Fun House having fun times

Emma Watson rides Fun House to take the win in the Equissage Pony Grand Prix Series sponsored by Maxlife Batteries. (Image: Libby Law)

What an action-packed second day of the Continental Cars Audi World Cup Festival. There were classes from first thing in the morning until late into the afternoon, and all competition (like the temperature) was hot!

The star event of the day was the Equissage Pony Grand Prix which was last on the card, and it provided plenty of drama for the good crowd. The very polished and professional Emma Watson won on Fun House, being the fastest clear out of the seven that went through to the jump-off. Only one other pony managed a clear jump-off round and that was Waiheke’s Georgia Bouzaid on the Kaimanawa pony Redcliffs Bill.

Georgia Bouzaid rides Redcliffs Bill in the Equissage Pony Grand Prix Series sponsored by Maxlife Batteries. (Image: Libby Law)

Emma has had a great season so far, winning many classes. Fun House certainly looked as if she was having fun, but she wasn’t that keen to complete her lap of honour, shooting out the gate halfway around! Emma got her back in but she wasn’t that happy with having to pose for the photos.

Emma thought the competitiveness in the class was “amazing” and was delighted with the course was built by Englishman Peter Gillespie. “It’s perfectly built, with proper ponies’ strides. I loved it.”

Emma Watson having an anxious moment but it all went well

Competing in her first-ever Premier Grand Prix, Georgia Bouizaid had a first round that was nearly a disaster when Redcliffs Bill put in two strides in the one-stride double last fence, firing her out of the saddle. She managed to cling on until she was through the flags, and so was safe, and didn’t have any such episodes in the jump-off, playing it safe but producing the goods with a clear round. “Bill is such a funny pony, he just tries so hard for me.”

Amateur

The Oceanbridge sponsored class in the Caledonian Amateur Rider Series was one of the more entertaining in the sand arenas, with a big field. The winner received a cover which made one rider very happy – the winner, Catherine Fawcett-Mcnaughton on her lovely mare Golden Girl MVNZ.

Golden Girl MVNZ with Catherine Fawcett-Mcnaughton on her way to a good win in the Amateur (Image: Jane Thompson)

“Its taken me 45 years to win a cover,” she told the sponsor when the cover was presented to her.

When the prizes came out and it included a cover! (Image: Jane Thompson)

Catherine, who lives in Pukekohe, has just the one horse now, and works as a business manager for an earthworking company. Goldengirl MVNZ was bred by Mount View stud and Catherine has had her for two years now.

“We won the Amateur class last weekend, but these are the first wins I have had in a long time.  I’m a little bit excited, especially about winning my first cover!”

Amateur class winners (Image: Jane Thompson)

Catherine is now planning on attending the Horse of the Year Show. “Someone has got to hold the bar up!”

Thoroughbred Floats Horse 1.40 Championship

Katie Laurie continued her domination at this level, ruling the 1.40 class.  She went clear on four of her horses, and elected not to jump Dunstan Casebrook Lomond in the jump-off. “I might start him in the World Cup tomorrow, he went so well in this class.”

Katie Laurie and Dunstan On The Point Sandy in the Thoroughbred Floats 1..40m Horse Championship AM5. (Image: Libby Law Photography)

She continued on with her other three horses and won on Dunstan Lucca with a clear jumping round. On Dunstan on the Point Sandy she also jumped clear but had one time fault so finished in second place as Amanda Wilson and Showtym Cassanova had the third fence down in the jump off.

Katie Laurie wins on Dunstan Lucca in the Thoroughbred Floats 1..40m Horse Championship AM5. 2017 Showjumping Waitemata World Cup Show, (Image: Libby Law Photography)

Katie finished in fourth place on Dunstan On the Point Eve after also having the third fence down.  Vicki Wilson had eight faults in the final round on Caretino Jewell so finished in fifth.

Coming out of the arena after her last ride in the jump off, Katie was feeling the heat, as the sun had been beating down throughout the class. “Phew its hot,” she exclaimed. “That was a lot of riding.”  She should have said it was a lot of good riding, as she certainly is showing her class at this show.

6 Year Old Series

The LG Forge class in the Mitavite 6 year old series had some seriously lovely young horses competing.  Three horses finished both rounds on zero jump faults to share the win and two of these were ridden by Vicki Wilson. She was first into the arena on the consistent LC Showtym Cassinii and to jump off and looked all class.

Vicki Wilson on LC Showtym Cassinii (Image: Jane Thompson)

Her second ride, Wentworth Corolena St didn’t touch a jump to also record a lovely clear. Hillman Hunter, ridden by Abby Robinson also made it look easy to share the win with two clear rounds. Sangster, ridden by Vicki Prendergast looked a classy act, but unfortunately had one time fault in the jump off.  Sabine MS, ridden by William Willis, had one rail in the final round.

Hillman Hunter with Abby Robinson (Image: Jane Thompson)

Vodanovich Law Horse 1.3m

It was a dead heat at the top of the Vodanovich Law speed class with Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) aboard Frangipanne de Toxandria and Mathew Dickey (Taranaki) on Quango both flying home clear in 69.84 seconds. Both riders say their aim for their horses was fun and speed in the class.

Sam particularly said she needed a slightly different take on things. “Fran is my fun speed horse and I was getting overcomplicated on her, so the focus was on fun,” said the 21-year-old who does a lot of work with her trainer Jeff McVean. “It’s about going out and getting the mileage.”

Early to go in the 31-strong field, Sam faced an agonising wait until the last horse crossed the line. “I did all the outside turns but she’s just fast. I am very happy with Fran, she’s been a little off over the last couple of shows so it is nice be back on track.”

Mathew Dickey said he wanted his horse to have some fun before tomorrow’s World Cup final. “We both really enjoyed it out there,” said the 26-year-old. He’s had the nine-year-old Quango since he was five and is now starting to really gain his strength.

“He still thinks he is a stallion! You wouldn’t call him a real fast horse but he turns well and is starting to move forward better and better. He’s certainly not as fast as Sam’s horse but turned tighter . . . just not tight enough!” Mathew was very surprised the two had dead-heated. “We both did quite different rides – she was fast but wide and we were slower but tighter.”

 

Maddren Homes Let’s Bale Pro Amateur Series

The class saw 15 of the 25 combinations come back for the jump-off however, at the end of the class, just three were double clear. First out in the jump-off was Christen Lane (Pukekohe) and Cobra de Capello, who left everything up in 36.53 seconds.

Christen Lane rides Cobra De Capello during the Lets Bale Pro AM Series AM5, Sponsored by Maddren Homes where they finished third. (Image: Libby Law Photography)

Six combinations later Bob Bleakley (Cambridge) and Airthrey Resolution set a new target with their 33.75 second round before another run of riders who were unable to finish with clean slates.

Bob Bleakley rides Airthrey Resolution during the Lets Bale Pro AM Series AM5, Sponsored by Maddren Homes. (Image: Libby Law)

However, Northland horsewoman Kate Hewlett (Kerikeri) and her lovely seven-year-old stallion Capatino GNZ fairly flew around the course to come home in 33.61 seconds for the win.  She’s had the horse since he was three and has carefully brought him on.

Kate Hewlett and Capatino GNZ in action in the Lets Bale Pro AM Series AM5, Sponsored by Maddren Homes. (Image: Libby Law)

“He was a clean slate for us to work with,” said the 42-year-old who with partner Tim Featherstone owns Redcliffs Equestrian. “It was really cool out there,” said Hewlett. “We had to work the hardest for that win.”

Kate Hewlett on Capatino GNZ wins the Lets Bale Pro AM Series AM5, Sponsored by Maddren Homes. (Image: Libby Law)

Virbac Cortaflex Seven-Year-Old Series

Leeshelle Small’s decision to come to the show for just the Virbac Cortaflex Seven-Year-Old Series paid big dividends. She and AMS Ajaccio NZPH were the only clear of the 12-strong class. “The course today was very nice,” she said of Peter Gillispie’s efforts. “The jumps came up very well but were forward.”

Leeshelle is trained by Jeff McVean, and her victory today sees her with four wins in the series, and the lead. She’s had the horse since part way through her six-year-old year. The two have formed a solid partnership and were doing very well in the six-year-old series until Leeshelle headed to Europe to represent New Zealand at the Children’s FEI class. There she placed sixth overall and won the best rider.

RESULTS

Equissage Pony Grand Prix Series (Evening Class) AM5 sponsored by Maxlife Batteries 
1 – FUN HOUSE & Emma Watson
2 – REDCLIFFS BILL & Georgia Bouzaid
3 – TE MATA MISS & Annabel Francis
4 – PHANTOM WARRIOR & Emma Watson
5 – TIGER TALE LS & Ally Carson
6 – TONY THE PONY & Ally Carson

Mitavite 6 Year Old Series TA1 sponsored by LG Forge 
1 – HILLMAN HUNTER & Abby Robinson
1 – WENTWORTH COROLENA ST & Vicki Wilson
1 – LC SHOWTYM CASSINII & Vicki Wilson
2 – SABINE MS & William Willis

Plumbco Horse 1.10m AM5 2 phase
1 – DIAMOND IN THE RUFF & Kate Ramsey
1 – KOWHAI BUG (CR3) & Emma Gaze
2 – INVADER CSNZ (CR2) & Lucy Olphert
2 – CAPATINO GNZ & Kate Hewlett
3 – GT & Victoria Rattray
3 – BYWAYS STARFIRE & Abby Miller
4 – VAN DER VOLT & Holly Taylor
4 – QUITE CONTRARY & Alexia Searchfield
5 – STARLIGHT DAYTONA & Samantha Maguire
5 – MADAM BUTTERFLY (CR2) & Melissa Lovell
6 – DELTA RICCARDO & Mackenzie Parker
6 – TRIPLE STAR PUZZELED BY TIME & Benjamin Bremner
7 – KINGSLEA COUTURE & Catherine Cameron
7 – UNCLE SHAYNE & Amy Gravatt

Karaka Agistment Centre Pony 1.00m AM5 (Part of Continental Cars Audi NZ Championship Series) 
1 – SHOWTYM FALCON & Aimee Collinson
2 – SPOT THE DIFFERENCE & Liv Teixeira
3 – LORD JIMMY & Sophie Forster
4 – NICKELODEON & Jordan Smythe
5 – SINBAD THE SAILOR (CR2) & Yazmin Todd
6 – ELLANGOWAN SPY & Liv Teixeira
7 – SHOWTYM MAMMA MIA & Zack Robertson
8 – LEONTES & Tayla Mitchell

Lincoln University Junior Rider Series AM5 sponsored by Aon 
1 – FIBER FRESH CORMINA OBOLENSKY & Briar Burnett-Grant
2 – LC VICTORIEUSE & Alyvia James
3 – AIRBORNE MVNZ & Tristan Thomas
4 – WASABI & Emily Hayward-Morgan
5 – DOUBLE SHOTT & Drew Carson
6 – LORETTA WS & Georgia Preston-smith
6 – STRIKING GLADIATOR & Elise Stables

Caledonian Amateur Rider Series AM5 sponsored by Oceanbridge
1 – GOLDEN GIRL MVNZ & Catherine Fawcett-Mcnaughton
2 – SS LUNA & Shannon Parris
3 – CORPUS K & Jane Burmester
4 – LC BERGLA & Laura Mcgregor
5 – DUSSELDORF & Victoria Grey
6 – ASPIRING HEIGHTS BHS & Harriet Dunmore
7 – LA CONTADOR & Sarah Bishop

Thoroughbred Floats 1.40m Horse Championship AM5
1 – DUNSTAN LUCCA & Katie Laurie
2 – DUNSTAN ON THE POINT SANDY & Katie Laurie
3 – SHOWTYM CASSANOVA & Amanda Wilson
4 – DUNSTAN ON THE POINT EVE & Katie Laurie
5 – CARETINO JEWEL & Vicki Wilson
6 – DUNSTAN CASEBROOKE LOMOND & Katie Laurie

Plumbco Horse 1.05m AM5 2 phase

1 – TELEMAGIC & Phoebe Kirk
1 – BUNNY HOP & Jessica Collinson
2 – INVADER CSNZ (CR2) & Lucy Olphert
2 – OFF THE HOOK & Georgina Nicholson
3 – GHOSTLY IMAGE & Sarah West
3 – INDIGO SUNRISE & Rochelle Litherland
4 – LOUIS LAMONT & Kimberley Knight
4 – WEITI KASHMIR & Fleur Butler
5 – BMW FJOLA & Benjamin Beal
5 – QUITE CONTRARY & Alexia Searchfield
6 – PENNY POWER (CR3) & Alice Hamilton
6 – LIGHTMAN & Susan Le Mesurier
7 – ESCOTT ESTATE BALMORAL FELIX & Eleisha Walls
7 – SPELLBOUND & Christine Jeffs

Magnum Pony 90cm AM5 2 phase 
1 – SHOWTYM FALCON & Aimee Collinson
2 – BBS PICASSO & Jemma Gold
3 – HI HO TONTO & Madison Jackson
4 – STARLIGHT IL DIVO & Fenella Skelton
5 – PURE CLASS & Lily Sutherland
6 – ALL THAT JAZZ & Kirsty Browne
7 – MR HUGO & Samantha-Lee Wakeling

Cortaflex 7 year old series AM5 sponsored by Virbac 
1 – AMS AJACCIO NZPH & Leeshelle Small
2 – S.K. HALO & Alyvia James
3 – NGAHIWI BLUE MOON & Lucy Bull
4 – GRAND CABALLO & Mikayla Herbert
5 – BRAVADO EGO Z & Jasmine Sketchley
6 – MADAM COCO & Cerys Tarr

Ray Burmester Jewellery Horse 1.20m AM5 2 phase

1 – FIRE BUG & Emma Gaze
2 – REDCLIFFS B & W PURE HEART & Kate Hewlett
3 – KINNORDY RHANI & Christen Lane
4 – IN DISGUISE & Clarke Johnstone
5 – ALDIVO 2 & Jeremy Whale
6 – LAFAYETTE CSNZ & Victoria Rattray
7 – DOLLAR GIRL MS & Lily Tootill
8 – ROMEO NZPH & Sharnaye Lammers
9 – RESOLUTION & Nakeysha Lammers

Emma Gaze on Fire Bug (Image: Jane Thompson)

Vodanovich Law Horse 1.30m TA2 

1 = FRANGIPANNE DE TOXANDRIA & Samantha Morrison
1= QUANGO & Mathew Dickey
3 – DUNSTAN EYE CATCHER & Katie Laurie
4 – CARLO I & Nicola Hammond
5 – PASIR RIS 88 & Ryan Lim

Vodanovich Law Horse 1.30 Main Events University Series A2
1 – LC UNDERBERG & Laura Hilhorst
2 – CHANCES R & Maddison Marshall
3 – SNOW STORM & Mikayla Herbert

Maddren Homes Intro Pony 70cm TA1 One Round
1 – KC SHOOTING STAR & Shanti aplin
1 – MY GEMMA BEAR & Emma Bates
1 – MIDNIGHT BRIDE (INTRO) & Olivia Brown Douglas
1 – TIGERLILY & Harriet Gelb
1 – PIPPI LONGSTOCKING & Indi Chamberlain
1 – TOE & Abby Forsythe
1 – APATCHY OF KITFORD & Francesca Bishell
1 – BETTY’S BOY (INTRO) & Charlotte Treneary

Carters Horse 1.00m AM5 2 phase

1 – ES ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES & Sharon Klijn
2 – LESTER (C3) & Chanel Hargrave
3 – SPARKLE (CR3) & Catherine Cameron
4 – CHINA LILY & Abbie Garwood
5 – SQUIRE BERT & Paula Brocklehurst

Let’s Bale Pony 1.10m AM5 2 phase 
1 – RAPIDO ZIN ZAN & Natasha Forsythe
2 – FIBER FRESH BG LENNOX & Briar Burnett-Grant
3 – MF SPOT ON & Kirsty Browne
4 – SINBAD THE SAILOR (CR2) & Yazmin Todd
5 – EL HIDALGO & Kendall Turner
6 – SHOWTYM BOSS & Ciel Butler

Carters Horse 90cm AM5 2 phase 

1 – TIARA & Jessica Parr
2 – ES ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES & Sharon Klijn
3 – LESTER (C3) & Chanel Hargrave
4 – ABOVE RUBIES & Jillian Gordon
5 – SQUIRE BERT & Paula Brocklehurst
5 – CHINA LILY & Abbie Garwood
7 – REDCLIFFS MAGNETO & Samuel Kensington

 

Romeo – finished in the placings in the Ray Burmester Jewellery 1.20 class (Image: Jane Thompson)

 

 

 

 

Virbac Cortaflex Seven-Year-Old Series

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