The 2019 Land Rover Horse of the Year Show has got off to a great start with perfect Hawkes Bay weather and some great jumping in the main arena.
Alex Loiselle and his horse Bandito NZPH took out the premier event this afternoon, the IRT horse 1.40m class.
It was a big field of over 70 competitors who set out to win, but the testing course designed by German Werner Deeg saw the field whittled down to just seven for the jump off.
Canterbury’s Tegan Fitzsimon on Windermere Cappuccino was the first to show everyone how it was done, but she elected not to start her star in the jump off, saving him for the bigger events later in the show including the New Zealand Horse of the Year on Sunday.
Drew Carsen was therefore the first of the riders with clear rounds to jump off, but she elected to retire her horse Winston V Driene after having two rails down. Julie Davey on Joligne De Carmel looked great and jumped clear in a time of 63.32 to take the lead. Belischi HM, ridden by Emily Hayward, with plenty of encouragement from the sideline, was faster than Julie on 61.54, but unfortunately had four faults. Tegan Fitzsimon on her second horse, Double J Monarch went even faster, finishing in 59.51 but had the first of the double down. Laura Inskter on Oporaes Jackamoe set out at a great rate, but had the second fence down. She kept her foot on the peddle though, and galloped down to the last to have a great time of 58.9.
The last competitor was Canadian Alex Loiselle and his Kiwi horse, Bandito NZPH. They jumped beautifully and their pace down to the last was breath-taking, but they jumped clear, and on a time of 57.29, were clear winners. Julie settled for second, with Laura, Tegan and Emily filling up the other placings.
Invercargill’s Nicole White and LC Samson and Cambridge’s Natasha Brooks and Twerk were unlucky to not make it to the jump off having jumped clear but both incurring one time fault.
The class also served as the qualifier for the Ultra-Mox Lady Rider of the Year and going on the way the women went today, that is going to be an exciting final on Thursday.
The only man in the jump-off, Alex was delighted with his win and his 8-year-old horse which he bought off his employer, NZPH last year. “He’s a fast horse, and after riding him last year for NZPH, I decided I needed to buy him.”
Alex is from Ottawa, Canada and has been in New Zealand long enough to do three Horse of the Year Shows. This was the first time Alex had the “Stand Up for the Champions’ song played for him however. Alex says he has his ‘dream’ job at NZPH in Ocean Beach and he is hoping to become a permanent resident soon.
He says this is the show that is always the first circled in his calendar. “There is no show like it in Canada. The number of horses and the diverse disciplines makes it unique. It is also the longest event in New Zealand.”
Alex hasn’t decided whether he will start Bandito tomorrow in the Bucas Silver Fern Stakes or just wait until the Canterbury Equestrian Premier Stakes on Saturday. He also has some young horses in the age classes.
Olympians in the Ribbons
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Olympian Clarke Johnstone had a good start to his Land Rover Horse of the Year show in 2019 when he took out the Horse 1.30 show jumping class on Watermill Glenneagle.
Another having a great first day was Emma Gaze who not only was runner up to Clarke with Woodland Bug, but was also fifth in that class on Fire Bug and then won the Horse 1.20m class on Kowhai Bug.
There are plenty of South Island riders up here, and there was a South Island quinella in the Aspiring Rider 16yrs & under 21yrs over 1.25m when Kate Beattie (Dunedin) won with Smartymarty, and Molly Buist-Brown (Canterbury) was second with Vali. Another South Islander, Jaimee Bird was fourth, with Nicolas O’Leary on Centiare in third place.
Vicki Wilson, who will be one of the stars on Friday night’s Hastings Heart of Hawkes Bay Extravaganza, was a star today in the show jumping arena, winning the Horse 1.10m-1.20m. The class was also the qualifier for the hotly-contested Amateur rider of the year.
Out competing today was another Olympian, Blyth Tait. He was in the 1.20m show jumping class on the horse he will be using to take on fellow Olympians Tim and Jonelle Price and Jock Paget in the Land Rover 4* eventing class. It was a good start to his partnership with Cor Jet, they finished 8th. He also finished 12th on his own horse, Havana, who he is also riding in the Land Rover 3* eventing class. Many of the eventers used this class as a build up to the eventing, which starts on Thursday with the dressage.
Welsh Section
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The pure bred Welsh in hand exhibit of the year went to Fenncourage Chirons Touch, for Amy Vujcich. Ty Gwyn Royal Monarch, with Tracee Powell was the part bred Welsh In hand exhibit of the year.
Dressage
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In the dressage, Gaylene Lennard and Jax Johnson took out the first Level 5 5C class from Wendi Williamson and Bon Jovi MH.
Show Hunter
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Over in the show hunter arena, Danielle Duncan and Rhythm N Gold won the Category A Open Pony 60 cm class. The 70cm class was won by Zara Gordon and Shadow Moonshine. Libby Wilson and Waimeha Tayza won the Category B 70cm class and Stephanie Schweizer and Kaimai Hippy Chick won the 80cm. The Category C 80cm class was won by Hollie Faloon and Farleigh Catterick.
Alison Harold and Freedom Fighter won the 5yo, 6yo & 7yo Hunter 1m and Stephie Joustra-Smith and Disney won the Amateur 1m class. Macey Gill and Astin Martin II won the Open Hunter 1.05 and Ella De Leeuw and Bling Du Rouet won the 1.10 class. The 1.15 class was won by Adante and Georgia Alexander.
