Girls Rule in Grand Prix at Gisborne (NZ)

By: Diana Dobson/ESNZ

Bridget Hanson and Shakespear (photo: ESNZ)

Katie Laurie and Bridget Hansen turned the Country TV Horse Grand Prix class into a four horse race at the Larsen Sawmilling Gisborne Showjumping Championships this afternoon. (Sunday)  

The two women were the only ones to go clear over the John Vallance (Australia) designed course – and they each did it twice.

Fifteen started the class, with Hansen (Ocean Beach) and Toulon NZPH the first to leave everything in place, followed quickly by Laurie (Mystery Creek) and Dunstan Lucca. Next it was Shakespear NZPH's turn in the hands of Hansen, with Laurie and Dunstan Breeze following suite again.

Lucca was first out in the jump-off and set a cracking pace, coming home clear in 41.6 seconds, despite giving the GWC jump a good nudge. Hansen and Toulon were also clear but slightly slower in 49.85, with Laurie and Breeze clear in 44.57. Last to go, Hansen and Shakespear gave it a good nudge, but couldn't quite match the time, finishing in 44.42.

Laurie was rapt, but it seems she had extra incentive to finish in super quick time.

As soon as the class was over she was heading to the airport to fly to Auckland to support her horse trainer sister Emma-Lee Browne who has Gotham in the Karaka Million Two Year Old Race at Ellerslie tonight.

But that didn't stop her celebrating the success of Lucca and Breeze.

He was great out there,” she said of eight-year-old Lucca, who lived up to his nickname Spooka Lucca, having a good at everything on the way round the course.

“He's been stepping up this year and doing so well,” said Laurie.

“I didn't push Breeze too hard as felt Lucca had been speedy enough

With her two top horses Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark (owned by June Berrington) and Frangipanne de Toxandria (owned by Jill Morrison) flying to the United States – via Hong Kong and Alaska – in a week to prepare for the Longines FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas, her youngsters have had a chance to shine.

Lucca will now head to the National Showjumping Championships in the South Island early next month.

It topped off a great Gisborne show for Laurie, who took the trifecta in the 1.35m yesterday with her horses Breeze, Dunstan Springfield and Lucca, among other placings.

The hotly-contested ESNZ Pony Grand Prix produced just a single clear in the first round from Maddy Bult (Kumeu) and the lovely Mr Black Magic.

The combination headed home 12 others to take the honours.

Fourteen-year-old Bult was rapt.

“Magic can get quite excited out there, but he was great today,” she said. “That course was pretty challenging but rode well.”

She was also second equal on Pioneer High Jinx after taking a rail.

“I was going for a clear with Jinx so it was a bit unlucky,” said Bult, who is enjoying a brilliant season, in just her third year showjumping.

She puts much of her success down to the many years spent competing in show hunter, and her trainers Lisa and Sean Cubitt.

“They are just amazing!”

The two grand prix classes brought to a close three excellent days of competition in Gisborne.

Results -

Country TV Horse Grand Prix Series: Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Lucca (owned by the Shore, McVean and Laurie families) 1, Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) Shakespear NZPH 2, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Breeze 3, Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) Toulon NZPH 4, Sally Steiner On the Point Slic Chic and Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Conyers =5.

Pony Grand Prix Series: Maddy Bult (Kumeu) Mr Black Magic 1, Maddy Bult (Kumeu) Pioneer High Jinx, Olivia Miller (Te Puke) Kaycee Mackay and Sinead Dolman (Gisborne) Strawberry Fields =2, Lucy McHugh (Gisborne) Tuscan Treo and Lucy McHugh (Gisborne) Hawai Haka =5.

Five Year Old Series: Ashley Hart (Hastings) Kiwi Major, Ashley Hart (Hastings) Kiwi Cheroline, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Double J Escape and Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Floriant DHU =1.

Mitavite Six Year Old Series: Carissa McCall (Auckland) Cera Caruso, Caroline Parkes (Wairoa) Peggy Blue, Caroline Kennedy (Cambridge) Smoken Up and Molly Bennett (Wairoa) Athena GNZ =1.

Goldengrove Stud Seven Year Old Series: Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing 1, Lisa Cubitt (Cambridge) Unlimited NPZH 2, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Wishing Crown 3, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Ultra Blue NZPH 4, Carissa McCall (Auckland) Esteban MVNZ 5, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Mandalay Cove 6.

Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider Series: Caroline Kennedy (Cambridge) Classic Arrow 1, Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Biarritz 2, Laura Inkster (Papakura) Oporaes Jackamoe 3, Lily Tootill (Karaka) Ngahiwi Cruise 4, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) AP Ninja 5, Bryony Smith (Gisborne) Ngahiwi Warrior 6.

Caledonian Amateur Rider Series: Rawiri Waara (Marton) Transforma 1, Merran Hain (Gisborne) Untouchable 2, Dakota Phillibert (Hamilton) Velvet NZPH 3, Helen Kippen (Ocean Beach) Velocity NZPH 4, Rawiri Waara (Marton) The Bulls Eye 5, Marcus Rose (Dannevirke) Flashover 6.

Main-Events University Series: Rebecca Porter (Hastings) Mr Harrison 1, Anna Parsons (Takapau) Troy LS 2, Samantha Bult (Kumeu) Samuel Something 3, Fern McIldowie (Gisborne) Silverfish 4, Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Bellwood Cassanova 5.

ESNZ Pro Am Series: Brooke Zander (Waipukurau) Double J Rumours 1, Trudi Mitchell (Wairoa) LC Talent 2, Melissa Marriner (Karaka) Spiritus MVNZ 3, Anna Parsons (Takapau) Troy LS 4, Cameron McKenzie (Te Awamutu) L'Orame 5, Dean Morgan (Te Awamutu) FIS Outrageous 6.

Telford Junior Rider Series: Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Kiwi Iron Heart 1, Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Bellwood Cassanova 2, Rebecca Porter (Hastings) Mr Harrison 3, Emily Hayward Morgan (Te Awamutu) Yandoo Lady Gold 4, Caroline Kennedy (Cambridge) Lladro Elite 5, Annabelle Gourlie (Havelock North) Mosaic II 6.

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