“It really didn’t feel that much faster,” she said.
Linton opted not to start LT Holst Elsbeth but still filled third place.
Edgecombe was rapt, and particularly pleased to win a second Larsen Sawmilling garden seat — she won her first in 2020 and says she needed another one for the stables.
“Jesse’s horse jumped super and pretty quick, too, so I knew what I had to do,” she said.
“Kevin built a nice inviting course out there. It was quite windy in the jump-off though. It can take a little to get her going when it is like that but by the end she got into her rhythm.”
Edgecombe said the 13-year-old mare felt great and the win was a good run-in to next week’s POLi Payments FEI World Cup final.
“She is better with not too much downtime.”
This week she will have some fitness work at the racetrack and a little schooling at home.
“I really just wanted a good outing for her this weekend, so to win is a bonus, and especially with a double-clear. It is a good confident lead-in.”
Brooke Edgecombe’s husband Oliver, who finished sixth on Briar Burnett-Grant’s Fiber Fresh Chesall in their first horse grand prix start, looked to be on track for a clear in the opening round when the horse stopped at the second of the treble. The horse grand prix rounded out an excellent show for the family, who love coming to Gisborne.
“It is a great show,” Brooke Edgecombe said.
“The courses have been really good all weekend and the ground excellent, too.”
The Country TV Pony Grand Prix went to Zara Preece-Twose (Auckland) and her showy piebald TC Pianoman with the only clear in the opening round. Tessa Mason (Hawke’s Bay) and Mr Acho were second, with Samantha-Lee Wakeling (Wellsford) on BMW Sharpshooter third.
It was the second time 15-year-old Zara had made the long trip to Gisborne but, she said, it was well worth it. She’s had the pony one and a half years.
“He really does know how to win and he is always fast, thanks to a big stride.”
The combination, who are trained by Danielle Maurer, had their first pony grand prix start only around a year ago.
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“She has brought me all the way through from 1m to this level.”
This was their second win.
“He can be a bit arrogant and doesn’t like to be told what to do but he always wants to please you in the ring. I think he is really just coming into his own.”
She was surprised to be the only clear in the opening round.
“It was a nice course and really suited him.”
Zara was grateful to her mum Karen (Twose) for driving her all the way down.
“It is a good show – very chill and good grounds.”
It is a bit of a family affair – TC Pianoman stays with Zara’s 80-year-old grandmother Pat (Twose) during the week while the teen is at school in the city.
“She feeds him and does his rugs and everything for me. She is really fit and loves to do it.”
The two grand prix classes brought the curtain down on an excellent three days of jumping at Showgrounds Park. Friday’s rain had been a perfect top-up for the well-prepared grounds. While entries were a little down on previous years, the show was a huge success with riders appreciative of the dedication and effort of the committee.
