Young Riders stole the show!

Brayden Aarts and Binverter had a good win in the Young Rider class

Hot weather and hot jumping at Woodhill Sands today. There were great entries in all classes, especially the lower levels where over 100 horses competed in the back arenas in some of the classes!

It was the great jumping in the the Fiber Fresh Feeds’ Young Rider class, sponsored by FMG, that provided the best entertainment to the good crowd on hand to watch. There were 13 clears in the first round. The fences certainly went up for the jump-off, but eight of the competitors were able to record a second clear round. It all came down to the clock, and it was Brayden Aarts on Binverter who was last to go and who had the fastest time (40.94) to take the win. The screams from his mother on the sideline certainly turned a few heads (and maybe even raised a few eyebrows!) as Brayden went through the finish flags!

Alanna Aarts – well pleased with her son’s win!

Brayden, too, was delighted with his win but was quick to point out that it was only yesterday when nine-year-old Binverter dropped him at the second fence in another competition. “It all depends on the day with him!”

This isn’t the first Young Rider win for Brayden, who is coached by Jeff McVean. He won a few last season and also won at Taupo’s Christmas Classic. He doesn’t plan on having a heavy season, as he is due to head to Holland in April for three months. He will be based with top show jumper Michael van der Vleuten to get some international experience.

Brayden Aarts, Binverter

Brayden started riding as an 11 year-old, first just trekking on his “cool and fun pony.”  He decided to try the sport when his mother, Alanna, expressed an interest in getting back into it. She had competed in both eventing and show jumping when she was younger.

Having two horses in the jump-off certainly paid off for Brayden, and he finished fifth on his other horse, George Jetson, who jumped first and jumped clear in the second round but with a slower time (43.2).

Mikayla Herbert, Grand Caballo

Emily Hayward recorded a fast clear with 41.2 on Yandoo Lady Gold and held the lead for some time, with Lily Tootill getting close on 42. They finished second and third respectively.  Riding her top horse, Ulysses NZPH, Lily has only just returned to competition, having broken her ankle a couple of months ago. “I was riding someone else’s horse at home, and it slipped over. My ankle isn’t fully fixed; my surgeon said I was allowed to ride, but I am not allowed to fall off!” she says. Lily won’t be competing in any of the top classes tomorrow but does think she can aim for the Horse of the Year in March.  “We also plan on going back to Australia after that.”

Lily Tootill, Ulysses NZPH

Todd Magner, from the West Coast of the South Island, was in fine form, winning the University series class yesterday on his lovely Awatuna Jonesy.  Todd, who won a number of titles at last February’s National Show Jumping Champs in Christchurch, has been based in Cambridge during the university holidays, working for Baker Racing, but is due to head back to Canterbury soon to recommence his studies and no doubt defend his titles next month at the Nationals.  He put in a good effort in the jump-off today, recording a time of 42.6 to finish fourth.

Todd Magner, Awatuna Jonesy

Parys Marshall from New Plymouth was the winner of the Maxlife Batteries / Country TV Pony Grand Prix on her lovely pony, Spot You Later. There were only two clears in the first round, and it ended up being two friends competing against each other for the win, both riding Appaloosa geldings! Ciel Butler and Showtym Boss had to settle for second after having a rail. Third went Tyla Hackett and her skewbald, The Dreamer.

Parys Marshall and Spot You Later

“This is my first rug,” said a delighted Parys afterwards.  She knew she had to jump clear to win, but wasn’t taking any chances with the time. “I tried to keep going a bit, in case of a rail, so I would be up on time.”  She was surprised there were only two clear rounds, but thought that the atmosphere may have contributed. “It is very different to what we have been competing in.”

Good friends Parys Marshall (Spot you Later) and Ciel Butler (Showtym Boss) 

Parys and ‘Buzz’ have been together for four years and, if she stops growing, she hopes to have another year on the pony. “He pulls back, but he gets away with it as he is so special,” she says.

The World Cup final is on tomorrow afternoon, with Lucy Olphert having drawn first to go in a field of 10.

Other results

FMG Young Rider
Sponsored by: Fibre Fresh Feeds
1 – BINVERTER & Brayden Aarts
2 – YANDOO LADY GOLD & Emily Hayward
3 – ULYSSES NZPH & Lily Tootill
4 – AWATUNA JONESY & Todd Magner
5 – GEORGE JETSON & Brayden Aarts

Country TV Pony Grand Prix Sponsored by: Maxlife Batteries
1 – SPOT YOU LATER & Parys Marshall
2 – SHOWTYM BOSS & Ciel Butler
3 – THE DREAMER & Tyla Hackett
4 – MISS MAE WEST & Sarah West
5 – HOMELAND HERO & Jessica Swailes
6 – MADDOX FUN HOUSE & Emma Watson

1.40m Classic Art
Sponsored by: Thoroughbred Floats
1 – COBRA DE CAPELLO & Lisa Cubitt
2 – SINATRA II & Tess Clark
3 – CERA CARUSO & Katie Laurie
4 – POPEYE & Tom Tarver-Priebe
5 – FRANGIPANNE DE TOXANDRIA & Samantha Morrison

Lisa Cubitt, Cobra De Capello

East Coast Performance Horse 5 Year Old Series
Sponsored by: Aniwell
1 – SELENA C & Vicki Prendergast
1 – DAMINOS TW 13 & Amanda Wilson
2 – WAITANGI FIREFOX & Samuel Kensington
2 – INTERPOL & Clarke Johnstone
2 – DODGE NZPH & Samantha Peters
2 – RICARDO & Laura Pratt
2 – DEJA VU NZPH & Paula Mussen

DAMINOS TW 13 & Amanda Wilson

Purepine Shavings 7 Year Old

1 – LA RIVIERE & Helen McNaught
2 – DOLLY BLUE & Clarke Johnstone
3 – PATRICIO EGO Z & Jasmine Sketchley
4 – REMARKABLE & Sarah Worker
5 – TWERK & Natasha Brooks
6 – LE BAM & Danielle Maurer

Helen McNaught, La Riviere

Mitavite 6 Year Old TA1
Sponsored by: Magnum Industries
1 – CATAPULT XTREME & Annabel Francis
1 – BMW NUMERO UNO & Michelle Wakeling
1 – LAMONDO GNZ & Logan Massie
1 – LOTTE & Rosie Commons
1 – CADENZA NZPH & Rose Alfeld
1 – MONTE CARLO MVNZ & Rachel Malcolm

Open Horse 1.10m Sponsored by: LG Forge
1 – BUNNY HOP & Jessica Collinson
2 – SHARAZADE DU TER & Karen Riddle
3 – DON PERIGNON & Maddison Bult
4 – TRES BONNE & Madison Smith
5 – WEITI VIENNA & Joanna Bullock

Open Pony 1.10m
Sponsored by: Ray Burmester Jewellery
1 – MARMALADE & Aoife Brennan
2 – WHAKAPIRAU CHERRY RIPE & Emma Noble-Campbell
3 – IAMWHATIAM & Tayla Mitchell
4 – SPOT THE DIFFERENCE & Liv Teixeira

Open Pony 95cm
Sponsored by: Woodview Construction
1 – MISCHIEVOUS ONE & Alexandra Henry
2 – STARLIGHT SMARDA & Fenella Skelton
3 – GOLDEN AD MALINKY & Maddison Greatorex
4 – SHOWTYM MAMMA MIA & Zara Robertson
5 – STARLIGHT IL DIVO & Fenella Skelton

Open Horse 1m

1 – EVIE II & Bronte Sewell
2 – MIDNIGHT TIKI & Gena Murray
3 – ES ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES & Sharon Klijn
4 – TALK OF THE TOWN & Andrea Holbrook
4 – INDIGO SUNRISE & Rochelle Litherland

Liam Rutland & Titan Warror competing in the Pony 95cm

Dunstan Horse Feeds & Equifibre Pro Am Series
Sponsored by: Torque Digital
1 – ALDIVO 2 & Jeremy Whale
2 – WOODLAND BUG & Emma Gaze
3 – LC TALENT & Karen Riddle
4 – ABSOLUTE NZPH & Natasha Imeson
5 – WESTMINSTER ROCK & India Causebrook

Open Pony 1.05m
Sponsored by: Maxlife Batteries
1 – SHOWTYM FALCON & Aimee Collinson
2 – MISCHIEVOUS ONE & Alexandra Henry
3 – STARLIGHT IL DIVO & Fenella Skelton
4 – BELLA VINCI DUET & Summer Denize
5 – HS BANK ON ME & Natasha Forsythe

Caledonian Amateur Rider Series
Sponsored by: Saddlery Warehouse
1 – MIRRABELLA PIPER & Chloe Van Den Boorn
2 – COUNTRY ZENA & Melanie Dudding
3 – LA PAZ & Tessa Ranger
4 – JUST JESS & Laura Pratt
5 – EL VIRA & Sandra Stanford-Soons
6 – STATIONMASTER & Tom Lane

Chloe Van Den Boom, Mirrabella Piper, winners of the Saddlery Warehouse Caledonian Amateur Rider Series

1.30m Art 238 2.1
Sponsored by: More Mag
1 – VAREKAI SL & Christine Cornege
2 – DR FEELGOOD & Elmo Jackson
3 – LC TELEPATHY & Karen Riddle
4 – ATHENA NZPH & Daniel Blundell
5 – MADAM COCO & Danielle Maurer

1.20m Horse Art
Sponsored by: Equissage
1 – STARLIGHT DALAMAN & Julia Johnston
2 – FIREBUG & Emma Gaze
3 – ALDIVO 2 & Jeremy Whale
3 – ANTIX & Laura Lush
5 – CHANCES R & Maddison Marshall

More photos are available on this link (for purchase too)

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