Glen Beal and All Expenses of Renton winning the Equissage Horse Grand Prix at Woodhill Sands 15-16 February 2020

Glen Beal and All Expenses of Renton headed home a small but solid-looking field in the Equissage Horse Grand Prix at the Alltech Auckland Showjumping Championships at Woodhill Sands at the weekend.

The Pukekohe combination were the only ones to go clear in the opening round over the Pip Howells-designed course to take victory and notch their third Grand Prix win of the season. “I am very, very happy with him,” said Glen, a full time accountant from Pukekohe. “He just keeps getting better and better and more reliable.”

Glen says he is making great progress with the horse thanks to some very specific and focused training. “Last year he would put his head up and argue going into a fence so we do lots of work at home and now he just gets on with it. Even when I miss, he jumps.”

The combo were second to last to go in the opening round and knew there was still Sarah West (Matamata) and Oaks Centurian to follow. “That horse is jumping so well and I think she was just unlucky to have a rail.”

Glen only started Grand Prix jumping when he turned 50, had his first win aboard Solano at 51 and now – finally – six years later has a clutch of them. “It is very special.”

Solano is now in the mare’s paddock and he is excited at the talent he sees in her daughters and granddaughters.

Next up for Glen and Renton All Expenses is Takapoto Estate Show Jumping followed by the Horse of the year Show where, if everything goes well, he may even look at the Olympic Cup.

Emelia Forsyth (Clevedon) and her former eventer Henton Faberge were second on four faults with Sarah West (Matamata) and Oaks Centurian third with their slightly slower four-fault effort.

The Country TV Pony Grand Prix saw four combinations go head-to-head in the jump-off with Aimee Collinson (Clevedon) and Moonlight Glow taking the win with a double clear in 43.43 seconds. Shanae Savannah (Silverdale) and Tiger Tale LS were the only other ones to leave everything up but were slightly slower, stopping the clock at 46.88 seconds.

In the Fiber Fresh Feeds Horse Grand Prix Super Series Final it was all the way of the in-form Paula Mussen (Pukekohe) and Déjà vu NZPH with the only clear of the opening round in the eight-strong class. The combo also took out the Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old class.

The Peninsula Medical Grand Prix Super Series Final was won in a similar manner by Liv Teixeira (Kerikeri) aboard EB Esperanza who notched the only clear in the first round of the class which attracted 10 entries.

Eden Johnstone (Auckland) and Valcheta were the only clean jumpers in the opener of the Pacific Motor Group Auckland Championship 1.3m-1.35m to take the honours ahead of two four-faulters Mikayla Herbert (Rotorua) aboard Snow Storm and Caira Manson (Auckland) and TP All Class who were second and third respectively.

The champs attracted a healthy 420 horses and marked the end of a number of season-long series. Pip Howells designed the courses in ring one with Wayne Bragg in ring two and Danielle Watts in ring three. Riders appreciated the good footing thanks to regular watering throughout Auckland’s testing dry spell. “We have been watering 12-hours a day since November,” says Angela Nobilo, “but are blessed with a sand-based footing that really doesn’t get hard.”

Woodhill Sands also ran a Backing Black class with all entry fees going to the Backing Black fundraising effort for the nation’s showjumpers. Riders could also donate to the cause with their entries, putting them in the draw to win some fantastic prizes.

 

Results –

 

Equissage Horse Grand Prix: Glen Beal (Pukekohe) All Expenses Of Renton 1, Emelia Forsyth (Clevedon) Henton Faberge 2, Sarah West (Matamata) Oaks Centurian 3, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Maddox Letino 4.

 

Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Aimee Collinson (Clevedon) Moonlight Glow 1, Shanae Savannah (Silverdale) Tiger Tale LS 2, Katie Bridgeman (Auckland) Tallyho Scoundrel 3, Sophia Hall (Auckland) TCG Centadel 4, Georgia Bouzaid (Cambridge) Redcliffs Bill 5, Rylee Sheehan (Te Aroha) Tony The Pony 6.

 

FMG Young Rider: Emelia Forsyth (Clevedon) Henton Faberge 1, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Maddox Letino 2, Emelia Forsyth (Clevedon) Catapult Xtreme 3, Keean Cooper (Te Kauwhata) Pythia 4, Leeshelle Small (Ramarama) AMS Glenbrooke Archie Bunker 5, Colleen Crous (Auckland) Orames Girl VDL 6.

 

EquiFibre Junior Rider: Isabelle Jameson (Whangarei) Di Caprio  CSNZ 1, Aimee Collinson (Clevedon) Bunny Hop 2, Sophia Hall (Auckland) Blackall Park Pennylane 3, Nicole Lelean (Huapai) Dynasty NZPH 4, Georgia Bouzaid (Cambridge) AP Ninja 5, Caira Manson (Auckland) Waitangi Attachment 6.

 

Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider: Tim Featherston (Kerikeri) Bellagio NZPH 1, Paxton Conder (Whatawhata) La Fonteyn 2, Tessa Ranger (Whitford) Lavello 3, India Causebrook (Pukekohe) LC Telepathy 4, Sandra Stanford (Silverdale) El Vira 5, Laura McGregor (Auckland) High Command 6.

 

Pacific Motor Group Auckland Championship 1.3m-1.35m: Eden Johnstone (Auckland) Valcheta 1, Mikayla Herbert (Rotorua) Snow Storm 2, Caira Manson (Auckland) TP All Class 3, Colleen Crous (Auckland) Orames Girl VDL 4, Sam Matthews (Cambridge) DSE Exuberance 5, Christine Cornege (Cambridge) Varekai SL 6.

 

Prydes EasiFeed Horse 1.1m Auckland Cup: Kate Hewlett (Kerikeri) Capatino  GNZ 1, Isabelle Saxton (Tuakau) Double Shott 4, Kate Hewlett (Kerikeri) Redcliffs Chocolate Box 3, Charlotte McKenzie (Cambridge) Dansing 4, Nicole Lelean (Huapai) Sonic  NZPH 5, Charlotte Bolton (Auckland) Sir JK 6.

 

Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider: Shelley Bridgeman (Auckland) Oaks Vendetta 1, Hayley Morgan (Aongatete) Stardust Harlequin Revenge 2, Megan Schischka (Waiwera) Hollywood Wannabe 3, Jacob Thompson (Cambridge) Tennessee Waltz 4, Kirsten Hence (Karaka) Brodick 5, Georgina Forsyth (Clevedon) Illustrious 6.

 

East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old: Tim Featherston (Kerikeri) Kiwi Astronaut 1.

 

Cheleken Equestrian and UltraMox Six-Year-Old: Sam Matthews (Cambridge) Fleur DeLacour 1.

 

Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-old: Paula Mussen (Pukekohe) Deja Vu NZPH 1.

 

Fiber Fresh Feeds Horse Grand Prix Super Series Final: Paula Mussen (Pukekohe) Deja Vu NZPH 1, Paxton Conder (Whatawhata) La Fonteyn 2, Georgia Bouzaid (Cambridge) AP Ninja 3, Tim Featherston (Kerikeri) Bellagio NZPH 4, Sam Matthews (Cambridge) DSE Exuberance 5, William Willis (Karaka) Cassera MS 6.

 

Peninsula Medical Pony Grand Prix Super Series Final: Liv Teixeira (Kerikeri) EB Esperanza 1, Zara Main (Auckland) Blue Crush 2, Katie Readings (Pukekawa) Circus Girl 3, Cassie Topper (Whangarei) Redcliffs Wizz Bang MF 4, Zarlia Martin (Auckland) Redcliffs Snip Snap 5, Maya Hegh (Taupaki, Auckland) Triple Star One of a Kind 6.

 

Outpost Buildings Pony 1m Auckland Cup Final: Samantha-Lee Wakeling (Wellsford) BMW Sharpshooter 1, Cassie Topper (Whangarei) Baltic Leanne 2, Keira Featherston (Kerikeri) Redcliffs Ted 3, Bailee Sterling (Warkworth) Spirit Of Liberty 4, Casey Richardson-Mould (Auckland) Ngatotara Fortune 500 5, Samantha-Lee Wakeling (Wellsford) BMW Gem Drops 6.

 

For full results, head to www.equestrianentries.co.nz .

 

By Diana Dobson

18 February 2020