valley Farms) round for the only clear. Maurice also finished in first place in the New Zealand Warmblood Association Six Year Old Breeding Series, this time riding his homebred Centron (Centarion x Ironmaid/ Wishing Well) and sharing maximum points with Oliver Edgecombe with his striking Australian import, Carlo1 (Clarimo x Laguna Beach/ Lord Pezi, bred by Tom McDermott). Luce Williams picked up four points with her four fault second round on Jingo ECPH (Jardonnay VDL x Cincinnati ECPH/ Cassiano) in the East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Breeding Series.
All in all, the show was a great success with a constant flow of people coming in the gates and some quality jumping to tick off the first Premier Show of the season.
For full results go to www.evoevents.co.nz
28 October 2025
The Jumping Team