It was a big weekend for Takapoto who hosted the final leg of the NZ league ClipMyHorse.tv FEI World Cup qualifier. As it has been for most of the season, it was a battle between Julie Davey and Sophie Scott to see who would take the top honours in not just the class, but also the series, and it came right down to the wire.
Sophie Scott wins the ClipMyHorse.tv FEI World Cup Final Qualifier at Takapoto on Normandy GHP. Photo Credit to Cornege Media
Sophie jumped two perfect first rounds on both her horses, Benrose Stellar and Normandy GHP, and was the only one to do so after Julie and LT Holst Freda picked up one pesky time fault. Julie and Freda put their foot down in the second round and pulled a stunning clear out the bag to really put the pressure on Sophie. Sophie was faster on Benrose Stellar, her nominated mount, but one rail falling to the ground handed the series to Julie. Still with a job to do, Sophie came back into the arena on Normandy GHP and they really put on a show, leaving all the rails standing to take out the class in magnificent style. Makenzie Causer continued with her consistent form in this series, aboard Dolce Del Colle, she just had a rail down in each round plus two time faults from the first round to finish the class in fourth place on a total of 10, and third place in the series. You can read the full write up here: https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2026/01/back-to-back-series-wins-for-davey-and-freda/
Logan Massie had a cracker of a weekend on his homebred rising star, Adele 13. On Friday, he narrowly beat Jake Lambert on Takapoto Alaid de Chez Nous in the 1.40m Speed and in a moment of déjà vu, he did exactly the same thing on Saturday in the 1.45m.
Tracking towards the bottom of the North Island, Horowhenua A&P Show hosted a handful of series classes. Chloe Armstrong flew around the FMG Young Rider jump off in a time that could not be caught. Riding Benrose Casino ECPH, she stopped the clock in 36.39, coming in hot on her heals was Henry Martin riding Lagertha VWNZ in 37.91 for second place.
Henry went one better in the Mainland Junior Rider, where he finished on top of the leaderboard in the saddle of Kiwi Strike. Three went into the jump off, and while Ella Easton had the fastest time of the class aboard A&P Firenze, a couple of rails on the ground relegated them to third place. Henry and Kiwi Strike were all clear, and their time of 38.40 gave them a convincing win over Isla Bowley who was also clear, and stopped the timers in 41.82 on Balboa NZPH for second place.
Aboard Sentosa, Laura Knight jumped the only double clear to take home the win in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider.
In the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix, Daniella Jelliman notched up yet another win on the consistent Korokipo Kid, their score of four faults gave them maximum series points, with second place going to Lily Kent riding Jonsey on eight faults.
Down in Canterbury, SCNO hosted their Summer Classic that saw a good array of competition over the series classes. Emma Gillies started the new year in the same style as she finished the last one, winning style! Riding Benrose Black Jack, she raced round the FMG Young Rider Jump off in 38.75, finishing nearly five seconds clear of second placed Jessica Hore riding Beaumont Cassanova.
The Brave Pants Company Pro Am and the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider saw just one clear coming from each. Hayley Curd rode My Miranda to victory in the Pro Am, as did Anja Johnston on Pocket Rocket II in the Amateur Rider that was locally supported by PL Performance Horses.
Quinn Coutts also produced the sole clear for the win in the NZPH Seven Year Old Breeding Series. He was riding the Helen Ensor bred Zactac Starfly, a mare by Chacfly and out of the Piccabello mare; Zactac Picalino. In the same fashion, just one double clear came from the East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Breeding Series, Casey Gubb riding PL Peter Parker (Classico TN x Lirio/Unknown, bred by Hayley Shaw).
The Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider saw a fierce jump off, with four combinations fronting up to the shortened course. Maygen Gubb rode PL Fox d’Amour through the flags in the fastest time, but with one rail hitting the deck, they finished up in third place. The top two both jumped a double clear and it was Charlotte Davie riding Glenbrooke Final Rose who broke the timers beam first to take out the class, with Jessica Hore on Diva Contina PJ coming in close behind for second.
For full results go to:
https://online.equipe.com/shows/76327
20 January 2026
The Jumping Team