The Nicholson effect

Samantha Felton and Ricker Ridge Escada lead the Waipa Home of Champions CIC 3* Forest Gate Trophy Championship. (Image: Libby Law Photography)

All competitors in the Waipa Home of Champions CIC3* class agree that John Nicholson’s course was “bloody hard.”

In fact, it was so hard that only four of the seventeen combinations managed a clear round – and of those four, none managed the time.

Samantha Felton leads after the cross-country, with an outstanding round on Ricker Ridge Escada. “It’s too hard on this course to make the time,” she said afterwards. “I started a bit cautiously as he can get a bit strong. It is a super-big and super-technical course. There are brave questions, careful questions, patient questions, reaction questions.”

She was delighted with her 11-year-old gelding, who relishes the difficult cross-country tracks.  She was also very happy with her second horse in the class, Ricker Ridge Divine Right, who was having her first start at this level and had a green run-out at the third element of fence 12. “She was trying too hard and jumping too big.”

Samantha Felton and Ricker Ridge Divine Right lie in 8th place in the Waipa Home of Champions CIC 3* Forest Gate Trophy Championship. (Image:  Libby Law Photography)

The tricky combination at Fence 7 put paid to many people’s chances, including the leaders after dressage, Sarah Young on Leo Degas, Brent Jury on SE Hedging, and Dannie Lodder on Balmoral Henton – all had issues at this fence.

Andy Daines and Spring Panorama looked very confident over the course. “I didn’t care too much about the time as I was trying a new bit on him. He was super,”  says Andy. The pair competed here last year and had an issue at one of the corners, but this year they nailed it. “He locked on to everything. Every year he gets stronger. He’s like a good red wine!” Andy completed his first four-star at Adelaide last year and hopes to return again this year and maybe even aim for Kentucky, funds and luck willing.

Leaders after cross-country: Samantha Felton (Ricker Ridge Escada);Andrew Daines (Spring Panorama;Bundy Philpott (Tresca NZPH) (Image: Libby Law Photography)

Another who produced a super round was Bundy Philpott on Tresca NZPH; the pair were having their first start at this level. Bundy, of course, has completed plenty of three-stars, but hadn’t competed at this level for nearly two years, after a nasty fall at Taupo. She admitted to having “really bad nerves” before setting off, but you wouldn’t have known it by the performance. “He was a machine, we went straight everywhere, I missed a beauty at the palisade but he still did it beautifully.”

Bundy Philpott and Tresca NZPH: a super round (Image: Libby Law Photography)

Another who did a great job was Chloe Phillips-Harris with Cor Jet. These two have faced injury and health challenges in the last year or so, but put that behind them today in their first three-star of the season. “He’s such a legend” enthused Chloe. “I love him to bits.”

Renee Faulkner was kicking herself very hard after being eliminated for missing a compulsory passage after fence four. She jumped the fence on quite an angle and went straight past the white flag. “I knew it was there, but I just didn’t see it when I was out there! He [Rubinstar HH] was jumping so well until they pulled me up. He nailed the tricky combinations.”

Renee Faulkner and Rubinstar HH about to miss a compulsory passage

Balmoral Sensation cruised around in the Trust Waikato CIC2* class, looking as classy as usual. “He really enjoyed his job, and that’s the main thing. It was a challenging two-star,” says Clarke. The National titles are up for grabs at this event, including the Forest Gate Trophy, but both Clarke and second-placed Amanda Pottinger are not eligible to win as they have results at a higher level.  This leaves Brooke Campbell on Freddy Dash looking in a good position to take the honours.

Clarke Johnstone and Balmoral Sensation in the Trust Waikato CIC2*  (Image: Libby Law Photography)

The one-star class was the last of the day in the hot afternoon and produced some great jumping. Clarke Johnstone is leading that class and is eligible to win the trophy after an excellent round within the time. Samantha Felton produced another good performance, this time Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ. She’s right behind Clarke, less than a rail, so the pressure will be on in tomorrow’s show jumping.

 

Waipa Home of Champions CIC 3* Forest Gate Trophy Championship
1 Ricker Ridge Escada Samantha Felton 69.2
2 Spring Panorama Andrew Daines 79.1
3 Tresca NZPH Bundy Philpott 79.4
4 Cor Jet Chloe Phillips-Harris 92.1
5 Benrose Super Star Sarah Dalziell-Clout 98.5
Trust Waikato CIC2* – Waiteko Trophy Championship
1 Balmoral Sensation Clarke Johnstone 42.2
2 Just Kidding Amanda Pottinger 48
3 Freddy Dash Brooke Campbell 53.7
4 DSE Cluny Donna Edwards-Smith 54.9
5 X Factor Stephanie Vervoort 56.5
Wade Equine Coaches CIC 1* Ferndale Salver Trophy Championship
1 In Disguise Clarke Johnstone 40.9
2 Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ Samantha Felton 42.8
3 Eye Spy Dannie Lodder 43.5
3 Eon Kate Herdson 43.5
5 Lyrical Angela Lloyd 43.8
Horselands – CIC 1*
1 Greensleeves Megan Finlayson 40.2
2 Tobinator Cherie Jaques 47.6
3 Charlton Xplorer Loran Mathis 48.7
4 Django Abby Lawrence 50.1
5 Rockin It Abbey Thompson 50.5
JLT CNC 105 Tait Trophy Championship
1 Pioneer Canny Lad Ashleigh Mckinstry 32.3
2 Waitangi Chrome Virginia Thompson 32.9
3 Spellbound Christine Jeffs 33.3
4 My Tom Tom Abigail Long 34
5 The Dragon Warrior Renee Faulkner 34.4
Vosper CNC105 Open A
1 Chester FW Anna Mesman 30.8
2 Cricket Anna Nelson 32.5
3 Delta Duet Nick Stackpole 33.8
4 Pure Bling Laura McGregor 34.8
5 Presque Noir Kaasandra Chee 36.2
Vosper CNC105 Open B
1 JA Take a Shot Jeffrey Amon 20.8
2 Renegades Night Rider Paula Henderson 28.2
3 Noble Value Eden Doull 29.4
4 Mr Tambourine Man Ingrid Herdson 30.9
5 Pioneer Makokomiko Scout Lodder 31.5
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