The glitz and glamour of the Land Rover Horse of the Year’s 2018 showing section kicked off this morning with the prestigious Gee Whiz Memorial and Wonder Memorial equestrian turnout classes.
In what was a hotly-contested class, Anne Hjorth and her magnificent thoroughbred gelding, High Command, took out the honours in the Gee Whiz Memorial Equestrian Turnout ahead of Canterbury’s Dani Simpson on the lovely Integrities Promise, an Anglo-Arab-Warmblood cross.
In the ponies, the Wonder Memorial Junior Equestrian Turnout went to Rebecca Aplin on Woodlands Park Night O Day from Charlotte Roberts on Brookfields Panache.
TC Equestrian’s outstanding RP Ricochet was a convincing winner of the Led Adult Show Horse of the Year class ahead of Philippa Gibbons and SWE Diamond Stern, while the Led Adult Pony of the Year was won by Joely Townley on Stoneybrook Christmas Lily, with the Led Hunter Adult Pony of the Year going to Dani Simpson’s Greenmore Euphoria. In the young stock, top honours went to Leesa Anderson and Scandalum, with Natacha Otto’s Volar’e taking reserve.
Perhaps one of the biggest highlights of the first day of competition was the RAS Livamol Thoroughbred Show Horse of the Year, which attracted a huge line-up. They were judged in-hand and under saddle, with eventual honours belonging to last year’s winner, Sue Reynolds, on her new ride Seattle, a son of the Australian sire Turfontein out of Miyazaki Grace.
RESULTS
The Gee Whiz Memorial Equestrian Turnout
Anne Hjorth, High Command, 1; Dani Simpson, Integrities Promise, 2; Andrea Baxxter, Forcees, 3; Philippa Whittaker, Booming, 4; Angela Darke, RP Superstition, 5; Allie Harper, Rosari Ringo Star, 6.
The Wonder Memorial Junior Equestrian Turnout
Rebecca Aplin, Woodlands Park Night O Day, 1; Charlotte Roberts, Brookfields Panache, 2; Brooke Bennett, Tiohanga Touch Wood, 3; Mikayla Wildermoth, Jym-Aud Dew Drop Mahogany, 4; Natasha Waddell, Uptown Charlie Brown, 5, Rebecca Mobberly, Monstevos Just In Pretoria, 6.
RAS Livamol Thoroughbred Show Horse of the Year
Sue Reynolds, Seattle, 1; Nicola Lancaster, Cahoncho, 2; Vanessa Everton, RP Lady’s Honor, 3; Andrea Baxter, Fourcees, 4; Anne Hjorth, High Command, 5; Kelsey Biggs, Zola Valachi, 6.
Led Adult Showhorse of the Year
TC Equestrian, RP Ricochhet, 1; Philippa Gibbons, SWE Diamond Stern, 2; Shenae Mackenzie, Debford Rhapsody, 3; Kelsey Biggs, Zola Valachi, 4; Julie Wylie Parkinson, Sparkling Galaxy, 5; Holly Thompson, GV Jackson, 6.
Led Adult Pony of the Year
Joely Townley, Stoneybrooke Christmas Lily, 1; Nicolette Butcher, Linden Realms of Glory, 2; Lynaire Cottle, Ngalaire Final Light, 3; Suzanne Struck, Phoenician Centre Court, 4; Kimberley Trow, Master Daniel of Nicholas Lodge, 5; Penelope Johnson, Maxwellton Penelope Pitstop, 6.
Led Hunter Adult Pony of the Year
Dani Simpson, Greenmoor Euphoria, 1; Brooke Bennett, Tirohanga Touch Wood, 2; KS Showhorses, KS Gin and Tonic, 3; Anna Phillips, Dreamtime Voodoo Bling, 4; Jessica Lawrence, Rosewood Classic Fame, 5; Charlotte Roberts, Brookfields Panache, 6.
Led Youngstock Show Horse of the Year
Leesa Anderson, Scandalum, 1; Natacha Otto, Volar’e, 2; Cara Norling, Special Order CLS, 3; Marc Fox, West-Lea Hampton Park, 4; Christina Dunn, KS Belladonna, 5; Amy Stewart, Gravitate DG, 6.
Photos are available for purchase from Annie Studholme’s website.
