The winner of the Horse Grand Prix, which was held as part of the Larsen Sawmilling Gisborne Jumping Championships, was Masterton teen Sofia Williams aboard Grassendale Enzo. Photo / Emma Gibson, Eminent Creative Content
The winner of the Horse Grand Prix, which was held as part of the Larsen Sawmilling Gisborne Jumping Championships, was Masterton teen Sofia Williams aboard Grassendale Enzo. Photo / Emma Gibson, Eminent Creative Content
It was fitting the top class of the Larsen Sawmilling Jumping Championships in Gisborne was not decided until the very last jump of the show was cleared.
The two-round Property Brokers Horse Grand Prix produced an exciting end to another top show when Masterton teen Sofia Williams rode off withthe premier honours aboard her bred-to-race horse Grassendale Enzo.
Their victory also secured the coveted wooden garden seat from long-time sponsor John Larsen, who said after 35 years backing the show that he had no plans of stopping the support.
Williams and Enzo, who are comfortably leading the national series, looked to have the class in the bag as the only clear effort of the opening round on the Showgrounds Park course.
However, they didn’t count on Ben Weir (of Mātangi, Waikato) and Cirrius GNZ.
In the opener, Williams was the only one to go clear, while Weir picked up four faults after the lightest of touches.
He wasn’t about to repeat that in the second round, where the combo added nothing to their tally in a time of 53.84 seconds, putting the pressure on last-to-go Williams.
Williams looked on track for a double clear only to knock over a rail late in the course, meaning she had to remain on four faults in a time faster than Weir’s.
Speed has never been a problem for Enzo and they whipped home in 52.62s to win.
After “hijacking” Enzo from her mother Luce, the combo have been together for three years although this is their first at grand prix level.
“It’s been an amazing season,” the 16-year-old said. “I thoroughly enjoyed the course out there. I am so stoked for the win.”
Ben Weir rides Cirrius GNZ to second place in the Horse Grand Prix at the Gisborne jumping championships held at Showgrounds Park over the weekend. Photo / Emma Gibson, Eminent Creative Content
In the Pony Grand Prix, sponsored by AMS Saddlery in conjunction with East Coast Wools and Wisewool, the day belonged to Lottie Bull (Atiamuri, central North Island) aboard TCG Centadel.
Just three combinations started the class and Lottie, a regular competitor in Gisborne, won on eight faults.
Regan Calder (Norsewood) and TRS Sniper were second on 12 and Lottie and Rascal Flatts OS were third on 16 faults.
Lottie, 16, and Centadel (owned by Fiona Hall), who she teamed up with at the end of last season, are leading the Pony Grand Prix national series with seven victories. They have placed in every single class in which they have started.
“It is very special to be leading the series in just our first season together,” she said. “My plan was just to go out and do a good round out there. It was quite technical with lots of roll-backs onto big oxers. I was surprised to win on eight faults. This is an awesome show to come to and the grounds are always so good.”
One of the more popular classes of was the McCannics 1.1m accumulator extravaganza for horses and ponies.
It was won by Michelle Wakeling (Wellsford) aboard BMW Chaccolilli. Wakeling headed home 18 other combinations to pocket the $1000 cash with her 46.58s round.
Sophia Blackbourn (Tamahere, Waikato) and LT Holst Zalato Blue were second in 47.87sec, and Fraser Tombleson (Gisborne) and McMillans Rhubarb were third in 49.4sec.
Local riders did particularly well in the lower-level pony classes.
Tilly Alexander (Nūhaka) and Ace won the Pine Hollow Riding School pony classic mini prix.
Zoe Newman and Sooty won the AF Thompson Contracting open pony classic 95cm.
Lacey Cribb and Cracker Jacker won the Speirs Logging open pony 1m.
Olivia Rau and Let’s Rumble Bumble were victorious in the BDO Gisborne open pony 90cm accumulator.
Olivia Briant and O My Word took out the Black Stump Logging open pony 80cm.
Isobel Jayne Bevitt and Mangatu Solar Eclipse won the Rimu Hills Dairy open pony.
Shannon Kanz and Handsom Hank won the Pine Hollow Riding School open pony 1m.
Zoe McNaught and Nitro Pandora won the VetEast open pony 90cm.
In the horse section, Fraser Tombleson had an excellent show, including a win aboard McMillans Rhubarb in the NZ Warmblood Association (in conjunction with Farmers Air and Canter for Cancer) 6-year-old series class, and victory in the Tom Lane Property Brokers open horse 1m aboard Casper the Friendly Ghost,
Georgia Hulme-Moir and Dust for Days won the AF Thompson Contracting open horse classic 95cm.
Vanessa Taylor on Copy That and Georgia Hulme-Moir on Dust for Days were first-equal in the Evolution Wireless open horse 90cm.
Jane Rau and French Lync were first-equal in the Black Stump Logging open horse 1m and won the BJ Moss open horse 90cm.
Paula Newman and Benee won the Roseland Hotel horse 1.1m.
Ground jury president Kaye Williams said the show produced three “fabulous” days of jumping.
“The committee were incredible,” said Williams. “They do such an amazing job and their efforts are always noted by riders.”
