Showjumping: Tootill and Ulyssess NZPH claim first round glory

Lily Tootill congratulates Ulyssess NZPH after their World Cup Series first round win in Hastings today. Photo / Warren Buckland

Lily Tootill and Ulysses NZPH have laid down the challenge for the rest of the nation's top jumpers who are keen to chase honours in the New Zealand World Cup League which got under way today at the Hawke's Bay Royal A&P Show in Hastings.

Fourteen started the international class with clear rounds coming from first-timer Lucinda Askin of Ashburton aboard Portofino, along with former series winner, Olympian Maurice Beatson of Dannevirke on Mandalay Cove, Karaka's Tootill on Ulysses NZPH and Waipukurau's Brooke Edgecombe aboard LT Holst Andrea.

Sitting on four faults apiece were the stallions – Eros K with Steffi Whittaker of Christchurch and Bravado Ego Z with Whangarei's Jasmine Sketchley.

Those six were the only combinations to come back for the second round of the Roger Laplanche designed course where Askin and Whittaker both finished on 16 faults, Sketchley added eight to finish on 12 faults, Beatson had also picked up eight, with Edgecombe and Tootill both all clear.

Tootill and her 2017 Olympic Cup winner Ulysses NZPH stopped the clock at 64.98 seconds to take the win over Edgecombe's steady clear in 69.45.

"I would have been happy if we were double clear and 10th," said 21-year-old Tootill.

"I came into this wanting to jump double clear, and to win is a bonus."

The combination looked a little strong coming into the second to last fence, a big triple bar, but 11-year-old Ulysses NZPH "exploded" over it.

"He is just amazing," said his doting owner.

It is their second World Cup victory.

"I thought the first round was very encouraging and approachable but they certainly whacked those jumps up for the second – especially that triple bar," Tootill said.

She has had a good show with her team and with her winnings in her pocket, Tootill's contemplating heading across the Tasman to watch the Cox Plate in Melbourne.

She and Ulysses, who are in their fourth season together, will target the World Cup Series but not at all costs.

"I want to keep those double clears coming and to be consistent but I am not going to run his legs off," Tootill explained.

She is planning on heading to the UK with her chestnut gelding towards the end of the season.

"He is the most humble and sweetest horse in the world. All he wants is a pat," Tootill added.

Whittaker who, at 18, was in her first World Cup start, placed fifth in the class aboard Eros K and they also won the prize as the best presented combination at the horse inspection.

The New Zealand World Cup series will continue at the Egmont A&P Show (November 16-18), Feilding (November 30-December 1), Taupo's Christmas Classic (December 13-16), and the Central and Southern Hawke's Bay Showjumping Show (January 4-6), with the grand finale at the Waitemata World Cup Festival in Auckland (January 10-14).

The winner of the series has the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the world final in Sweden next year.

Results:
ESNZ FEI World Cup (NZ qualifier – first round): Lily Tootill (Karaka) Ulysses NZPH 1, Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Andrea 2, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Mandalay Bay 3, Jasmine Sketchley (Whangarei) Bravado Ego Z 4, Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) Eros K 5, Lucinda Askin (Ashburton) Portofino 6.

Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series: Olivia Apatu (Waipukurau) Alasaan Arzu 1, Phoebe Burns (Hastings) Galaxy Masterpiece 2, Tara Gower (Ohura) Ngahiwi Roany Pony 3, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Maddox Fun House 4, Lily Moore (Poukawa) Showtym Highlight and Lilly Carpenter (Taihape) Tallyho Mystic =5.

FMG Young Rider Series: Drew Carson (Putaruru) Winston V Driene 1, Nicola Hammond (Cambridge) Carlo I 2, Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) On the Point Eve 3, Oliver Croucher (Cambridge) Waitangi Surf 4, Olivia Dalton (Karaka) Master of Hossack 5, Maia Coster (Tauranga) Landenfeld 6.

Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Series: Heloise Tolo (Wellington) Can't Touch This NZPH 1, Robert Steele (Dannevirke) Two Eye See 2, Ashley Hart (Hastings) Kiwi Cheroso 3, Alyvia James (Cambridge) LC Taste of Diamonds 4, Samantha Peters (Whangarei) Cadillac NZPH 5, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Lamondo GNZ 6.

Mitavite Speedi-Beet Six-Year-Old Series: William Willis (Karaka) Chio MS, Heloise Tolo (Wellington) Dangermouse NZPH, Lily Tootill (Karaka) Domino NZPH, Harry Feast (West Melton) Double J Barista, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Double J Kelvin, Kathryn Alabaster (Ocean Beach) Drama NZPH, Sophie Scott (Wellington) Glenbrooke Rich as Roses and Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Elizabeth =1.

East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series: Jaime Campbell (Cambridge) Casanova Xtreme and Rose Alfeld (Leeston) Eye Catcher NZPH =1.

Dunstan Horsefeeds and EquiFibre Junior Rider Series: Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Maddox Kiwi Silverkee 1, Samantha Carrington (Takapau) Double J Breeze On 2, Amy Moore (Rotorua) Cricklewood Banjo 3, Katie Bridgeman (Auckland) Centino 4, Maia Coster (Tauranga) Clearwater 5, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Whiorau Ritchie 6.

Dunstan Horsefeeds and EquiFibre Pro-Amateur Rider Series: Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Victoria's Secret 1, Will Lyles (Taupo) Mangatu Bandito 2, Jaime Campbell (Cambridge) Lanice van de Heffinck 3, Christine Cornege (Cambridge) Varekai SL 4, Vicki Ridley (Auckland) Mosaic II 5, Bob Bleakley (Cambridge) Airthrey Resolution 6.

Hinterland Amateur Rider Series: Jessica Giles (Upper Hutt) Dining at Dusk 1, Shelley Bridgeman (Auckland) Midway Smooth Dude 2, Caroline Sutherland (Whakatane) Layla MVNZ 3, Kaleigh Kent (Otane) Double J Sponge Bob Square Pants 4, Frankie Darter (Wairoa) Ngahiwi Vesper 5, Emma Deadman (Taupo) Avichi AF 6.