Young guns line up in Taupō Christmas Classic event

Annabel Francis and Carado GHP are hot contenders in the POLi Payments and McIntosh Global Equestrian FEI World Cup qualifier at the Taupō Christmas Classic. Photo / Ana Rattray, Cheleken Photography

Taupō's iconic Christmas Classic World Cup Show is stacking up to be a battle of the young guns, with local showjumpers Annabel Francis and Briar Burnett-Grant poised to make an impact at the high-ranking event.

But they'll be taking on the nation's top jumpers at the December 19 event, which is being held at the National Equestrian Centre on the outskirts of Taupō. The World Cup is New Zealand's highest-ranking series.

Eighteen-year-old Annabel heads into the POLi Payments and McIntosh Global Equestrian FEI World Cup qualifier on a high after winning the latest round at Feilding earlier this month aboard La Quinara. She has her two imported horses La Quinara and Carado GHP in the class, both of whom have plenty of scope.

Twenty-year-old Briar is no stranger to success at the top level having won her first-ever World Cup start in 2018 and as the youngest to have hoisted the prestigious Olympic Cup.

However, they will have their work cut out for them with in-form series leader Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) entered with both Windermere Cappuccino and Campari. The two-time series winner has won two of the three qualifiers this season.

Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) is an Olympian and World Champs representative and will compete aboard Takapoto Alaid De Chez Nous, whom she brought back from Europe with her.

Fellow Olympian and former series winner and World Cup finalist Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) is entered aboard Central Park.

Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) and LT Holst Andrea have twice won the New Zealand series final and are always dangerous.

Logan Massie (Dannevirke) and his stallion Bravado Ego Z may be a new combination but are already looking impressive.

Completing the field are Drew Carson (Putaruru) aboard Winston V Driene and Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) with McMillans Ariados.

There are a handful of other Taupō riders set to compete in various classes, including the likes of Georgie Wilson, Jo Bell, Olympian Duncan McFarlane and his wife Helen McNaught, Holly Rose, Geordie Bull and McKenzie Barclay to name a few.

The show gets underway on Thursday, December 17 and runs through to Sunday, December 20, with top-flight competition each day.

Saturday is World Cup day, with a special function for those who like to watch world-class action with all the comforts. Tickets ensure exclusive premium viewing of all the top classes on Saturday, a cash bar, big screen, finger food from 5pm and the opportunity to walk the World Cup course with former Olympic showjumper Colin McIntosh and his wife Toni, who competed for many years at World Cup and Grand Prix level in the United States.
The couple returned to New Zealand last year and now live in Taupō, while travelling New Zealand coaching many of the nation's up-and-coming riders.

The day kicks off with the Fiber Fresh FEI CSI1* class at 11am, with the Harrison Lane Pro-Amateur Rider class at 2pm and the POLi Payments and McIntosh Global Equestrian FEI World Cup qualifier at 6pm.

Tickets are $45 (plus booking fee) and can be purchased through the show's Facebook page. Entry to the showgrounds is free. The Christmas Classic Pony Extravaganza for riders 17 and under runs the week before (December 11-13) as a lead-in event for the big one the following week (December 17-20).

More information is on Facebook at Taupō Christmas Classic Show Jumping.