Jake Lambert finished his first-ever Bayer FEI World Cup New Zealand showjumping round just as he planned... at the front of the field.
Aboard nine-year-old Quality NZPH, the 19-year-old from Cambridge headed home a small quality field in the sixth round of the series at the Reflection Treatments Systems New Year World Cup Festival at Woodhill Sands today (Sunday).
Quality is the seventh New Zealand Performance Horse to win a world cup round... and that makes breeders Warwick and Juliet Hansen (Ocean Beach) very happy.
But today also belonged to Lambert and his parents Allan and Raewyn.
The family bought the horse as a five-year-old off Phillip and Sally Steiner (Tauranga). It was fellow world cup rider Catherine Cameron and Allan Lambert who picked him for a winner – Jake needed a little convincing.
No longer though!
Today they headed home two Olympic and World Champs riders in Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) and Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) who had to settle for second and third respectively... and fourth and fifth as well actually, with Cameron in sixth.
“It’s nice to know I can foot it with the best,” said Lambert.
While he was was a late entry into the class, he says the plan was always to start in the round at Woodhill.
Lambert, McVean aboard Horse of the Year Dunstan Daffodil and McIntosh on her imported mare Estina were all clear in the first round. Six combinations came back for the second, which saw McVean clear again in 48.29 seconds, followed by Lambert who was faster with 47.27 and clear. McIntosh was last of the trio of clears to go and paid for her super-quick 45.50 time with two rails, however, she was clear on her other horse Claire, to pick up third and fourth placings.
Lambert says he wasn’t psyched out by the company he was keeping.
“We just have a plan and stick to it,” he says. “At the end of the day, it’s just you and the fences.”
The family are looking towards the big crowns up for grabs at the NZ Horse of the Year Show in Hastings in March, but Lambert says the top priority is to look after their superstar horse.
“We’ve never been in a rush to push him, and it’s paid dividends.”
The class was the highlight of a very full two days of competition at the show, which attracted a record 600-plus horses.
Results -
Bayer FEI World Cup New Zealand showjumping series (sixth round): Jake Lambert (Cambridge) Quality NZPH 1, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Daffodil 2, Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) Claire 3, Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) Estina 4, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark 5, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Lights Out 6.
Pony Grand Prix: Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Mighty Maximus 1, Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) Hopeful Illusion 2, Emily Fraser (Takapau) Tony The Pony 3, Megan O’Grady (Tauranga) The Dreamer 4, Nakeysha Lammers (Northland) Airborne Magic 5, Hannah Bodle (Cambridge) Mister Brumbie 6.
KiwiSpan Junior Rider: Nakeysha Lammers (Northland) Cloud Nine 1, Josephine Schermacher-Larsen (Northland) Wurlitzer 2, Sophie Gow (Cambridge) Kabo Benny Boy 3, Lucy Allen (Cambridge) Witheze 4, Emily Fraser (Takapau) Kiwi Relic 5, Caitlin McKee (Hamilton) Kiwi Poppet 6.
Caledonian Amateur Rider: Laura McGregor (Cambridge) Mr McCloud 1, Michelle Wakeling (Waitemata) BMW Littorroan 2, Michelle Millar (Auckland) Cheleken Cassadora 3, David Collett (Waitemata) SFS Bold Prinz 4, Vanessa Vert-Smith (Waitemata) Jedi Sky Walker 5, Julia Ogilvie (Auckland) Take A Chance on Me 6.
STH Pro Amateur Rider: Shelley Ross (Waitemata) Alberta Tomba 1, Natasha Lammers (Northland) Tele-Star 2, Georgie Bull (Taupo) Bridget Bardot 3, Kelly Chapman (Waitemata) Kiwi Lotto 4, Carissa McCall (Auckland) Chit Chat PSH 5, Tracey Dalzell (Auckland) Lipeto 6.
Young Rider Series: Rosie Commons (Auckland) Glendara Chandon 1, Rebekah van Tiel (Auckland) Adeaze 2, Hannah Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Ngahiwi Telephonic 3, Sophie Burling (Northland) LR Ruegar 4, Jake Lambert (Cambridge) Quality NZPH 5, Hannah Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Carlotta 6.
Seven Year Old Series: Vicki Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Cadet MVNZ 1, Vicki Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Levado GNZ 2, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Breeze 3, Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) Super Nova NZPH 4, Natasha Brooks (Cambridge) Kapattack 5, Paula Mussen (Pukekohe) KK Tane Mahuta 6..
Mitavite Six Year Old Series: Philip Steiner (Tauranga) Tequila Sunrise NZPH , Jake Lambert (Cambridge) Mr Sparkles, Carolina Nogueira (Waitemata) Chrystal Mt Capoeira, Paula Mussen (Pukekohe) Ngahiwi Romeo NZ, Michelle Wakeling (Waitemata) BMW Littorroan =1.
Fernhill Stud Five Year Old Series: Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) NZ Franks Road 1.
Horse Grand Prix (one star): Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Zimorena G and Mathew Gilmour (Matangi) Belize Di Cantero =1, Lucy Olphert (Tauranga) Monty Python 3, Vicki Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Levado GNZ 4, Lisa Coupe (Kumeu) Bates Amaretto MVNZ 5, Mathew Gilmour (Matangi) Cuba D'Esquelmes Z 6.
-Diana Dobson, ESNZ Media Liaison
