Maurice Beatson – still hot!

The four-day show was certainly deemed a big success, with rave-reviews continuing about the venue.

Maurice Beatson celebrating his win on Gold Locks (Image: Libby Law Photography)

Maurice Beatson may have been the oldest competitor for the premier event at the inaugural Takapoto Estate show but that didn’t stop him taking the honours.

Maurie was the last of 10 combinations through to the jump-off in the Grand Prix – the leaderboard was stacked at the top by three visiting Australians. Riding his eight-year-old homebred mare Gold Locks, he carried the weight of the crowd with him as he cleared jump after jump on Gerrit Beker’s course, in the class sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds and EquiFibre.

Maurice Beatson and Gold Locks heading to a good victory (Image:  Libby Law Photography)

An Olympian and World Championship representative, Maurie is always one of the fiercest competitors in any field and was over the moon with the win. “I backed myself for a clear,” he says. “She felt good today jumping, but it is always hard work.”

The Dannevirke farmer was clear in the first round, and took the first of the double in the jump-off, but tried to ensure he covered the time well. It is Gold Lock’s second jumping season and, says Maurie, “So many had the opportunity to buy her but they didn’t – it was my good fortune!”

Second place went to visiting Aussie, Brooke Langbecker, aboard her lovely chestnut warmblood stallion Quintago I; these two were also on four faults. Fellow-Australian Clint Beresford and Emmaville Jitterbug were third on eight faults, with Stuart Jenkins – also from Australia – fourth on Fairview Aliquidam.

Brooke Langbecker and her lovely stallion, Quintago I (Image: Libby Law Photography)

All place-getters were hugely complimentary to Mitch and Kate Plaw and their vision to create such a world-class showjumping venue.

Emma Watson (Morrinsville) and her delightful Maddox Fun House won the Country TV Pony Grand Prix after a heart-stopping jump-off against Olivia Apatu (Hawke’s Bay) aboard Alasaan Arzu.

Emma thought it was all over when she dropped the final rail: “I was gutted. I thought that was it, when that last fence fell. We had a pretty good round until then.”

Emma Watson and Maddox Fun House win the Pony Grand Prix (Image: Libby Law Photography)

The big open arena called for good fitness from the combinations. Olivia was clearly chasing a relatively careful clear but came unstuck early and ended with 12. Third, fourth and fifth places were filled respectively by four-faulters Sarah West (Matamata) aboard Miss Mae West, Peita Milne (Nelson) on BG Lennox and Ally Carson (Putaruru) with Tiger Tale LS.

Isabella du Plessis cruised to victory in the Junior/Amateur Horse Tour 1.15m final notching a double clear aboard Fernhill Zinzan. She and Joanne Bridgeman on Junior were the only two combinations to go double clear in the hotly-contested class. Young Isabella stopped the clock at 43.42 seconds, with “somewhat older” Joanne coming home double clear in 51.25 seconds. Third to fifth places were filled by the four-faulters, with Shyanne Eagle and Castano II third, Olivia Apatu and Astek Napoleon fourth and Catherine Fawcett-McNaughton on Golden Girl MVNZ fifth. Georgina Forsyth with Joia Hara, Lidy Loffler with Graceful, and Natalia Lammers on Petanque, had eight-faults apiece to fill sixth, seventh and eighth places.

Our Nations Cup Abu Dhabi winners: Daniel Meech, Bruce Goodin; Samantha McIntosh; Richard Gardner. (Image: Libby Law Photography)

Laura Inkster and Oporaes Jackamoe may have been sidelined for six weeks but they certainly made their comeback in style, winning the Bronze Tour Horse 1.25m final. “I am really happy,” says Laura, who was concussed after a fall in a warm-up class at the World Cup final show in Waitemata. But today she managed to sneak in to take the class by three hundredths of a second ahead of Katie Laurie and Esteban MVNZ. Laura and Oporaes Jackamoe have been together six years and have become a solid combination. Clarke Johnstone and Watermill Glenneagle were third, Kimberley Bird and Euro Champagne fourth, Tess Clark and Cadbury fifth, Sarah West on ERL Grey II sixth, Tessa Ranger on Alezan Chablis seventh and Alexa Randall on Louis eighth.

The teams in the WEG triathlon fundraiser included the victorious NZL riders from Abu Dhabi CSIO5* Nations Cup, the Black Sticks and NZ Cycling. (Image: Libby Law Photography)

More than $30,000 was raised in an auction for the New Zealand team to compete at the FEI World Equestrian Games later this year in Tryon, in the United States. Under the hammer were a beautiful piece of art from Annemeike Farmillo, a gorgeous Timothy Oulton saddle chair, a service fee to Samantha McIntosh’s very well-performed jumper Check In 2, a dressage experience with John Thompson and Holly Leach, a morning with Olympic eventer Clarke Johnstone, an eventing team New Zealand Badminton experience, lunch with the stars at Horse of the Year and a package to the Longines FEI Nations Cup in Rome to watch the New Zealand team compete. People also put in bids to be on a team for the WEG triathlon fundraiser with Olympians and sports stars.

NZ’s WEG-qualified jumpers and dressage riders have an entertaining and enlightening interview with Vaughn Jefferis (former NZ WEG and Olympic representative) and James Mconie (The Crowd Goes Wild). L-R: Vaughn Jefferis; Samantha McIntosh; Daniel Meech; Bruce Goodin; Wendy Williamson; Julie Brougham; John Thompson; James McOnie. (Image: Libby Law Photography)

The triathlon – which included a bike leg, hockey skills and a small show jumping course – was won by the team comprising Olympic show jumper Sam McIntosh, NZOC chef d’mission Rob Waddell and young jumper Sophia Hall. In second place were Richard Gardner, John Thompson and Jesse Bennett, with Bruce Goodin, Julie Brougham and Vanessa Veart-Smith fourth, Clarke Johnstone, Wendi Williamson and Bella Keane fifth and Daniel Meech, Jock Paget and Willow Keane sixth. The pro team comprising Katie Laurie, Commonwealth Games cyclist Ellesse Andrews and Black Stick Dominic Newman also notched a very smart score.

Julie Brougham showing prowess with the hockey stick during the WEG fundraiser. (Image: Libby Law Photography)
And now for something completely different!  Clarke Johnstone swaps horse power for pedal power in the triathalon (Image: Libby Law Photography)

The Ann Symes Memorial Horse 1.3m Derby brought the curtain down on an incredible four days of jumping. Tamara Silcock (Nelson) and her lovely grey mare Steel Magnolia headed home the 17-strong field, finishing on four faults in a time of 1.32.8.
“I am so excited,” says Tamara, who has had the horse not quite a year. The pair were second in the National Derby in Christchurch earlier this year and she had targeted this event with the hopes of getting that Derby victory.

Kate Herdson and Eon set the pace with their four-fault effort in 1.54.43, to take second, with Glen Beal and All Expenses of Renton third with six faults in 1.69.81. Oliver Croucher and Waitangi Wi Fi were fourth on eight faults, with Nick Brooks and For Fame fifth, Karen Riddle and her very steady stallion LC Telepathy sixth, Andy Daines and Spring Panorama seventh and William Willis aboard Sabine MS eighth. Many of the starters in this class struggled with the Devil’s Dyke fence.

Sarah Broughton and Rockhill Radish during the Ann Symes Memorial Horse 1.30m Derby A2 Art 238.2.1. (Image: Libby Law Photography)

The venue has certainly opened a few eyes, and the reviews have been extremely positive, so we hope that there can be many more events held at these exciting new grounds. Well done to everyone involved.

Mitch and Kate Plaw – the owners of Takapoto Estate Show Jumping. (Image: Libby Law Photography)

Results –

Gold Tour Horse Grand Prix (part of the Dunstan Horsefeeds and EquiFibre Horse Grand Prix Series): Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Gold Locks 1, Brooke Langbecker (Australia) Quintago I 2, Clint Beresford (Australia) Emmaville Jitterbug 3, Stuart Jenkins (Australia) Fairview Aliquidam 4, Daniel Blundell (Auckland) Ocean Beach 5, Katie Laurie (Australia) Casebrooke Lomond 6, Lucy Olphert (Tauranga) Eve Saint Laurent 7, Lily Tootill (Karaka) Ulysses NZPH 8.

Pony Grand Prix (part of the Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series): Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Maddox Fun House 1, Olivia Apatu (Hawke’s Bay) Alasaan Arzu 2, Sarah West (Matamata) Miss Mae West 3, Peita Milne (Nelson) BG Lennox 4, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tiger Tale LS 5, Karis Spurway (New Plymouth) Kabo Cappesh 6, Rylee Sheehan (Te Aroha) Tony The Pony 7, Breanna Young (Hamilton) Delvay Pegasus 8.

Silver Tour 1.35m Final: Katie Laurie (Australia) On the Point Sandy 1, Kimberley Bird (Ashburton) Cera Cassina 2, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Lamondo GNZ 3, Karen Riddle (Rotorua) LC Telepathy 4, Alexa Randall (Auckland) LC Tango 5, Helen McNaught (Taupo) La Riviere 6.

Bronze Tour 1.25m Final: Laura Inkster (Clevedon) Oporaes Jackamoe 1, Katie Laurie (Australia) Esteban MVNZ 2, Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) Watermill Glenneagle 3, Kimberley Bird (Ashburton) Euro Champagne 4, Tess Clark (Gisborne) Cadbury 5, Sarah West (Matamata) ERL Grey II 6.

Junior/Amateur Tour Final: Isabella Du Plessis (Karaka) Fernhill Zinzan 1, Joanne Bridgeman (Cambridge) Junior 2, Shyanne Eagle (Tauranga) Castano II 3, Olivia Apatu (Hawke’s Bay) Astek Napoleon 4, Catherine Fawcett-McNaughton (Pukekohe) Golden Girl MVNZ 5, Georgina Forsyth (Clevedon) Joia Hara 6.

Anne Symes Memorial Horse 1.3m Derby: Tamara Silcock (Nelson) Steel Magnolia 1, Kate Herdson (Auckland) Eon 2, Glen Beal (Pukekohe) All Expenses of Renton 3, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Waitangi Wi Fi 4, Nick Brooks (Cambridge) For Fame 5, Karen Riddle (Rotorua) LC Telepathy 6, Andy Daines (Kumeu) Spring Panorama 7, William Willis (Karaka) Sabine MS 8.

Seven-Year-Old 1.3m Breeders Final: Alex Loiselle (Ocean Beach) Bandito NZPH 1, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Kingslea Couture 2, Elle Phillips (Matangi) Cirrius GNZ 3, Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) Windermere Cappuccino 4, Anna Trent (Wellington) Corodette Xtreme 5, Sally Steiner (Tauranga) Bewitched NZPH 6.

Six-Year-Old 1.2m Breeders Final: Rachel Malcolm (Cambridge) Monte Carlo MVNZ 1, William Willis (Karaka) Cassera MS 2, Sally Steiner (Tauranga) Cartoon NZPH 3, Michelle Wakeling (Wellsford) BMW Numero Uno 5, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Kiwi Fern 6.

Five-Year-Old 1.1m Breeders Final: Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Double J Kelvin 1, Katie Laurie (Australia) Gale 2, Sam McIntosh (France) Malarkey 3, Alex Loiselle (Ocean Beach) Dakota NZPH 4, Phillip Steiner (Tauranga) Cassina Dior 5, Jesse Linton (Hastings) Expozay KCE 6.

Four-Year-Old 1m Breeders Final: Sam Matthews (Cambridge) Fleur DeLacour 1, Katie Laurie (Australia) Isla and Jackie Jermyn (Matangi) Chalo ECPH =2, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Avenger Xtreme 4, Helen McNaught (Taupo) Corona Xtreme and Brayden Aarts (Pukekawa) Camberley Phoenix AF =5.

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