Current Leader Julie Davey rides LT Holst Freda. World Cup Grand Prix CSI1* – W. 2024 NZL-Taupo World Cup Classic. November 2024. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
It’s a compact but classy field that lines up at the third ClipMyHorse FEI Jumping Qualifier at Taupo this weekend.
Australian course designer Mark Atkins has been tasked with laying the challenge for the seven combinations in the class.
It is spearheaded by the inform Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) who has Equine America Benrose Stellar and Normandy GHP on the card, and Julie Davey (Hastings) with LT Holst Freda.
Julie heads a very tight leaderboard on 35 points with Sophie right behind her on 33, Makenzie Causer (Christchurch) on 32, Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) on 27, and Kimberley Carrington (Takapau) on 24.
Sophie has a win apiece for her two mounts from the two qualifiers this season but not nominating the right horse has cost her points.
Stellar, who won the 2024-2025 final, has been incredibly solid for her rider and while Normandy has just five World Cup starts to his credit, he’s had two wins, two thirds and a fifth.
Julie’s last six starts comprise three seconds, two thirds and a fifth. The mare is hugely established at World Cup level, having done her first start in 2022 but didn’t manage to notch a win until Tamworth (AUS) in 2024. She won the 2024-2025 New Zealand league.
Tristan Thomas and his gorgeous mare Matai Zarite have caught the eye of many in their two World Cup starts, placing third on debut and an eighth in the next qualifier.
Makenzie Causer and her French bred mare Dolce Del Colle have a second and a fourth from their efforts in the World Cup this season and have certainly looked at home on the big tracks.
Kimberly Carrington and her homebred Double J Typhoon are in their first season of World Cups, having bagged a fourth and a seventh in the two to date.
Oliver Croucher and Takapoto Koru round out the field. The New Zealand bred jumper had his first World Cup start at Boneo (AUS) in October for ninth.
The Kiwi riders are getting a real taste of the international designers in this year’s series, having had Isabel Rothenberger (GER) design the first two qualifiers, and Mark Atkins (AUS) designing at Taupo.
Mark is an FEI level 3 and designed in the premier arena at the 2025 Horse of the Year Show. He has designed at the 2024 2* in Beijing and also at Spruce Meadows a few years back.
The last qualifier of the New Zealand league is at the Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay Showjumping and Show Hunter Championships at Dannevirke (January 10). The final is being held as part of the Waitemata Premier Jumping Festival at Woodhill Sands (January 18) where Canadian designer Peter Holmes is back to challenge the field. The best four of the five rounds count towards each rider’s final tally.
The winner of the New Zealand series has the opportunity to travel to the world final in Fort Worth, Texas in April. Luke Dee and Gangster WW represented New Zealand at the world final this year in Switzerland, finishing 31st.
Points (after two qualifiers): Julie Davey (Hastings) 35 points, Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) 33, Makenzie Causer (Christchurch) 32, Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) 27, Kimberly Carrington (Takapau) 24, Emma Gillies (Oamaru) 23, Francesca Corich van der Bas 12.
WHAT: CSI1*-W ClipMyHorse FEI Jumping World Cup Qualifier
WHERE: Taupo World Cup Showjumping Show 2025, NEC Taupo
WHEN: Saturday, November 29, 2025
START LISTS AND RESULTS: https://www.evoevents.co.nz/resultClass/2135887773/21/1
LIVESTREAM: CMH.TV
Diana Dobson
27th November 2025