Solid field for final of NZ league series

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

It's a four-way battle for top honours in the FEI World Cup New Zealand League Series, with the final tomorrow at the Golden Grove Stud Central and Southern Hawke's Bay Jumping Show in Dannevirke.

Tegan Fitzsimon (Christchurch) has a six-point buffer on Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau), who is one point ahead of Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo). Robert Steele (Dannevirke) is two points further back.

They have plenty to ride for, with points-and-a-half on offer and a $5500 purse.

It is a solid field in the 13-strong POLi Payments-sponsored class. Each of the top four combinations will have a drop score as only the best four rounds count.

Fitzsimon and the nine-year-old Windermere Cappuccino are defending series champions. They are consistent performers and among the stars of the New Zealand circuit. However, their 2019-2020 season hasn't been without its challenges.

“There have been a couple of hiccups this season but he has still jumped relatively consistently throughout,” Fitzsimon said.

From their eight starts since they first stepped into the World Cup Series in November 2018, they have had seven podium finishes, including four wins.

Edgecombe is on her 12-year-old mare LT Holst Andrea, who won the final last year.

“Anything can happen in the final,” Edgecombe said.

“Andrea has been really good this season and I think she has improved again from last season.”

Burnett-Grant is in on her fiery roan Fiber Fresh Veroana.

“I am hoping I can finally pull out a win (for the season),” she said.

Dannevirke was where the combination made their World Cup debut in 2018, blitzing the field for the win.

The baby of the field is 17-year-old Annabel Francis (Taupo) on Carado GHP. They are having their first World Cup start together. The grey is no stranger to such competition, though, having done eight with his previous rider Olivia Hamood in Australia.

Steele is a long-time campaigner of World Cups in New Zealand and can lay claim to a few series wins quite some time ago. This time he's on his 11-year-old mare LT Holst Bernadette.

“She's gone well this year and been in the top six every start,” Steele said.

It's all the more pleasing for him because the mare was out with injury all of last season.

Also on the card is current Olympic Cup holder Emily Hayward (Te Awamutu) on Belischi HM, Melody Matheson (Hastings) on Cortaflex Graffiti MH, multi-series winner Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) on both Gold Locks and Mandalay Cove, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) on Intellect, Julie Davey (Hastings) on Joligne De Carmel, Drew Carson (Putaruru) on Winston V Driene and Simon Wilson on McMillans Ariados.

The winner of the New Zealand series has the opportunity to represent the nation at the world final in Las Vegas in April. The class is set to start around 1pm tomorrow.

Tegan Fitzsimon 65, Brooke Edgecombe 59, Briar Burnett-Grant 58, Robert Steele 56, Kimberley Bird 26, Logan Massie 25, Emily Hayward 23, Melody Matheson and Drew Carson 22.