Best of Best Kiwi Jumpers Head to Takapoto
Monday, 12 February 2024
New Zealand’s top showjumpers head to Maungatautari this week to compete at the boutique Takapoto Classic 2024.
Around 400 horses and riders from all over the country will go head to head at the nation’s premier equestrian venue. Frank Rothenberger designs courses the world over at the very best of competitions and he is back again, much to the delight of all. He’s a regular at CHIO Aachen, through to World Championships, the Global Champions Tour, 5* events and the Olympic Games. The FEI level 4 German designer is a huge fan of Takapoto and is again looking forward to testing the best of the Kiwis. Assisting him will be Eryn Duffy and Edward Bullock across the three arenas.
Competition gets underway on Tuesday with age group qualifiers and builds through to the grand finale with the Gold, Silver and Bronze tour finals at the weekend. There is also the Anne Symes Derby – a mixture of cross country and showjumping – held in honour of a very special horsewoman, and also the hotly-contested corporate teams' event.
While The Classic is very much all about the competition, there is a not-to-be-missed social side of the show that includes beautifully matched food from the estate, exquisite wines, and the much-anticipated GH Mumm Cocktail Party.
The Farm to Table Dining Experience on Thursday (February 15) brings together all the goodness that is produced in the soil at Takapoto – from the honey to the organic veggies, the Angus beef to the olive oil.
Winemaker Alex Coldicutt will give diners an inside appreciation of what has gone into producing each of the wines matched to the three courses.
Friday’s GM Mumm Cocktail Party sells out fast. This year’s Barbie-themed extravaganza is guaranteed to dazzle, especially with the return of the Sweet Mix Kids.
Saturday’s Anne Symes High Tea coincides with the showjumping derby. It’s a chance for people to relax in Takapoto’s premier marquee, enjoy a complimentary glass of GH Mumm while grazing on delectable bites of sweet and savoury, overlooking the competition on the Defender Grass Arena.
Both the Watch and Graze and VIP Grand Prix Finals lunch are already sold out. Each offers the best seats in the house to watch the very cream of the Gold and Silver tours battle it out for top honours. Ticketing information on the social events can be found on the website.
It’s free entry to the Estate from Tuesday through to Friday, with tickets available for Saturday and Sunday.
Takapoto director Mikayla Plaw can’t wait to open the gates to competitors and spectators alike this week. “The competition is always super exciting to watch and it’s great seeing so many people enjoying the property whether they’re soaking up the atmosphere or watching the jumping. Frank (Rothenberger) designs the kind of courses that keep riders on their toes and viewers in a highly suspenseful state at times, I must say. We love that Frank makes the effort to come all the way to New Zealand from Europe.”
The Plaw family’s Takapoto Estate sits serenely on the banks of Lake Karapiro and is lauded for its holistic approach to all it encompasses. The property is a sanctuary for native birds, with close to one million native trees planted over the years. The Estate is celebrated as the premier equestrian destination in New Zealand with a trio of superb surfaces for competition.
WHAT: Takapoto Showjumping Classic WHERE: Takapoto Estate, 90 Finlay Road, Maungatautari 3493 WHEN: February 13-18, 2024 MORE INFO AND TICKETS: www.takapoto.co.nz START LISTS AND RESULTS: www.main-events.com
