It seems patience and perseverance has paid off for Hikurangi horsewoman Vicki Wilson who won her first ever Ultra.Mox FEI World Cup class at the Fiber Fresh Taupo Christmas Classic.
The 27-year-old injured her back in late October and the ongoing pain and recuperation has forced her to limit her riding. Her young horses have been turned out and she targets just the big shows with her three best.
While she is the first to admit her nine-year-old horse Showtym Cadet MVNZ is a very special horse, her goal was just to jump the first round clear – instead, she won the class in style with two clear rounds.
“It’s just awesome,” said Wilson. “When we walked the course, it seemed some of it was quite technical and there were some big fences . . . which was surprising considering the conditions, but that didn’t even bother Cadet.”
However, the majority of the 10-strong field jumped the Kevin Hansen (Hastings) designed course well.
Wilson paid just over $500 for Cadet as a seven-year-old. “It’s a real rags to riches story – he could be an eventer too because he’s got all the moves.”
It’s even been suggested she take him offshore, but that’s not on her agenda at the moment.
The only other World Cup start the combination had, didn’t end well, and in her five other starts she has never managed a clear in that opening round.
“Once Cadet jumped that first round clear, I knew we could do it again. He just loved it out there – he’d been jumping well all weekend, and placed in both the 1.4m and 1.45m classes.”
Now she is looking towards the Farmlands Horse of the Year Show and the JB Olympic Cup. The combination won six one star grand prix together last year, including the North Island championship and at HOY, and this season Wilson has focused on stepping up to the bigger jumps.
“He’s pretty exciting all right
Eight combinations came back for the second round, but none could match Wilson’s clean slate. Former series winner Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) and Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark (owned by June Berrington) was second, with Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) and Carnutelabryere third, Laurie and Dunstan Breeze fourth, Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) and Shakespear NZPH fifth and Wilson sixth on Ngahiwi Showtym Premier.
In the National Showjumping Derby 1.35m today, Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) and Appleton blitzed the field to take victory in a two-horse jump-off.
First out was Philip Steiner (Paeroa) on Greg Jamieson’s stallion Volrath Chagall, who posted a double clear in 62.9 seconds. Weal and Appleton flew around to stop the clock at 58.07 with everything in place.
It was a big class for the BJ Merino Open Horse Derby 1.2m championship, with Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) and Kiwi Ironheart heading home 52 other combinations to take the title.
Olivia Ahlborn (Napier) and Aorangi Ragtime beat 21 other combinations to take out the Ray Burmester Open Pony Derby 1.2m-1.3m.
The Christmas Classic ran from Thursday to Saturday, with National Derby Day today.
Results -
Ultra.Mox FEI World Cup: Vicki Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Cadet MVNZ 1, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark (owned by June Berrington) 2, Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) Carnutelabryere 3, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Breeze 4, Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) Shakespear NZPH 5, Vicki Wilson (Hikurangi) Ngahiwi Showtym Premier 6.
Main-Events New Zealand Universities Jumping Championship: Sarah Young (Tokoroa) Belize Di Cantero 1, Melody Matheson (Hastings) Roulette MH 2, Samantha Bult (Auckland) Samuel Something and Nicola Peat (Clevedon) Varzuga =3, Freya Gordon (Havelock North) Leo Chocolat 5, Lucy Allen (Morrinsville) Witheze 6.
Telford Junior Rider: Nakeysha Lammers (Whangarei) Skewy 1, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Ngahiwi Kapka 2, Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Double J Cloud 9 3, Anna Kincheff (Rotorua) Red Socks 4, Lucy Bull (Tuakau) Chequebook 5, Laura Lush (Auckland) Macavee 6.
ESNZ Pro Amateur Rider: Lucy Olphert (Hamilton) Eve Saint Laurent 1, Brooke Zander (Waipukurau) Double J Rumours 2, Danielle Maurer (Auckland) Cassanova AF 3, Mark Weedon (Auckland) Mr Jerraco 4, Geordie Bull (Taupo) Forest Hill 5, Chloe Akers (Opiki) Kiwi Motto 6.
Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider: Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Ngahiwi Telephonic 1, Melody Matheson (Hastings) Roulette MH 2, Natasha Brooks (Cambridge) Kapattack 3, Nakeysha Lammers (Whangarei) Waldorf 4, Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) Appleton 5, Lily Tootil (Karaka) Ngahiwi Cruise 6.
Caledonian Amateur Rider: Graeme Isaacson (Waipukurau) Lykon 1, Carol Stewart (Tokoroa) Hit Parade 2, Marcus Rose (Dannevirke) Flashover 3, Joanna Bullock (Auckland) Weiti Justice 4, Laura McGregor (Auckland) Mister Macloud 5, David Goodin (Te Kauwhata) Rastas Rebel 6.
East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old: Philippa Duley (Walton) Old King Cole 1,
Mitavite Six Year Old: Tasha Brown (Tauranga) Temukin, Lucy Olphert (Hamilton) Eve Saint Laurent, Tom Tarver-Priebe (Kawerau) Fiesta MVNZ, Carol Stewart (Tokoroa) Hit Parade and Heloise Tolo (Wellington) Vapour Trail NZPH =1.
Goldengrove Stud Seven Year Old: Lucy Olphert (Hamilton) Connoisseur 1, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Ultra Blue NZPH 2, Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Larinium LS 3, Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) Ulyssess NZPH 4, Rebecca Porter (Napier) Kiwi Jet 5, Lucy Bull (Tuakau) Westhay Grace 6.
ESNZ Jumping Pony Grand Prix: Olivia Miller (Te Puke) Kaycee Mackay 1, Maddison Bult (Auckland) Pioneer High Jinx 2, Elmo Jackson (Auckland) Simply Samantha HH 23, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Pioneer Jade 4, Shanae McKay (Levin) Kabo So Far 5, Georgia Ross (Manukau) Maserati II 6.
Fiber Fresh Taupo Classic: Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Frangipanne de Toxandria 1, Lisa Cubitt (Cambridge) Bates Amaretto MVNZ 2, Jono Smith (Waimauku) SP Vision 3, Vicki Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Cadet MVNZ 4, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Campione GNZ 5, Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) Toulon NZPH 6.
Country TV Christmas Classic Horse Power and Speed Championship: Nakeysha Lammers (Whangarei) Waldort 1, Melody Matheson (Hastings) Roulette MH 2, Natasha Lammers (Whangarei) Tele-star 3, Samantha Peters (Whangarei) Casali 4, Rose Alford (Leeston) My Super Nova 5, Hannah Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Cormina Obolensky 6.
Fiber Fresh National Showjumping Derby 1.35m: Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) Appleton 1, Philip Steiner (Paeroa) Volrath Chaglaa 2, Briar Burnett-grant (Taupo) Ngahiwi Telephonic, Geordie Bull (Taupo) Forest Hill, Jackie Jermyn (Hamilton) Landenfeld and Elle Phillips (Hamilton) Shan Dynasty =3.
Ray Burmester Jewellery Open Pony Derby 1.2-1.3m: Olivia Ahlborn (Napier) Aorangi Ragtime 1, Elmo Jackson (Auckland) Simply Samantha HH 2, Olivia Miller (Te Puke) Kaycee Mackay, Sharnaye Lammers (Whangarei) Watch Me Move, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Kabo Silver, Jaimie Jeffersen (Ngaruawahia) Envious Edition, Shanae McKay (Levin) Kabo So Far and Sharnaye Lammers (Whangarei) Airborne Magic =3.
BJ Merino Open Horse Derby 1.2m: Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Kiwi Ironheart 1, Sophie Richards (Taupo) Ngahiwi Elvis 2, Ruth Hone (Opotiki) Shoeshine Nugget 3, Emma Gaze (Cambridge) Jitterbug 4, Maddison Bult (Auckland) Good Golly Miss Molly, Desiree Foxley (Hastings) Darceeduncan, Denver Ingram (Dannevirke) Ratu, Olivia Sutton (Pukekohe) Henton Faberge and Julia Nicholson (Auckland) Cheekie Boy =5.
