Brooke Edgecombe and her lovely mare LT Holst Andrea were all class, heading home a strong trio of combinations in the jump-off of the EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix at the Poverty Bay A&P Show in Gisborne this weekend.
The A&P Show was cancelled but the local ESNZ group quickly stepped up to put on the horse events, much to the appreciation of the 350-odd horses and riders who travelled from far and wide to attend.
The Horse Grand Prix attracted nine combinations who were well tested over the Roger Laplanche-designed course. Just Brooke, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) aboard his showy stallion Bravado Ego Z and Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) with Windermere Cappuccino progressed through to the jump-off.
Logan was first and set the scene for what was a beautiful finale to the showjumping, with a clear round in 51.02 seconds. Brooke knew she needed to go clear and faster to put the pressure on the very well-performed South Island combo to follow, but also to be careful. Her very economical clear round stopped the clock at 47.35 seconds.
Tegan and Windermere Cappuccino were well on track to take the win in a picture perfect round with tight lines . . . until the last which tumbled to the turf. The 44.69 second time was by far the fastest, but the four-fault rail relegated them to third.
Brooke empathised with Tegan. “That last fence was the biggest on the track. We didn’t get the best shot at it either. The second-to-last fence in the jump-off was the last in the opening round and I think Andrea thought we were done, so we had a bit of a disconnect, but got there in the end,” said the former Olympic Cup winner.
Gisborne was their third show of a challenging season. The two headed to Australia to compete in World Cup qualifiers at the end of last season which Brooke thinks has meant Andrea has been a little slower getting back into the swing of things on this side of the Tasman.
This season the Waipuk combo have had two Grand Prix starts for a third (at Feilding) and the win today. Brooke is no stranger to success at Gisborne shows, having won the top class numerous times before.
“Roger’s courses are always challenging, but good challenging. The line through the middle was very technical I thought,” she said. “We are all very happy to be here and a big thanks to the awesome committee for putting it on. The riders really appreciate it and understand the work that goes into it.”
The World Cup Series is one of Brooke’s big goals for the season but with a number already cancelled she admits to being a little worried. “Without those qualifiers, riders in New Zealand can’t get our Certificates of Capability for the World Equestrian Games. They are the only way we can get semi qualified from here. With Australian (competition) also not happening at the moment, the option to go there isn’t looking great. It has been a tough start to the season.”
The Waipukurau mum of one had her A-team supporters on the sideline, with her own mother Jan Zander making the trip north for the show to keep an eye on the ‘girl gang’, including her young granddaughters. Saturday’s win topped off a good show for Brooke and Andrea who also won the 1.4m on the opening day of competition. Husband Oliver also heads home with ribbons in hand. At four, their daughter Sophie is very keen to have her pony Barbie on the truck . . . so it’s only a matter of time before another Edgecombe is winning ribbons in the ring.
In the Country TV Pony Grand Prix it was a clear in the opener that took the win for Tess Mason (Napier) and Mr Acho, backing up their victory in the same class a year ago. While her 17-year-old pony can be a bit grumpy on the ground, he is full of concentration in the ring and Tess says he certainly saves her when the need arises. “It is really special to back up last year’s win like this,” said the 12-year-old. “It was a big track and he was just super over it.”
ESNZ Gisborne area chair and head of equestrian at the show, Ange Dolman was really pleased her team had been able to put together such a well-received show. “We felt it was important for our area and the people who come here every year, that we put the show on,” she said. “It is a good team we have here – a bunch of really good people. It was just a matter of working out our COVID response plan and making sure it all went smoothly.”
With Northland, Waikato and Auckland all unable to travel, the entry numbers did take a hit, but those who made the trip were hugely appreciative of the efforts of those behind the show.
Results –
Showjumping, EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix: Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Andrea 1, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Bravado Ego Z 2, Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) Windermere Cappuccino 3, Phillip Steiner (Tauranga) Cassina Dior 4, Duncan McFarlane (Taupo) Be Mine NZPH and Daniel Webb (Hunterville) WSJ Centaur =5.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Tessa Mason (Napier) Mr Acho 1, Danni Bird (Pukahu) AHD Dynamo 2, Emma Bates (Rotorua) Sitarski 3.
Harrison Lane Pro Amateur Rider Series: Trudi Mitchell (Wairoa) Epic NZPH 1, Noni Morgan (Hastings) Starlight Discovery 2, Kim Best (Hastings) LT Holst Teacher’s Pet 3, Caroline Sutherland (Whakatane) Las Vegas RSNZ 4, Jesse Linton (Hastings) Beau Balou and Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing =5.
Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series: Tara Gower (Ohura) Riverhills Bayliner 1, Jas Flowerday (Te Puke) Hit Parade 2, Tara Gower (Ohura) Double J Image 3, Dylan Bibby (Onga Onga) Magic Dragon 4, Annie Moffett (Napier) Samantha the Dachshund 5, Kimberley Carrington (Takapau) Double J Typhoon 6.
Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider Series: Jenny Randall (Gisborne) Nero Bello 1, Lauren Forrest (Whakatane) The Minginui Kid 3, Shelagh Nolan (Gisborne) Ngahiwi Eyeza Blue 3, Holly Baines (Gisborne) Halo 4, Kirsty Harnett (Gisborne) Ngahiwi Prince 5, Amanda Steele (Dannevirke) That’ll Do ECPH 6.
Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Series: Julie Davey (Meeanee) LT Holst Freda 1, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) WSJ Apache 2, Robert Steele (Dannevirke) Royal Wish 3, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Florence 4, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Fiber Fresh Chesall 5, Geordie Bull (Atiamuri) Marius 6.
UltraMox Six-Year-Old Series: Mikayla Herbert (Rotorua) Matai Serendipity 1.
East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series: Jesse Linton (Hastings) The Eleventh Hour, Tara Gower (Ohura) Riverhills Legend and Tracy Mason (Napier) Kiwi Coco =1.
FMG Young Rider Series: Kimberley Carrington (Takapau) Double J Barmaid 1, Isabella Narracci (Hastings) Good Time 2, Dylan Bibby (Onga Onga) Wenrose Vertigo 3, Aleisha Bradly (Whakatane) Caprio 4, Tara Gower (Ohura) WTF Cabello 5.
Show hunter, NRM Open Horse High Points Series: Lauren Forrest (Whakatane) The Minginui Kid 1, Jenny Randall (Gisborne) Nero Bello 2, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Untouchable 3, Shelagh Nolan (Gisborne) Ngahiwi Eyeza Blue 4.
Gyro Plastics Junior High Points Series: Leah Bibby (Onga Onga) Tiberus 1.
Carousel Equestrian Amateur Hunter High Points: Shelagh Nolan (Gisborne) Zee Metallic 1, Cindy Kershaw (Gisborne) Kiwi Vision 2, Shelley Watts (Gisborne) Craighaven French Made 3, Kim Leckner (Gisborne) Sassafras 4.
ESNZ Junior Equitation Series and Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Equitation Series (combined): Lidy Loffler (Wairoa) Parafino 1, Leah Bibby (Onga Onga) Tiberus 2, Kirsty Harnett (Gisborne) Ngahiwi Prince 3, Lauren Forrest (Whakatane) The Minginui Kid 4.
BoP and Waikato Show Hunter Groups 12 and Under Rider Equitation Series: Lottie Bull (Atiamuri) Out of the Mist 1, Eva Pedersen (Ashley Clinton) Uncommon Sense 2, Victoria Dorward (Havelock North) Mount Tullock Skylark 3, Georgie Coop (Gisborne) Barney Rubble 4.
Hokonui Sport Horses Cat A High Points Series: Molly McEwan (Gisborne) Buffalo Man 1, Victoria Dorward (Havelock North) Little Explorer 2, Zoe McNaught (Gisborne) Mr Riley 3, Stellar Aulding (Gisborne) Hololio Sparkling Rose 4.
Fiber Fresh Cat B High Points Series: Georgie Coop (Gisborne) Barney Rubble 1, Hannah McConnell (Tauranga) Billy Blunt 2, Georgie Coop (Gisborne) Billy the Kid 3, Maria Atsalis (Gisborne) Pinehollow Alpha Gold 4.
ESNZ Show Hunter Pony Rider Equitation Series: Maisey Alexander (Nuhaka) Showtym Mamma Mia 1, Katie Bibby (Onga Onga) Greedy McCready 2, Bridie King (Pahiatua) Buzzies Bees Max 3, Jaimee Rika (Matawai) Charlie Taplin 4, China Gunness (Gisborne) Our Silver Lining 5.
Aniwell Cat C High Points Series: Lottie Bull (Atiamuri) Out of the Mist 1, Katie Bibby (Onga Onga) Greedy McCready 2, Jaimee Rika (Matawai) Charlie Taplin 3, Zara von Dadelszen (Waipukurau) Brandii Snap II 4.
Jumping Team
17 October 2021