Todd Magner and Awatuna Jonesy “pulled something out of the bag” today at the National Equestrian Centre in Christchurch when they won the Equissage / Kinlock Farms Horse Grand Prix.
Todd, a 21 year-old Agricultural Commerce student, has been riding the 12-year-old Awatuna Jonesy for some time now, and the pair have developed a very strong partnership. “This is the first win we have had in Grand Prix,” said Todd afterwards. There will be no time for celebrations however as Todd has an exam to sit tomorrow morning. Todd is currently based in Christchurch while he is attending university, but original hails from the West Coast. Fellow West-Coaster, Penny Jones, who owns the Littoria gelding, was on hand to walk the course with Todd and give him some pointers. Penny has coached Todd for many years, from back in Pony Club days, achieving a lot of success in pony club teams events including winning the prestigious NZPCA Eventing Championships.
Rosa Buist-Brown decided to step Vali up to Grand Prix today after performing very well on the first day of the Show Jumping Canterbury’s Labour Weekend Carnival, and was delighted to be placed second after producing the only clear round in the first round. However a rail in the second round and a slower round than Todd’s second (and clear) round meant they had to settle for second. Kimberley Bird and Cera Cassina were third.
In the Country TV / Saddlery Barn Pony Grand Prix, it was the consistent pair Sophie Geddes and Te Ngaio Raggamuffin who triumphed. “This is the third Grand Prix win we have had out of three starts this season,” said Sophie afterwards. The pair are heading to Blenheim next weekend for the Marlborough show, and then plan on competing back in Canterbury to build up for the National Show Jumping Championships in mid-January at McLeans Island.
The Lex Peddie designed course proved quite a challenge for the ponies with no double clear rounds in the two-round competition. “It was definitely the hardest we have had this season,” said Sophie. “The lines were really tough.” The other riders to also have clear second rounds included Johanna Wylaars on Wembleybrook Tiffany who finished in second place, and Meg Bisset on Freestyle Twyst and Shout, who finished third.
Earlier in the day, Bella Taane and Kennebrook Jester won the Pony Mini Prix, capping a great month for this pair who were part of the winning Kaiapoi team in the Springston Trophy eventing competition at the beginning of the month and also being placed at the South Island Three Day Event.
The Tavern Harewood Horse Mini Prix was won by Lincoln’s Steffi Whittaker and On the Point Eve with a brilliant clear round, the only one in the competition. “This was only my third show this season,” said the talented young rider. “I’ve just come back from being in Europe with Daniel Meech, and then I was in Australia in the South Island Young Riders team.” Steffi decided to hold off starting Eve in the main class this weekend as a result, but intends to step up soon to the higher level. “I am definitely aiming to start her in the Grand Prix for the Nationals!”
Waipara’s Emily Barton was the winner of the NRM Open Horse High Points 1.10m competition in the show hunter section. Riding My Countess, Emily was especially pleased as she had only recently stepped up to this level. “I’ve had a few placings and wins at lower levels with My Countess, and we were second in the 1m National Championships Amateur title last year.” The pair have a special relationship. Emily saved the mare off the dog-tucker truck as a yearling, and has had the now ten-year-old ever since. She is planning on competing at this year’s Nationals in the top show hunter classes, and if things go well, on to the Horse of the Year Show in March.
Show Jumping Canterbury’s next show is the Christmas Cracker show on 6-8 December 2019. The National Show Jumping Championships show is also being held in Christchurch on the 16-19 January 2020.
Open Horse 2 Phase 90cm
1. Aquila's Altair & Alison Sutton
2. La Banca & Emma Simpson
3. Magnitude & Jess Land
4. Always Jamming & Rebekah Welsford
5. Landslide Victory & Chloe Askew
6. Enigma Dhu & Larissa Corboy
7. The Governor & Julia Johnston
8. Apollo Wl & Olivia Shinn
Open Horse 2 Phase 1.0m
1 - Royal Ambition & Renee Ussher
2 - Copper Tone & Larissa Corboy
3 - Enigma Dhu & Larissa Corboy
4 - Indian Burt & David Hutton
5 - Attaboy & Desley Haas
6 - Quantico Gnz & Makenzie Causer
Pony Mini Prix Am5 1.15m-1.20m
1 - Kennebrook Jester & Bella Taane
2 - Dingmac Disco King & Johanna Wylaars
3 - Tallyho Maestro & Hanna Lowe
4 - Glenarden Sky High & Molly Moffatt
5 - Code Spree & Hanna Lowe
6 - Tui's Tennessee & Sophie Pickens
Matthews Hanovarians 7 Year Old Am5 1.30m
1 - Dolly Nzph & Kirstin Beaven
Equissage In Conj With Kinloch Farms Horse Grand Prix 1.40-1.50m
1 - Awatuna Jonesy & Todd Magner
2 - Vali & Molly Buist-Brown
3 - Cera Cassina & Kimberley Bird
Horse Championship Am5 1.25m
1 - Shoot The Breeze & Kirsty Sharapoff
2 - Rockquest & Larissa Corboy
3 - Dingmac Eccles & Rebecca Wardle
4 - The Prosecutor Gnz & Katie Meredith
5 - Albert & Bridget O'sullivan
6 - Kingslea Kiwi & Sophie Townsend
Horse Championship Am5 1.15m
1 - Finch Farm Corsage & Makenzie Causer
2 - Gosh Yam It Gnz & Emma Power
3 - Whakanui De L Amore & Tamara Coster
4 - Paintball & Georgia Allison
5 - Se Gorky Park & Brent Jury
6 - Mojito Gnz & Emma Power
Open Horse 2 Phase 1.10m
1 - Ka Pai Kiwi & Jordan Shrimpton
2 - Private Line & Kelcie Bradley
3 - Tms Vincenzo & Tessa Silcock
4 - Golden Mile & Adam Ford
5 - Lavanda & Amy Mcmullan
6 - Ss Powerhouse & Sophie Smith
East Coast Performance Horses In Conj. With Canterbury Equine Clinic 5 Yo A1 1.10m
1 - Quantico Gnz & Makenzie Causer
1 - Tms Tulip & Tessa Silcock
1 - Augustus B & Tamara Silcock
1 - Wildheart & Sophie Townsend
1 - Vulcan Gnz & Katie Meredith
Open Horse A5 2 Phase 1.20m
1 - Waitangi Wifi & Jakob Pascoe
2 - Lamaze & Becky Harkerss
3 - Patrick Star Of Steel & Isabelle Ussher
4 - Se Gorky Park & Brent Jury
5 - Acolade Hsh & Harry Feast
6 - Quantum Queen Gnz & Lauren Buckley
Esnz In Conj With Hazlett Rural 6 Year old 1.20m
1 - Windermere Lion Heart & Sarah Parkes
1 - Mojito Gnz & Emma Power
1 - Bellick St & Rosa Buist-Brown
Equi-Lise Pony Points 1.10m Championship Am5
1 - Missing Pieces & Summer Borrie
2 - Its A Gamble & Caitlin Moran
3 - Moon Spirit Treasure & Josie Greer
4 - Harrison James & Chloe Martin
5 - Ace & Lily Plunkett
6 - Mr Black Magic & Molly Smith
Horse Championship Am5 1.05m
1 - Eerie Lass & Kareen Klinac
2 - Arctic Invader & Harriet Gardner
3 - Little Bad Girl & Emily Burrows
4 - Amarn & Siara Harmon
5 - Sr Livingstone & Jaime Currie
6 - Coco La Lune & Kerry Winterbourn
