Rio Olympian Clarke Johnstone and Quainton Labyrinth head to the FEI World Cup (NZ league) Series opener with a solid win under their belts having won the Equissage Horse Grand Prix at Equidays.
The Matangi combo headed home eight others to take the class. Seven came back from the jump-off over the Gerrit Beker-designed course where just Clarke and Rose Alfeld (Leeston) aboard My Super Nova kept their slates clear. “Rose is so competitive,” said Clarke who was last to go. “She is always hard to beat but I had a crack and it paid off.”
Clarke and Quainton Labyrinth came home in 54.26 seconds to Rose’s 55.27. “I am very happy with how he is jumping,” says Clarke of the 11-year-old British-bred gelding. “He is using better technique than he has in previous years. He just feels like he has worked it out a bit now and he gave me a really nice ride. I really enjoyed Gerrit’s course.”
It was their fourth start for the season, with the next big one the opening round of the World Cup Series at Hawke’s Bay on Friday. “It is a great lead in to the World Cup. I am going in feeling happy with his form.”
Fifteen started the Country TV Pony Grand Prix where Katie Bridgeman (Auckland) and Tallyho Scoundrel were the only combination to go double clear to take the honours.
Results –
Equissage Horse Grand Prix: Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) Quainton Labyrinth 1, Rose Alfeld (Leeston) My Super Nova 2, Laura Hilhorst (Hamilton) LC Underberg 3, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Intellect 4, Emelia Forsyth (Clevedon) Henton Faberge 5, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Mandalay Cove 6.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Katie Bridgeman (Auckland) Tallyho Scoundrel 1, Katie Readings (Tuakau) Rump Shaker 2, Julianne Revfeim (New Plymouth) Spot You Later 3, Georgia Bouzaid (Cambridge) Redcliffs Bill 4, Aimee Collinson (Clevedon) Moonlight Glow 5, Ruby Carey (Dargaville) TC Pianoman 6.
FMG Young Rider Series: Oliver Croucher (Cambridge) Waitangi Surf 1, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Maddox Letino 2, Nicola Hammond (Cambridge) Carlo I 3, Annabel Francis (Taupo) Carado GHP 4, Keean Cooper (Te Kauwhata) Pythia 5, Nicola Hammond (Cambridge) Le Bam 6.
Equifibre Junior Rider Series: Georgia Bouzaid (Cambridge) AP Ninja 1, Isabelle Jameson (Whangarei) Di Caprio CSNZ 2, Parys Marshall (New Plymouth) Whata Balou 3, Olivia Newsome (Tauranga) Caretino Jewel 4, Sophia Blackbourn (Hamilton) Blackall Park Romeo 5, Ben Weir (Auckland) SF Gryphon 6.
Harrison Lane Pro Amateur Rider Series: Paxton Conder (Hamilton) La Fonteyn 1, Abby Robinson (Ohaupo) Hillman Hunter 2, Amanda Illston (Auckland) Verdelho 3, Savanah Larsen-Church (Cambridge) Westhay Grace 4, Tessa Ranger (Putaruru) Lavello 5, Alexa Randall (Auckland) Cirrius GNZ 6.
Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series: Anna Kincheff (Rotorua) Request 1, Anna Kincheff (Rotorua) Red Socks 2, Courtney Fox (Karaka) Reflector 3, Brooke Knight-Willis (Auckland) Everything Equine Totara 4, Carolyn Hooton (Waharoa) Waitangi Chrome 5, Georgina Forsyth (Auckland) Joia Hara 6.
Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Series: Maddison Greatorex (Waipu) Daisy Duke NZPH 1, Jaime Tiller (Cambridge) Tabitha 2.
ESNZ Jumping Six-Year-Old Series: Jasmyne Speake (Cambridge) Chicago Fire 1.
East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series: Michelle Wakeling (Wellsford) BMW Braveheart 1.
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
21st October 2019