Australian’s young rider team rallied today in the final of the Trans Tasman clash, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Kiwis claiming glory at the Larsen Sawmilling Showjumping Championships in Gisborne.
The New Zealand team – Melody Matheson (Hastings), Olivia Robertson (Christchurch), Emily Fraser (Feilding) and Sam Morrison (Tauranga) – headed into the third and final day with an unassailable lead but, with nothing to lose the Australians – Jock Rice-Ward, Georgie Siciliano, Jamie Priestly and Sam Buchanan – gave it their all, saving a little dignity and taking the third day’s competition.
Australian chef d’equipe and coach, Michelle Lang-McMahon was full of praise for her young charges and the hospitality they had received while in New Zealand.
New Zealand assistant coach Helen McNaught-McFarlane was also rapt with her riders, three of whom had been on the losing side to Australia when the teams last met.
Robertson added to her success at the show with a solid victory in the Equissage Horse Grand Prix. Six of the 11 starters over the John Vallance (Australia) designed course came back for the jump-off.
Robertson and DH’s Ceniki had the advantage of being last to go, but it was still no cruise to victory. She guided her European import to a lovely clear in 36.09 seconds.
Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) and Dunstan Springfield, jumping his first grand prix in some time, was deceptively fast over the ground to his clear in 36.28, to place second, with Matheson and Landenfeld third with their clear efforts in 36.85.
The hotly-contested Country TV Pony Grand Prix saw Rotorua teen Oliver Croucher take on a trio of very talented young ladies in Charlotte Amos (Matamata), Maddison Bult (Kumeu) and Tyla Hackett (Waiuku) in the jump-off.
Croucher had two horses, and was out second with Redcliffs Galeforce when he notched a super clear in 35.11 seconds. He had followed Amos and Captain Nemo who laid the challenge with her clear in 38 seconds.
Hackett and Iamwhatiam looked to be giving his time a good nudge but the sparky little chestnut didn’t want to jump the wall, costing time and gaining faults. Croucher came back with Delta JD and was again clear, but time in 35.29.
Last out was Bult who took the first of the double to finish on four faults in 36.17.
Croucher said he knew he had to be right on the money to beat the other three riders in the jump-off of the 14-strong class.
“They are all very good riders,” he said.
And he was stoked to win on Galeforce, who he describes as the greenest of his ponies, but the one with the most scope.
It’s his last season in the pony ring and he hopes to go out on a high with success in the Pony of the Year class at the Farmlands Horse of the Year Show in March.
Results -
Trans Tasman Young Rider Test: New Zealand 3 faults – Melody Matheson
(Hastings) Kiwi Exalt 0,4; Olivia Robertson (Christchurch) Cool Encounter 4, 4; Emily Fraser (Feilding) King Solomon 8, 4; Sam Morrison
(Tauranga) Kitchwa 0, 8.
Australia 6 faults – Jock Rice-Ward, Vidal NZPH 12, 12; Georgie Siciliano, Mr Wiggle 0, 4; Jamie Priestley, Vintage NZPH 0, 4; Sam Buchanan, Dunstan Eye Catcher.
Total (final after three days of competition) – New Zealand 16, Australia 13.
Showjumping, Equissage Open Horse Grand Prix: Olivia Robertson
(Christchurch) DH’s Ceniki 1, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Springfield 2, Melody Matheson (Hastings) Landenfeld 3, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) WTF Cabello 4, Glen Beal (Pukekohe) Sacramento 5, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Lucca 6.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Redcliffs Galeforce 1, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Delta JD 2, Charlotte Amos
(Matamata) Captain Nemo 3, Madison Bult (Kumeu) Pioneer High Jinx 4, Tyla Hackett (Waiuku) Iamwhatiam 5, Olivia Ahlborn (Napier) Aorangi Ragtime 6.
Caledonian Amateur Rider Series: Graeme Isaacson (Dannevirke) Pokere 1, Merran Hain (Gisborne) Untouchable 2, Caroline Sutherland (Whakatane) Letty 3, Caroline Parkes (Wairoa) Pakarae Lass 4, Jenny Randall, Nero Bello 5, Sophie Dever (Kotemaori) Two Face 6.
Main-Events University Series: Rebecca Porter (Hastings) Mr Harrison 1, Samantha Bult (Kumeu) Samuel Something 2, Claudia Porter (Hastings) Joiahara 3, Lucy Win-Hewetson, Karakia 4, Fern McIldowie, Silver Fish 5, Catherine Alabaster (Bunnythorpe) La Luna Rossa 6.
ESNZ Seven Year Old Series: Helen Kippen (Ocean Beach) Velocity NZPH 1, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Dorothy 2, Caroline Kennedy
(Cambridge) Smoken Up 3, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Eye Catcher 4, Elle Phillips (Hamilton) Raibeart Bruis 5, Tom Tarver
(Kawerau) Fiesta MVNZ 6.
Let’s Bale Pro Amateur Rider Series: Lucia Voss (Kawerau) Treasure Blue NZPH 1, John Cottle (Auckland) LT Eloquence 2, Donna Aitkenson (Te
Puke) Brixie 3, Ella Varcoe (Auckland) Astek Incohoots 4, Lucia Voss
(Kawerau) Roxy NZPH 5, Marcus Rose (Dannevirke) Flashover 6.
Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider Series: Laura Inkster (Papakura) Oporaes Jackamoe 1, Sam Morrison (Tauranga) Frangipanne de Toxandria 2, Olivia Robertson (Christchurch) DH’s Ceniki 3, Laura Inkster
(Papakura) Strathcarron Zaurak 4, Will Moffett (Napier) Centrico 5, Emily Fraser (Feilding) Kiwi Sunray 6.
Mitavite Six Year Old Series: Jenny Randall (Gisborne) Nero Bello, Fraser Tombleson (Gisborne) Mea 1 and Melissa Marriner (Auckland) Big Bird =1.
East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Series: Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Delta, Dannie Maurer (Auckland) Le Bam and Dannie Maurer (Auckland) Henton Exchequer =1.
Telford Junior Rider Series: Matt Irvine (Takapau) Oscar Star 1, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Kiwi Rocket 2, Annabelle Gourlie (Hastings) Mosaic II 3, Brayden Aarts (Tuakau) George Jetson 4, Sinead Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Silverkee 5, Sarah McKinnon (Wairoa) Matilda II 6.
Show hunter, NRM Pony Rider Equitation 80cm: Claudia Thomas (Rotorua) Libby Pops Gift 1, Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) Good Golly Miss Lolly 2, Hannah Garwood (Rotorua) Princess Phoenix 3, Grace Stevenson (Hastings) Maxwellton Dashing Dougall 4.
Aniwell Open Pony Highpoints 80cm: Anna Rasmussen (Hastings) Triple Star Touch of Colour 1, Tessa Wallace (Hastings) Oporaes Sky High 2, Claudia Thomas (Rotorua) Libby Pops Gift 3, Dylan Bibby (Onga Onga) Half Pie 4.
Burger King HOY Qualifier Pony Highpoints 70cm: Greta Margo Apatu
(Waipukurau) Bexley Lodge Tinkabella 1, Hanna Garwood (Rotorua) Princess Phoenix 2, Grace Stevenson (Hastings) Maxwellton Dashing Dougall 3, Amelia Newsom(Tauranga) Moon Spirit Jitterbug 4.
Equissage HOY Qualifier Pony Highpoints 70cm: Jessica McCann (Gisborne) The Inkskinator 1.
Gyro Plastics Junior Highpoints HOY Qualifier 1m: Jessie McNeil (Tolaga
Bay) Air Hill Squaw Valley 1, Lucy Win-Hewetson (Gisborne) Tangaroa 2, Olivia Ahlborn (Napier) Aorangi Kashka 3, Toby Wallbank (Gisborne) Pikirangi Zigzag, Tylah Amrein (Tauranga) Real McCoy NZPH and Toby Wallbank (Gisborne) Kingsway Meg Rose =4.
Canterbury Equestrian Amateur Hunter Highpoints HOY Qualifier 1m: Merran Hain (Gisborne) Untouchable 1, Janet Eggleton (Whakatane) Zipster 2, Rebecca McPhail (Gisborne) Sicily 3, Megan Dever (Hawke’s Bay) Betty 4.
Coca Cola Junior Rider Equestrian 1m: Jessie McNeil (Tolaga Bay) Air Hill Squaw Valley 1, Toby Wallbank (Gisborne) Kingsway Meg Rose 2.
ESNZ Adult Rider Equitation 1m: Melissa Marriner (Karaka) Big Bird 1.
Country TV Open Horse Highpoints 1.1m: Merran Hain (Gisborne) Untouchable 1, Tylah Amrein (Tauranga) Real McCoy NZPH 2, Janet Eggleton
(Whakatane) Zoombini 3, Jessie McNeil (Tolaga Bay) Air Hill Squaw Valley 4.
Burger King HOY Qualifier Pony Highpoints 80cm: Greta Margo Apatu
(Waipukurau) Bexley Lodge Tinkabella 1, Grace Stevenson (Hastings) Maxwellton Dashing Dougall 2, Anna Rasmussen (Hastings) Phonecian Chit Chat 3, Hannah Garwood (Rotorua) Princess Phoenix 4.
NRM Pony Rider Equitation 80cm: Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) Good Golly Miss Lolly 1, Hannah Garwood (Rotorua) Princess Phoenix 2, Claudia Thomas
(Rotorua) Libby Pops Gift 3, Anna Rasmussen (Hastings) Triple Star Touch of Colour 4.
Aniwell Open Pony Highpoints 90cm: Claudia Thomas (Rotorua) Libby Pops Gift 1, Olivia Apatu (Waipukurau) Tawa 2, Phoebe Williams (Gisborne) Mr Ernesto 3, Dylan Bibby (Onga Onga) Daisy Patch 4.
Gyro Plastics Junior High Points HOY Qualifier 1m: Jessie McNeil (Tolaga
Bay) Air Hill Squaw Valley 1, Tylah Amrein (Tauranga) Real McCoy NZPH 2, Olivia Ahlborn (Napier) Aorangi Kashka 3, Toby Wallbank (Gisborne) Pikirangi Zigzag 4.
Canterbury Equestrian Amateur Hunter Highpoints HOY Qualifier 1m: Janet Eggleton (Whakatane) Zoombini 1, Janet Eggleton (Whakatane) Zipstar 2, Merran Hain (Gisborne) Untouchable 3, Ashleigh Forde (Havelock North) My Gummi Bear 4.
Coca Cola Junior Rider Equitation 1m: Jessie McNeil (Tolaga Bay) Air Hill Squaw Valley 1, Toby Wallbank (Gisborne) Kingsway Meg Rose 2.
ESNZ Adult Rider Equitation 1m: Melissa Marriner (Karaka) Big Bird 1, Janet Eggleton (Whakatane) Zipstar 2, Ashleigh Forde (Havelock North) My Gummi Bear 3.
Country TV HOY Qualifier Open Horse Highpoints 1.1m: Tylah Amrein
(Tauranga) Real McCoy NZPH 1, Merran Hain (Gisborne) Untouchable 2, Janet Eggleton (Whakatane) Zoombini and Melissa Marriner (Karaka) Big Bird =3.
