A ‘surprise’ present for Murray Alfeld is proving a winner in the show ring.

Daughter Rose added to a brilliant season with Eye Catcher NZPH winning the East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series alongside the Young Horse and National age group titles for the season.

Rose and mum Lisa bought the horse as a three-year-old while on a shopping mission at New Zealand Performance Horses. “We were only allowed one but we bought two and came home and just said ‘here you go dad, this one is for you’,” says 23-year-old Rose. “He loves him now!”

The chestnut clocked in at just 15.3hh but has done a lot of growing in the ensuing years. “I didn’t think he would grow so big,” she said.

“He has been such a cool horse this season. He is a dream to have – quiet and easy going. Usually the easy ones are not the most talented, but that’s not the case with him.”

The horse is by Kannan, out of United Blue NZPH who is by Mr Blue.

“He has surprised us a lot. I entered him in the first five-year-old of the season and got there and just thought ‘no way’, it was way too big. He’s come a long way very quickly – he is always eager to learn and please.”

Rose is a big fan of the age group series classes, seeing it as a great way to train young horses.

In the five-year-old grand final Jenna-lee Rose (Dannevirke) and Silent Witness were the only combination of the seven starters to go clear in the opening round, giving her the win and securing her fifth place in the series.

Series sponsor Jenny Booth said it was exciting to see such quality coming through in the age group classes, and particularly the five-year-old. “The numbers are small but the quality is excellent,” she said.

 

By Diana Dobson.

 

Results –

 

East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series:

1st Rose Alfeld (Christchurch) Eye Catcher NZPH (by Kannan, out of United Blue NZPH who is by Mr Blue) 80 points

2nd Samantha Matthews (Cambridge) Fleur DeLacour (by Corofino II, out of Jazz who is by Lio Caylon) 60 points

3rd Jaime Campbell (Cambridge) Cassanova Xtreme (by Cassiano, out of Cheleken Heidi who is by Ramirez) 58 points

4th Alex Loiselle (Ocean Beach) Encore NZPH (by Quool de Boig Margot, out of Truly Blue NZPH who is by Mr Blue) 48 points

5th Jenna-lee Rose (Dannevirke) Silent Witness (by Gray, out of Belle who is by Beau’s Pride) 46 points

6th Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Jay-Z GNZ (Clearway, out of Fleet Treat Jnr who is by Corlando) 42 points

 

East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Grand Final:

1st Jenna-lee Rose (Dannevirke) Silent Witness (by Gray, out of Belle who is by Beau’s Pride)

2nd Olivia Brown (Ashley Downs) RH Renamour (by Anamour, out of Red Rum who is by Toby)

3rd Rose Alfeld (Christchurch) Eye Catcher NZPH (by Kannan, out of United Blue NZPH who is by Mr Blue)

4th Anna Trent (Kapiti Coast) Joop Box (by Euro Sport Centavos, out of Just Joop who is by Abalou)

5th Luke Dee (Waipukurau) Avenger Xtreme (by Andretti, out of Cortiza who is by Collins)

6th Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Cassiana Xtreme (by Cassiano, out of Cheleken Heidi, who is by Ramirez)