Young Gun Oliver Croucher had the first big win of his career at the Land Rover Horse of the Year Show this afternoon in a class steeped in tradition; the Norwood Gold Cup.
Riding his own Waitangi Surf, Oliver jumped clear in both of the two rounds, and nailed the win by having the fastest time in the second round against the other four who also recorded double clears.
The last to go, Briar Burnett Grant, last year’s winner of the Olympic Cup, looked like she had it in the bag but crash, down came the last fence. She ended up in 6th place. Another previous winner of the Olympic Cup, Lily Tootill and Ulysses NZPH finished second, 1.58 seconds behind Oliver. Brooke Edgecombe and LT Holst Andrea were third and Olympian Clarke Johnstone was fourth on Quainton Labyrinth. Last year’s Norwood Gold Cup winner Tom Tarver-Priebe was fifth after an unfortunate rail on Equifibre Popeye. That rail cost him another win as he had the fastest time.
“Insane!” was how Oliver described his win. “I don’t know what happened! This is my first ever win at the Horse of the Year!”
The 20-year-old coped well with the pressure of going into a competition with some of his heroes, riding with the goal of doing a clear round in preparation for his tilt at the Young Rider title on Friday. His win was a popular one, with plenty of encouragement from the side-line especially as he approached the last fence.
“I could hear the crowd roaring,” he said. “I dropped my reins at the last fence.”
Oliver has big hopes for the future. “I want to go as far as I can go. I am hoping it is all the way.” All he has ever wanted to do is showjump and ride horses.
The young rider is now based at Takapoto near Cambridge but doesn’t come from a background of horses. “My mum wanted to ride, but she was never allowed to have a horse,” he said. He got his start when his parents booked him into after-school care at a nearby farm which had horses in Kaharoa, in rural Bay of Plenty.
As for Waitangi Surf, Oliver says that she doesn’t know how to say no. “She’s quick, and I just have to let her do her job.”
The pair certainly did the job today, and was very deserving of their first win at the Land Rover Horse of the Year Show.
Six Year Old Class at Horse of the Year Saves the Best for Last
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The action-packed day of competition started out with the speedsters in the Premier arena with the horse speed class over 1.35m. It was won by Nakeysha Lammers on Balboa NZPH who was over four seconds faster than second placed Libby James on CoDicea with Emily Hayward and A P Ninja third.
The Pryde’s EasiFeed Six Year Old class was a great one to watch with 13 competitors making it through to the jump-off. Lily Tootill on Domino NZPH took the early lead, skimming around in a competitive time of 46.97. Logan Massie on his gelding, Double J Kelvin was second-to-last to go, and obviously meant business from the start, and while he made his rowdy sideline supporters gasp over the last, he nailed it with a time of 43.91 to be the winner. Jesse Linton was last to go and did record the fastest time of 43.44 but unfortunately had one rail so had to settle for a minor placing. Vicki Wilson on her impressive young stallion Daminos TWS also put in a thrilling performance to finish in third place with a clear jump-off.
Logan’s win was a popular one, and it was even sweeter given that the family had bred the horse who is by Double J Repicharge and out of JK Madam Seattle.
“I’ve had the last two years competing at this show without any great success,” Logan said, although to be fair prior to having a stint riding in Europe, he had won plenty of Horse of the Year titles including Pony, Junior and Young Rider.
“He’s a super rideable horse, he’s athletic, and will be well suited to sell overseas. I just hope I can keep him for another 12 months.” Logan is philosophical about selling such a promising young horse. “It’s my business to produce horses,” he said.
Logan is hoping his success continues at the show as he will be competing in the Silver Fern Stakes on Friday and then the main Horse of the Year competition on Sunday. “Winning those big ones, that is the plan!”
MAIN-EVENTS UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE
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The University Challenge was won by Melody Matheson on Cortaflex Illusion SSH.
PINTO
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In the Pinto arena, Chandar Dudding and B&W Double Shot Latte won the NZ Pinto Horse Society Inhand Youngster Pinto Pony of the Year (3 years and under). The Adult title went to Kimberley Blucher’s Motutangi Mischief. Sue Morrish’s Sizzle ‘n’ Hot Hustler won the Ridden Pinto Pony of the Year. Toni Louisson and Impresario MCW won the Ridden Pinto show horse of the year.
SHOW HUNTERS
The show hunter ring is also in full swing. Hannah McConnell and Billy Blunt won the Pony Category B High Points and Lauren Mitchel & Craighaven Black Heart won the Junior High Points. The Amateur High Points class was won by Stephie Joustra-Smith & Disney. Laura van Velthooven & Montbelle Donahue won the Open Hunter 1m.
This afternoon’s competition includes the Amateur final, and the Norwood Gold Cup.
