Blokes Battle it out in Taranaki

It was the battle of the blokes in the young rider classes at the two Taranaki shows at the weekend.

Cantabrian Brad Cunningham, who has travelled north to compete at next weekend's North Island Showjumping Championships, and Mathew Dickey (Oakura) shared an honour apiece at the one star Egmont A and P Show followed by the two star Taranaki Showjumping Group's Show.

Today (Sunday) at the one day Taranaki Show, bragging rights went to Cunningham aboard Cheltenham. Four went through to the jump-off, with Cunningham out first, laying the challenge by leaving everything in place in 43.63 seconds. Dickey and the very nippy Kiwi Guard were out next and paid for his speed with a rail at the last. Series leader Danielle Maurer (Auckland) and Blue Rinse opted for slow and steady so took second place, leaving Dickey in third.

But it was slightly different earlier in the weekend at the Egmont Show where once again Cunningham was first out in the jump-off and set a pace no-one thought was catchable....until Dickey and Kiwi Guard rode into the ring and snipped two seconds off his mate's time, giving him the win.

Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) and Cortaflex Right Royal made their trip worth while taking the horse grand prix classes at both shows.

In the Taranaki pony grand prix today (Sunday) just three of the 10 starting combinations went through to the jump-off, with Emily Fraser (Waipukurau) on Tony the Pony out first and taking a rail, next out was Morgan Percy (Masterton) on Surprise Illusion who opted for the steady clear. The last combination was Logan Massie (Dannevirke) and Kickin the Clouds who rode for the win but in the end had to settle for third behind the girls.

Results -

Egmont A&P results:

Astek Stud five year old: Vanessa Nagle (New Plymouth) Mr Jones 1.

Mitavite six year old: Brad Cunningham (Christchurch) Big Jumbo, Karen Riddle (Cambridge) Littoria WS, Karen Riddle (Cambridge) HR Forever =1.

Pony grand prix (one star): Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Kicking the Clouds 1, Kalah McKay (Levin) Kabo So Far 2, Emily Fraser (Waipukurau) Tony the Pony 3, Harry Duncan (Hunterville) Cheblinkers 4, Morgan Percy (Masterton) Surprise Illusion 5, Emily Fraser (Waipukarau) Kababa Boy 6.

Horse grand prix (one star): Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) Right Royal 1, Robert Steele (Hawera) Countryman 2, Robert Steele (Hawera) Gospel 3, Claire Wilson (Waipukurau) Cortaflex Tipsy 4, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) Abernaki Chief 5, Claire Wilson (Waipukurau) Cortaflex Alaric 6.

Pony six bar: Emily Fraser (Waipukarau) Kababa Boy 1.

Young rider (one star): Mathew Dickey (Oakura) Kiwi Guard 1, Brad Cunningham (Christchurch) Cheltenham 2, Mathew Dickey (Oakura) Witzcellar 3, Tim Myers (Hawera) Pick Me NZPH 4, Kirsty Mander (New Plymouth) Midnight Hour 5, Bailey Marshall (New Plymouth) Snora 6.

 

Taranaki Showjumping Group 2* Show results: Young Rider (two star): Brad Cunningham (Christchurch) Cheltenham 1, Danielle Maurer (Auckland) Blue Rinse 2, Amy Collinson (Auckland) Gifted 11 3, Mathew Dickey (Oakura) Kiwi Guard 4, Mathew Dickey (Oakura) Witzcellar 5, Pearl Delaney-Girdlestone (Waikanae) Windale Gracious 6.

Horse grand prix (two star): Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) Cortaflex Right Royal 1, Robert Steele (Hawera) Gospel 2, Robert Steele (Hawera) Countryman 3, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) Abernaki Chief 4, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) Anasazi 5^.

Pony grand prix (two star): Morgan Percy (Hawke's Bay) Surprise Illusion 1, Emily Fraser (Hawke's Bay) Tony the Pony 2, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Kicking the Clouds 3, Nicole Watson (Stratford) Mr Brumby 4, Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) Hopeful Illusion 5, Harry Duncan (Hunterville) Taylorman 6.

KiwiSpan junior rider: Bridget Grylls (Te Awamutu) Yipee Yi Yo 1, Ellie Muller (Eltham) Midnight Shadow 2, Jamie Thurlow (Waverley) Pepper Anne 3, Tim Myers (Hawera) Pick Me NZPH 4, Emma Howarth Levin) Liquid Lunch 5, Shannon Seaver (New Plymouth) Jupiter Moon 6.

Iverquantel amateur rider: Lydia Quay (New Plymouth) Kaipara Double Dee 1, Simon Harrison (Wanganui) By Golly Ollie 2, Michelle Gardiner (Wanganui) Twist of Fate 3, Andrea Sayers (New Plymouth) Marokopa Blaze 4, Tracey Horton (New Plymouth) HS Liquorice Twist 5, Claire Cole (Auckland) Sammy Ngatai 6.