Fitzsimon had previously won the World Cup series. That and the premier league are the two biggest series in New Zealand.
She’s now looking to take Windermere Cappuccino to Australia to see how they stack up on the international stage.
The series final class was a fitting finale to the season with eight combinations on eight faults or less coming back to be challenged in the second round of the Donella Still-designed course.
Each combination gave it their all but in the end the day belonged to Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) on Waitangi Skynet — one of just two combinations to finish with a clean slate.
It was the dream season’s end for Penny Borthwick (Masterton) in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series, when she took the quinella with her team Foxden’s Merlot and Rednalhgih Cowan.
But the 15-year-old didn’t quite pull off The Rider Shop-sponsored grand final at her home show, having to settle for second and fifth behind victor Molly Smith (Timaru) on Vapour Trail NZPH.
Borthwick was ecstatic with the efforts of both her ponies.
“They have both jumped really well,” she said.
Between them they won 13 pony grand prix series classes this season.
It is just the second season at grand prix level for Foxden’s Merlot. Cowan is a far more seasoned campaigner.
It is Borthwick’s first series win.
“To get first and second — it is just so cool,” she said.
The EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix Series went the way of Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) and LT Host Andrea, who also won the EquiBreed Top-Ranking Mare Series. It’s the first time Edgecombe and Andrea, who are still holders of the Olympic Cup crown, have won the Horse Grand Prix Series.
Auckland horseman Daniel Blundell took the quinella in the grand final, winning on Cadenza NZPH and placing second on Athena NZPH.
In the rider series, Larina Dolman (Gisborne) took out the Harrison Lane Pro-Am for the third consecutive time, Sam Carrington (Takapau) triumphed in the FMG Young Rider, Emma Gillies (Oamaru) won the Mainland Coachwork Junior, and Shanae McKay (Levin) claimed the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur. The Main-Events Tertiary Challenge was won by Michaelee Head (Cambridge) on Bellick ST.
In the age-group series, the Matthews Hanoverians Seven-year-old was won by Lucy Olphert (Queenstown) on Kiwi Strike (by Kiwi Coronation out of Kiwi Maze, who is by Corlando GNZ), the UltraMox Six-year-old was won by Georgina Dormer (Christchurch) on Google NZPH (by Orlando out of Questions NZPH, who is by Fetiche Du Pas), and the East Coast Performance Horses Five-year-old was won by Ella Rae-Wood (Greymouth) on TMS Annabella (by Chassini II out of Millie, who is by Voltaire II).
Lauren Mitchell (Kumeu) had an absolute blinder in the show hunter ring, winning the Sport Horse Junior High Points Series with Sonny Bill, the ESNZ Show Hunter Junior Equitation Series, and the Aniwell Category C High Points Series on Mahachi Gold Rosado KF. She also won the NRM Open High Points grand final on Craighaven Black Heart, the ESNZ Show Hunter Pony Equitation grand final on Mahachi Gold Rosado KF, and placed in numerous other series and finals.
Louise Marriott (Rangiora) won both the NRM Open High Points Series and the Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Equitation Series.
The three-day series final show attracted more than 450 combinations from all over the country to the Solway Showgrounds. It was the culmination of a challenging season that rewarded combinations that had been consistent throughout the year.
Showjumping, POLi Payments Premier League Series: Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) Windermere Cappuccino, 187 points, 1; Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) Waitangi Skynet, 181, 2; Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Central Park, 125, 3; Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Andrea, 104, 4; Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) Glenbrooke Rich as Roses, 56, 5; Phillip Steiner (Tauranga) Cassina Dior, 52, 6.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series: Penny Borthwick (Masterton) Foxden’s Merlot, 108, 1; Penny Borthwick (Masterton) Rednalhgih Cowan, 105, 2; Johanna Wylaars (Christchurch) Wembleybrook Tiffany, 100, 3; Samantha Gillies (Oamaru) Doctor Jones, 93, 4; Molly Smith (Timaru) Vapour Trail NZPH, 92, 5; Tessa Mason (Hastings) Mr Acho, 87, 6.
EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix Series: Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Andrea, 64, 1; Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Central Park, 62, 2; Nicole White (Invercargill) LC Samson, 44, 3; Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) Windermere Cappuccino, 42, 4; Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) Waitangi Skynet, 39, 5; Daniel Blundell (Auckland) Cadenza NZPH, 36, 6.
Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series: Larina Dolman (Gisborne) 104, 1; Molly Buist Brown (Christchurch) 67, 2; Jess Land (Christchurch) 64, 3; Sally Clark (Dannevirke) 55, 4; Katie Meredith (Ohoka) and Mathew Dickey (Hamilton) 52, equal 5.
