2010-2011 Season round up!
****Bates Lavello wins 5yr Showjumper of the Year****
****Bates Amaretto MVNZ takes out Cushionride 7yr Showjumping series****
HOY was a definately a week of highs and lows. A stonebruise saw Bates Amaretto MVNZ him out of action for most of the show, unfortunately missing the 7yr and Lady Rider of the year classes. A real blow as the horse has been so outstanding all season. At least he came sound enough to jump on saturday in the Premier Stakes 1.45m event to just have 4 faults. A big effort for a 7yr, I am very excited about jumping some big classes on him next season. Beetle took out the Cushionride 7yr series by a substantial margin, virtually unbeatable from January. This horse is such a superstar, he won or placed in every 7yr start he had (except for Taupo!) My Ocean Wave jumped very well all show. A super clear round in the Lady Rider of the year class was an absolute highlight. But we went from Hero to Zero pretty quickly in the jumpoff, 4 faults at the very last putting us in 7th just out of the prizes! A huge thank you to the Green family for giving me the opportunity to campaign this lovely mare this season! Bates Lavello was the star of the team taking out the 5yr title and jumping double clear rounds throughout the entire show. Thanks and congratulations to Louisa Hill and Emilie Rennel, the owners of 'Spider'. Once again congrats to the Horse of the Year show organisers. Year after year they manage to put on a wonderful show, and they did not disspoint in 2011. Congrats to all the winners, im pretty sure there is no better feeling than the victory gallop around that international ring with a full grandstand cheering and THAT song playing. Sends a shiver of excitement down ones spine! I would like also to thank my outstanding sponsors Bates Saddles, Stirrups Equestrian and Vetpro for the wonderful and ongoing support. Stirrups so generously 'upgraded' my competition wear at the HOY show, which completely blew me away. Thanks so much for my gorgeous Equiline breeches, shirts and the stunning Animo jacket. You guys are incredible. Thank you! Time now to regroup and start planning the assault on next season - the next round of future superstars to bring back into work and begin the winter fun!
Young Horse Championships Taupo
Bates Lavello finished 4th in the 5yr Championship jumping clear all three days. What a star considering how few shows he has been to. Bates Oragami (Brooke) finished 4th in the 4yr Showhunter Championship and 2nd in the 4yr led sporthorse class. Bates Casiraghi finished on just 4 faults after the three days of jumping in the 4yr championship, just outside the placings. Bates Amaretto MVNZ was just one of 2 horses sitting on zero faults going through to the 3rd and final dayin the 7yr championship, and jumped a clean round until falling victim to the water jump right at the very end. Pretty devastating! But once again the star jumped 3 days with no fences down. A sucessful schooling session over the water jump post competition was a positive at least so hopefully we will be right for the future!
Waitemata 3*** New Year Festival..
Bates Amaretto MVNZ and My Ocean Wave 1st and 2nd in Cathay Pacific Grand Prix. Super start to 2011
Bates Amaretto MVNZ and Bates Limerick GNZ placed 1st and 3rd in the 7yr at the Woodhill Sands 2** show on Jan 4 at the Waitemata 3*** New Year Festival (Jan 14-15). Bates Amaretto MVNZ took out both the Cushionride 7yr and the Cathay Pacific Grand Prix with my Ocean Wave placing 2nd in the GP. Bates Lavello jumped a super double clear to share 1st= in the 5yr series class and jumped the 1.15-1.20m for just 4 faults at just his 4th show. Looking forward to seeing what this talented horse has in store in the future. Bates Casiraghi (Carter) 4yr By Cassini 11 out of Gemima Puddleduck - jumped double clear rounds in the 1m and 1.05m at his first registered show so very exciting. So a great show for Coupe Equestrian but unfortunately a very black weekend for others. Thinking of Amy Sprague and Stef, Meg and Jenny Joustra for there tragic losses..Our thoughts are with you.
November 2010
The past couple of months have been rather busy and it has been a sucessful season thus far for the team.
Bates Amaretto MVNZ and Bates Limerick MVNZ are sitting in 1st and 2nd positions in the Cushionride 7yr Horse Series. Amaretto has paced top 5 in every one of his 7yr starts and is showing super consistent form this season, consistently placing in his 1.30m starts also.
New addition to the team My Ocean Wave (owned by the Green family) has had an incredible start winning the North Island 1* Grand Prix Championship at Foxton after just 2 weeks together. Tui is a lovely mare and thankyou to the Green family for allowing me the ride on her!
Another new addition is Bates Lavello - a 5yr gelding by Littorio. 'Spider' is out of the fabulous dressage mare Gabana which Louisa Hill rode at the 2004 Olympics. This horse has some serious scope and power and will be one to watch. He has jumped clear rounds in his 5yr series starts at both Kihikihi and Woodhill sands in November not bad for his first month competing.
Kahurangi Vin rouge has been returned to her owner. Good luck to her in the future..
North Island championships at Foxton turned out to be a fantastic show, placing in all 4 starts - Amaretto 3rd in the 1.30m and 3rd in the 7yr North Island championship. My Ocean Wave winning the 1* Grand Prix and 5th in the 1.30m North Island Championship - exciting to have such a lovely horse on the team.
I travelled to South Africa in October as the Trainer / Chef d'Equipe with the New Zealand team competing at the International Classique for Pony and Junior Riders in Johannesburg. A fantastic experience for all, and the team members - Paxton Condor, Olivia Robertson, Sam Matthews and Emily Fraser all rode outstandingly and were unlucky to just be beaten.
The youngsters are looking good, Carter had his first outing and will now be aiming toward the Young Horse championships in January along with Brooke to jump the 4yr.
Check out the photos below!!
