The days may be numbered for the partnership between Tegan Fitzsimon and her ‘little coffee horse’, Windermere Cappuccino, as he is likely to be sold overseas before the end of the season.
But in the meantime, the pair simply cannot put a foot wrong, having added Takapoto Estate’s Gold Tour final to their long, long list of wins, which this season alone includes the National Grand Prix title and the NZ World Cup series.
The shows at Takapoto runs under a system that’s new to the New Zealand jumping scene – rather than individual classes, riders enter a ‘tour’, which consist of a warm-up class, one or two qualifying classes, and a final. There are tours for four-, five-, six- and seven-year-old horses, Junior Riders and Amateur Riders. For everyone else, there is the Bronze Tour (with a final at 1.25-1.30m), the Silver Tour (with a final at 1.35-1.40m) and the Gold Tour (with a final at 1.45-1.50m).
The Gold Tour in the first week’s show kicked off with a win in the qualifier by Emily Hayward and her thoroughbred, AP Ninja, heading home a 44-strong field in testing conditions, with torrential rain in the second half of the class. Tegan and Windermere Cappuccino were second, and Melody Matheson third on Cortaflex Graffiti MH.
In the Gold Tour Final, 10 combinations came back for the second round over the Gerrit Beker-designed course. Gisborne farmer Fraser Tombleson and his brave little homebred mare Mea I notched the first clear of the round, stopping the clock at 59.48 seconds. Australian Kate Hinschen and FF Cadel set the mark with their clear round in 58.16 seconds. Claudia Hay and Euro Sport Centavos opted for a lovely controlled clear in 60.06 followed by Brooke Edgecombe and LT Holst Andrea, who were also clear, coming home in 59.54. So there was all the pressure in the world on Tegan, the last to enter the arena.
“I saw the clears going and didn’t think I could possibly beat them,” she says. “I was going for a nice clear but I added down the first line and thought I needed to kick it up a gear, and went for it. I heard the crowd cheering too.”
They stopped the clock at 56.65 seconds, much to the delight of the very appreciative crowd.
Silver Tour
Luke Dee and Cheyenne (by Euro Sport Centavos) took out the Silver Tour qualifier, with just four double clears in the 50-strong field. Second and third went to two more lovely Corofino II youngsters; Melody Matheson on Cortaflex Illusion, and Catherine Cameron on Charlton Bazaar.
But it was Emily Hayward who captured the Silver Tour Final, on her Australian thoroughbred Celischi HM, with Melody second and Jesse Linton third on LC Autograph.
Bronze Tour
Tors Rattray headed home a 70-strong field in the first Bronze Tour qualifier, riding eight-year-old Holsteiner mare Larmani MVNZ (Cervelt MVNZ/De Lamina MVNZ). Emma Gaze and Kowhai Bug were second, and Charlotte Amos and Kabo Marmite third.
Emma stepped it up a notch for the Final though, taking out the win, with Catherine Cameron second on Kiwi Fern, and Jesse Linton third on SB Attitude.
Young Horse Tours
The show kicked off with the 4YO qualifier, which was won by Lizzie Green riding Caprioska, a warmblood/TB cross by Cassiano, out of Zara, bred by Nicola Smith. Lizzie and the pretty grey gelding went on to win the 4YO Final, with a score of 8.4. Jesse Linton was second on Miss Veleta.
Sharleen Workman and her Xtreme horses dominated the 5YO qualifier, with the top three placings in a 32-strong field. Logan Massie won on Cassiana Xtreme (Cassiano/Cheleken Heidi), Luke Dee was second on Chic Xtreme (by Corofino II), and third equal on Avenger Xtreme (by Andretti). Georgia Massie shared third place, on Jay Z GNZ. Luke went on to win the 5YO Final, with Chic Xtreme, and place second on Avenger Xtreme, with Logan third and Georgia fourth.
Melody Matheson and Cortaflex Enya MH (Edward/Grandessa MH) won the 6YO qualifier, with Samantha McIntosh a close second on Takapoto Estate’s Malarkey (Corofino II/Estina). But it was Kim Best who won the 6YO Final, riding LT Holst Teacher’s Pet (Centrico/River), after a super-competitive jump-off, with Melody second, and Tegan third on Glenbrooke All Roses.
Sally Steiner won the 7YO qualifier, on Cartoon NZPH (Cabdulla du Tillard/United Blue), ahead of Clarke Johnstone on Watermill Hadley (Carambole/Vancrella). In the 7YO Final, eight of the 21 starters came through to jump-off, and the win went to Samantha Peters and Cadillac NZPH (Jokus Latour/Untouched NZPH), with Logan Massie second on the stallion, Lamondo GNZ.
The Young Horse classes were judged by Vaughn Jefferis, Jake Lambert and Travis Morgan.
Jessica Trow won the Amateur Final, on Jack Flash II, with Merran Hain second on Untouchable, and Danielle Wheeler third on CP Aurelio.
In the Junior Tour Final, Jessica Collinson won on Ngahiwi Cruise, from Ella Rutherford on Banjo II and Shyanne Eagle on Prestige.
The action at Takapoto continues later this week, with the second jumping show.
