Molly Smith and Vapour Trail NZPH – Photo by Michelle Clarke
The Labour weekend brought mainly good weather and a jam packed few days of showjumping, kicking off with the sunny Hawke’s Bay A&P Show. Headlining the show was the first round of the FEI World Cup 2023-2024 series which was won by Sophie Scott and Waitangi Skynet. Full story here https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2023/10/skynet-soars-to-wc-opener-win/
Emily Oliver and Doctor Jones headed a two way jump off in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix, finishing just a couple of milliseconds ahead of Sofia Williams on Black Betty. Lucy Fell and the feisty Faratona STS were the only clear in the Harrison Lane Pro-Am to take the win, and Sophia Blackbourn aboard Roxette ECPH put in a solid couple of rounds to come out on top in the FMG Young Rider.
Kaleigh Kent on her ever-faithful Double J Sponge Bob Square Pants won their 3rd consecutive Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider, keeping them in the top spot in the series at this early stage of the season. While in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Penny Borthwick with Double J Breeze On jumped the only double clear to take the win.
In the Age Breeding Series Samantha Carrington & Double J Odin (Double J Repicharge x Barbarian – bred by the Double J Stud) impressed with a double clear to take the win in the NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction 7 Year Olds. Vicki Prendergast with her homebred Stiletto C (Cohinoor VDL x Powerfee) jumped the only double clear to take home the prize in the Equitak Excel 6 Year Olds. Ash Hart and Claire Wilson shared the prize pool in the East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Old Breeding Series, jumping double clear on Kiwi Sky (Capitano GNZ x Kiwi Legacy – bred by Fernhill Stud) and McMillans Coldstone (Dock x Lansing – bred by Ben Goldstone) respectively.
Heading to the top of the North Island, at the Northland Area Jumping Grand Prix Show, many riders were thankful for the opportunity to jump on grass for the first time in two years. The weekend brought rain, wind and eventually sunshine for the final day where Colleen Crous and Castiel Xtreme’s 4 fault effort was good enough to win the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix. Samantha Wakeling aboard BMW Sharpshooter jumped the only clear in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix for first place and Vicki Ridley with Mosaic II were also the only clear in the Harrison Lane Pro-Am.
The Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider saw three combinations coming back for the jump off with Maya Hegh and Corfu finishing on top. The Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider provided a two horse jump off with Emma Buckingham on Piccadilly Circus being the quicker of the two.
In the South Island, Show Jumping Canterbury hosted the Canter for Cancer Labour Weekend Jumping Carnival and also celebrated 40 Years of Show Jumping at McLeans Island National Equestrian Centre.
In the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix (Kinloch Farms), Lucinda Askin and Flying Dutchman DHU took home the win. The AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix (Saddlery Barn) saw Molly Smith on Vapour Trail NZPH cross the flags slightly quicker than Jade Miller with Eleanor Rigby. Quinn Coutts and LT Holst Harley were the only clear in the FMG Young Rider (Hussey Paint & Panel), as were Grace Percy and Sienna MVNZ in the NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction 7 Year Olds (Canterbury Saddlery).
The Harrison Lane Pro-Am (EquiMatch) and the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider (Tavern Harewood) produced exciting jump offs with Molly Buist Brown & her pocket rocket Hashtag FOMO and Sophie Townsend & Haupouri Heidi NZPH stopping the clock the quickest in each class respectively.
The Young Horse breeding series classes saw just one double clear in each. Johanna Wylaars and the Amberley House bred AH California Dreaming (E.S Centavos x Littorio) won the Equitak Excel 6 Year Old (Hazlett Ltd), and Sonya Benison & MF iSpy (Quality Time TN x Glenluce Abby ISH – bred by Cherie Cournane) won the East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Old (Canty Equine Clinic).
Further down the country was the Southland Labour Weekend Show. Sophie Fountain took the quinella in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix, with Benrose Starlight in 1st place and TC Pianoman in 2nd. Talia Allison and Mustang Mochaccino were the only double clear in the Harrison Lane Pro-Am, as were Kate Beattie on Smartymarty in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider.
The Trust House Jumping Wairarapa Show Jumping Championships finished off a successful long weekend of Show Jumping.
Sophie Scott continued her winning streak, taking out the Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix aboard her relatively new mount, Benrose Stellar. “I’m so happy with her today! We are really getting to know each other better and she is showing such consistency at this height which is exciting for our future”.
Chloe Roylance aboard Tallyho Cleopatra jumped the only double clear in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix, as did Bailey Lourie on Henton Serenade in the Harrison Lane Pro-Am.
Samantha Carrington on Double J Odin carried on their winning ways by yet again jumping the only clear in the NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction 7 Year Old Breeding class. Not to be outdone by her sister, Kimberley Carrington also brought home a red ribbon in the FMG Young Rider – jumping the only clear on her stunning stallion, Double J Typhoon.
Other winners include Jillian Watson and OhMyHolly (Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider), Eliza McDonald with De Silver Lining (Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider), Logan Massie aboard Gladiator ECPH (Grand Slam VDL x Ephebe For Ever, bred by ECPH) – Equitek Excel 6 Year Olds). In the East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Olds, Daniel Webb and WSJ Centaz (E.S Centavos x Anamour, bred by Webb Show Jumping), Logan Massie and Burley RF (Bentley van de Heffnick x Cassini II, bred by Rose Flats Equestrian) and Nicholas O’Leary on Chicane (Chacco Silver x Voltaire II, bred by Merrin Jaquiery).
For full results go to www.main-events.com and www.evoevents.co.nz
The Jumping Team – 24 October 2023