Woodhill Sands kicked off the season for show jumping with its first Prydes EasiFeed Grand Prix show over the weekend, riders enduring big winds first thing Saturday but a beautiful warm spring day on Sunday.
The entry numbers – while not huge – were considerably up on the first show of the previous year, and with the first points on offer in the Pro-Am, Amateur Rider, Junior, Pony Grand Prix and both the pony and horse GP Super Series, everyone was thrilled to be under way again.
Emily Hayward-Morgan started the season in much the same way she finished the last one, winning the horse GP super series on AP Ninja, and coming third on Yandoo Lady Gold. Katie Laurie was second on Dunstan On the Point Sandy, and fourth on Dunstan Casebook Lomond.
Katie also had a win in Sunday’s 1.35-1.40m class on Dunstan On the Point Eve, while Christine Cornege and Varekai SL won the 1.35m class on Saturday.
The Prydes EasiFeed/Let’s Bale Pro Am was a great win for Megan Schischka and her very consistent and much admired palomino, Hollywood Wannabe, with Michelle Wakening second on BMW Littorroan and Georgia Lawrie third on the striking cremello stallion, SP Blue Eyed Ghost.
Seven of the 18 starters were clear and went through to the jump-off in the Fiber Fresh/Caledonian Holdings Amateur Rider, with the well-deserved win to Sandi Howlett and Rockhill, Chloe Van Den Boorn and Mirrabella Molly second, and Bob Bleakley and Light Passion third.
Oliver Croucher was another to start the season with a hiss and a roar, taking out the Thoroughbred Floats/Lincoln University Junior Rider on Kiwi Rocket, and Saturday’s 1.20-1.30m class on Waitangi Wi Fi.
Morrinsville’s Emma Watson was an absolute standout in the Aon Insurance Pony Grand Prix, with the only clear rounds on all three of her rides, Fun House, Phantom Warrior and Galaxy Samurai. She elected not to jump off against herself, and nominated the lovely Appaloosa mare Fun House for the win.
Young Aucklander Katie Bridgeman had a super show on Mr McCloud, winning the pony super series on the Sunday, as well as both the pony 1.15m and 1.10m on the Saturday.
Also in the pony ring, Emily Carter had wins in both the 1m and the 1.05m on the Saturday on King Josiah.
