Much to Love about WC Festival Show
Well that’s a wrap on another fantastic day at the Archibald & Shorter North Show World Cup Festival at Woodhill Sands.
International course designer Peter Holmes didn’t disappoint with his flowing courses that challenged combinations in all the right ways on simply superb footing.
They saved the best for last with the jump-off of the NZPH & A1 Equine Reproduction 7-year-old Breeders Series (sponsored by Canter for Cancer) which saw three stars of the future go head to head and the bar raised with each round.
In the end it was Jake Lambert (Cambridge) aboard Takapoto Darius – by Cassiano out of Claire – who won the day with a stunning double clear in a super time ahead of Samantha van Lierde (Cambridge) on Iconic NZPH in second and Tyla Hackett (Cambridge) with Takapoto Saffron in third.
Jake says the horse has an exciting future. “He is like a big baby and slow in maturing but has all the right qualifications for the sport. He is the most genuine and obliging horse I think I have ever ridden. He has an amazing brain and is so trainable. We have big plans for him for sure but are just taking it step by step.”
Aimee Collinson (Clevedon) was a very happy winner in the FMG Young Rider Series class (sponsored by More-Mag) aboard Be Mine NZPH. Just four combinations came back for the jump-off where Aimee was first out and knew she had to lay the challenge, which she did.
Be Mine NZPH, who is owned by Duncan and Helen McFarlane, had her first outing with Aimee in November and they’ve not looked back.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to ride Shirl,” said Aimee, who continues to be coached and mentored by the McFarlanes. “It is so special.”
They were the only double clear of the class, with four-faulters Meg Bisset (Cambridge) on Emmaville Dontango and Aliya Berry (Tamahere) with Neo filling second and third respectively.
The Rhodes Family Cup for the horse 1.4m championship went the way of Oliver Croucher (Cambridge) aboard Scott Borland’s SB Attitude. They were one of 14 combinations from the original 23 starters to go clear in the opening round, with 10 coming back for the jump-off.
Even then, the top four were all double clear, with Oliver crossing the flags in 41.54 seconds, and Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) taking second and third with her horses Benrose Stellar and Normandy GHP.
There were plenty of “big names” in the class but Oliver says he felt confident they could give it “a good shot”.
“She can sometimes be a bit excited early in the show but seems to be taking it seriously here and I think we are clicking more now.”
Adison Hall (Waimauku) and Flaxhill La Rocco continue to make waves in their first full season of Pony Grand Prix adding another win to the trophy cabinet with victory in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix Series class (sponsored by GJ Gardner Homes).
It was a tight four strong tussle in the jump-off with both Adison and Sofia Williams (Masterton) aboard Buzzie Bees Max both double clear, but Adison’s 41.2 second effort
just snuck home ahead of Sofia’s 41.57. Regan Calder (Norsewood) and TRS Sniper had four at the last in their 44.16 second round for third.
Paula Mussen (Pukekohe) added another Brave Pants Pro Am Series win to her tally with Déjà vu NZPH in the Burmester Realty sponsored class. Six came through to the jump-off where the top three all kept clean slates. Paula and Déjà vu NZPH flew round in 45.96 seconds with Deanna Horsburgh (Cambridge) aboard Entourage NZPH second in 46.11 and Sandra Stanford (Silverdale) with El Vira third in 47.02.
Paula was rapt and sang the praises of her 12-year-old mare saying she always tries her very hardest every time they step into the ring. “She’s a bit quirky but we do love her.”
Four months on the sideline after a fall hasn’t made a dent on Geordie Bull (Taupo) who blitzed the field in the Fiber Fresh 1.3m speed class aboard his homebred Marius.
This is just Geordie’s second show back after his fall, with Mark Brooks keeping Marius in work in his downtime. “Mark was a bit salty I came out and won the 1.25m championship at Dannevirke last weekend and now this but I said it showed he’d done a good job,” said Geordie.
The plan was to just “ease” back into things but Marius clearly has other ideas. “I think we were lucky to get the win out there but he is naturally fast.”
It’s a big show, with the 415 horse entry up on last year. Organisers efforts have not gone unnoticed with riders hugely appreciative of all that is done at the very popular show.
Volunteers and the Show Jumping Waitemata committee have been busy today prepping the marque for tomorrow’s high tea, which will raise funds for the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.
It will be a busy Sunday with the two top classes being the invitational Sponsors’ Charity Challenge followed by the Archibald & Shorter North Shore FEI World Cup (NZ League) Final.
For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz