More Success for Sophie and Skynet
Sunday, 12 February 2023

Sophie Scott’s season just keeps getting better. The 21-year-old from Palmerston North this afternoon added the national horse grand prix crown to her trophy cabinet at the Tavendale and Partners New Zealand National Jumping and Show Hunter Championships in Christchurch.

It was a compact field for the Wilcox Perlas Potatoes NZ Grand Prix Championship (part of the EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix Series) but Sophie and her very in-form Waitangi Skynet left the rest of the field in their wake throughout the five grueling rounds of competition riding off with the prestigious Mary Daly Trophy for her efforts.

“He is the best ever,” Sophie said of her grey gelding. “I have only been with him a couple of seasons but he is consistent, tries so hard, and loves his job.”

The combination last month secured the POLi Payments World Cup final and have been in searing form all season. Last year the combination won the premier crown which was not contested at the 2023 National Championships. Tyler McKee (Gore) and Corrida were second today, with Oliver Croucher (Cambridge) rounding out a great champs in third place aboard Kingslea Couture.

Dreams came true this afternoon for Molly Smith (Geraldine) who with Vapour Trail NZPH pulled off the perfect clear round to take the honours in the Zealandia Horticulture NZ Pony Championship Title (part of the Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series) in the final round this afternoon.

“We are heading to the North Island in a couple of weeks to finish the season up there, but this is a great way to round out our South Island season,” she said. “It is something I have been dreaming of since I started showjumping so this is pretty special.” She thanked her “amazing” mum Kelly and the support crew who helped her every step of the way.

Finishing second was Johanna Wylaars (Christchurch) aboard Larabell, with Molly Moffatt (Christchurch) and Twyst & Shout in third.

The Crawford Hill Jewellery NZ National Five-Year-Old crown (part of the East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series) was won by Nicole White (Invercargill) and Danny DeVito ECPH (by Dallas VDL out of a Cardento VDL mare). Farrier Jack Ford (Kaikoura) and Masaii Mara GNZ (by Cartell GNZ out of a Littorio mare) won the NZPH and A1 Equine Reproduction NZ National Six-Year-Old (part of the UltraMox Six-Year-Old Series), after almost not starting.

“I walked the course and thought it was pretty big but thought I would just see how she warmed up. She loved it out there and really stepped up.” It only took a single clear round for Oliver Croucher (Cambridge) and Ricochet MVNZ (by Kannan out of a Cassini I mare) to take the Canterbury Equine Clinic NZ National Seven-Year-Old (part of the Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Series). The combination also won the Canterbury Equine Clinic Seven-Year-Old Style Prize on the opening day of the championships.

In the rider classes the Team Victoria NZ National Young Rider (part of the FMG Young Rider Series) went the way of Francesca Corich (Paraparaumu) and Bannockburn ECPH; the Majestic Horse Floats NZ National Junior Rider (part of the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series) was won by Emma Gillies (Oamaru) and Benrose Black Jack; with Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) aboard Carpe Diem taking out the Team Victoria NZ National Pro-Am Rider (part of the Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series; and Ashley Konig (Christchurch) and L’heure du vin winning the Love Racing NZ National Amateur Rider (part of the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series).

In the show hunter arena, Kirsty Ogilvie (Christchurch) and Shoot the Breeze won the Cheryl Bristow Bodywork NZ National Open Title; with the Carston Racing NZ National Amateur Title going to Melanie Morris (Loburn) aboard Kosciuszko; and Samantha Gillies (Oamaru) with Socrates De La Ve Z taking the Angel Divine NZ National Junior Show Hunter Title.

The Vero Insurance NZ National Cat A Pony crown went to Violet France (Canterbury) aboard Sarbec Solomon Song; Anna Smith (Wyndham) aboard Starlight Smarda won the Crichel Downs Potato Ltd – Guy and Jane Slater NZ National Cat B Pony Title; and the Josh Whittaker Equine Dental NZ National Cat C Pony Title went to Eva Wylaars (Christchurch) on My Buffalo Soldier.

WHAT: Tavendale and Partners New Zealand National Jumping and Show Hunter Championships
WHERE: Dunstan Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre, McLeans Island, Christchurch
WHEN: February 9-12, 2023
MORE INFO: Facebook – Tavendale and Partners New Zealand Jumping & Show Hunter Championship
START LISTS AND RESULTS: www.main-events.com