It goes without saying that the entire Nationals committee deserve a huge pat on the back for pulling off a fantastic show in what can only be described as challenging conditions. Many months of planning went in to putting together a spectacular show, the grounds looked incredible, and entries poured in as competitors waited in the sidelines to fight for the prestigious titles. But the weather Gods were extremely unkind and dealt a harsh card to the hardworking committee. As it did over most of the country, the rain fell in bucketloads, making conditions hard to work with.
The prestigious silverware waiting to be won. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
However, the show must go on, and go on it did! Whether it was Blue, Nathan, Roger or Lewis in the driver’s seat, the tractor and roller were in constant work to keep the grounds rideable, rings were relocated and the course designers – Eryn Duffy, Emma Barker and Sarah Ching went above and beyond to deliver the best courses to the riders, always (mostly!) with a smile upon their faces. A massive team effort that saw new National Champions crowned across the board.
The committee did everything to keep the grounds rideable in trying conditions. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
Hayley Morris may be used to slightly warmer conditions having just moved back home from across the Tasman, but she was on fine form and jumped some solid rounds to win the Tavendale and Partners National Premier Grand Prix title.
Hayley Morris and On the Point Laurent Perrier win the Tavendale & Partners Premier League Championship. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
She was absolutely delighted with how On the Point Laurent Perrier went over the show:
“I’m thrilled with how he’s stepping up to the bigger heights, and I couldn’t be happier with how he’s handling it, especially considering he’s still quite green. It’s been so exciting to watch his progress, and I’m really looking forward to what the future holds for us. A huge thank you to everyone involved for being so accommodating despite the wet weather and course designer Eryn Duffy who did everything possible to make great courses in very trying conditions”.
Always smiling! Ring 1 course designer Eryn Duffy. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
It was only a small field of three that took to the field to take home the title in the Property Brokers National Grand Prix, locally supported by Rangiora Vet Centre, Tamara Silcock riding Edward NZPH and Katie Meredith on ES Quincy and Sapphire SSNZ, but what a great competition it was. It was anyone’s game right until the final round, with each combination putting on a show. In the end, it was Tamara Silcock and Edward NZPH that rode away as the champions after keeping a clean slate for the entirety of the show. Katie was just over a rail behind, finishing in second place on ES Quincy on a total of 5.55 and in third on Sapphire SSNZ on 6.39.
Tamara Silcock and Edward NZPH win the Property Brokers Grand Prix Championship. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with Edward”, says Tamara, “It was his first start in a Grand Prix and although he made me work pretty hard being a little over keen, he tries super hard not touching a pole over five rounds. It was a very competitive class with all the horses jumping some great rounds in trying conditions”.
Jessica Hore entered the final rounds of the Gallagher Insurance 1.30m June Creswell Memorial Championship at the top of the leaderboard on four penalties and that’s how she finished it, after jumping clear in round D and E on Beaumont Cassanova. Molly Smith rode Dynavyte Caribou DL to second place with their score of 16.82, and Molly Buist-Brown in third on Inferno NZPH on a total of 16.98.
Jessica Hore and Beaumont Cassanova win the Gallagher Insurance 1.30m June Cresswell Memorial Championship. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
Rose Alfeld has burst back onto the scene after a short hiatus, and she rode away as the Nayton Mitchell Racing 1.20m Champion. Riding Copabella Camouflage, she finished the three days on just 2.56 penalties, with Amy McMullan and Wallingford Casino a fraction behind in second place on 2.84.
Rose Alfeld and Copabella Camouflage win the Nayton Mitchell Racing 1.20m Championship. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
Here’s what Rose had to say :
“It was weather only the ducks could enjoy! But the Nationals Committee did a great job of trooping on in trying conditions to put on a fabulous show. It’s taken me a while to get the hang of this wonderful horse, so it’s exciting to finally put it all together and get our first big win! He’s a horse with a lot of stamina, so the three day format really suited him and I’m super proud to produce five clear rounds in heavy conditions! We really appreciated the lovely tracks built by Eryn Duffy who did a great job of getting the best out of the ground”.
Eva Wylaars & Larabelle. Winners of the AMS Saddlery PGP National Championship. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
As the only starter in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix, in conjunction with Rangi Ruru NZ Pony Championship, Eva Wylaars only had the course to beat, which is a hard task in itself. Whilst it may not have been the way she wanted to be crowned champion, the whole Wylaars Equestrian team are very proud of their “little yellow pony”, Larabelle. A well-deserved title for this much loved pint sized superstar and her talented jockey.
Molly Buist-Brown and Pinnochio GNZ win the East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Breeding Series. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography
Onto the Series classes, Molly Buist-Brown couldn’t have asked for more when she not only took out the East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Breeding Series, locally supported by Ashburton Area Show Jumping, on Pinnochio GNZ (Candyman GNZ x Petit Croix GNZ/ Kiwi Lansing, bred by Golden Grove Stud), but also the New Zealand Warmblood Association Six Year Old Breeding Series on SLE Limoncello (Pennsylvania x NVME/ Voltaire II, bred by Jan Hunt).
Molly Buist-Brown & SLE Limoncello. NZ Warmblood Association Six Year Old Breeding Series National Champions. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
The NZPH Seven Year Old Breeding Series saw two take on the jump off, and it was Johanna Wylaars riding Demietta (Daminos x Octavia Queen/ Don Quattro), who came out on top. Both Johanna and Peita Milne aboard Karisma HSH (Indoctro x Daimante HSH/ Diarado, bred by Hokonui Sport Horses), picked up four faults in the jump off, but Johanna stole the win with the faster time.
Johanna Wylaars and Demietta win the Seven Year Old Breeding Series. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography
It was these results, plus more, that saw Golden Grove Stud announced as the winners of the Young Horse Breeders Bonus, awarded across the three Young Horse Series classes. Proudly sponsored by the NZ Breeders Group as a great chance to acknowledge the breeding programmes shaping the future of the sport.
Pip and Paul Ffoulkes from Golden Grove Stud, Young Horse Breeders Bonus Winners, with Penny Tapley, the Jumping Board Chair. Photo Credit to Michelle Clark Photography
Katharine Coleman and Double J Sunshine win The Brave Pants Company Pro Am. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
Katharine Coleman jumped the only double clear in The Brave Pants Company Pro Am, locally supported by Rainer Irrigation, to take the win on her faithful old mate, Double J Sunshine. In the same fashion, Casey Mackintosh won the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider on Grandeur ECPH with the only double clear.
Casey Mackintosh and Grandeur ECPH win the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
It was the battle of the sisters in the FMG Young Rider, locally supported by The Rider Shop, when Emma and Samantha Gillies were the only two to make it through to the jump off. Both jumped a double clear, but it was Emma aboard Benrose Black Jack who stopped the clock a couple of seconds faster than Samantha in the saddle of Lumarzo.
Emma Gillies and Benrose Black Jack win the FMG Young Rider. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
MF Lexicon would have earned himself a few carrots after the weekend, as not only was he one of the stars in the East’s Outdoor and Leisure Gisborne Young Rider Trans-Tasman teams’ event, but he also won the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider, locally supported by Tavendale & Partners, with his owner, Cherie Cournane, jumping the only clear round.
Cherie Cournane and MF Lexicon win the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
The South Island Final of the NZTR TiES Futurity saw a good number of starters come forward, all of which produced some great rounds over the Emma Barker designed track. The best of those was Celia Davis who rode Raise You Five (Raise the Flag x Molly Malone/Towkay, bred by F A Conway) away with the red ribbon after jumping the only double clear. In second place was Gee Whiz Joey (Jakkalberry x Cassie May / Red Clubs, bred by The Christopher Investment Trust),ridden by Lauren Enright who finished the two rounds on four faults, as did Kiera Inglis aboard Dream Brave (Super Easy x Dream Gift/Generous, bred by D M & D R McKenzie), but with a slightly slower time for third place.
Celia Davis and Raise You Five win the NZTR TiES Futurity South Island Final. Photo Credit to Michelle Clarke Photography.
For full results go to:
26 January 2026
The Jumping Team