Tegan Fitzsimon and Windermere Cappuccino jumping to victory in the POLi Payments Premier League Series at the Glistening Waters Series Final Show in Masterton. PHOTO/KAMPIC – KERRY MARSHALL
EQUESTRIAN
Tegan Fitzsimon made a successful trek north to Masterton, heading home to the South Island with the nation’s top series crown in her truck.
The 31-year-old sealed the POLi Payments Premier League Series championship at the Glistening Waters Series Final Show in Masterton over the weekend.
It was an emotional victory for Fitzsimon, who was hugely relieved to finish a challenging season on a high with her beloved Windermere Cappuccino.
“Windermere Cappuccino was super consistent at the start of the season and while not the greatest at our last two shows, he was really good today,” Fitzsimon said.
“I am just relieved it is all over, it has been a very tough season.”
The series final class was a fitting finale to the season with eight combinations on eight faults or less coming back to be challenged in the second round of the Donella Still-designed course.
Each combination gave it their all but at the end the day belonged to Palmerston North’s Sophie Scott aboard Waitangi Skynet, who was one of just two combinations to finish with a clean slate.
Fitzsimon is now looking to take Windermere Cappuccino to Australia to see how they stack up on the international stage.
It was the dream season’s end for Penny Borthwick from Masterton in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series, when she took the quinella with her mounts Foxden’s Merlot and Rednalhgih Cowan.
However, the 15-year-old didn’t quite pull off The Rider Shop-sponsored Grand Final at her home show, having to settle for second and fifth behind victor Molly Smith [Timaru] aboard Vapour Trail NZPH.
Borthwick was ecstatic with the efforts of both her ponies, who have won 13 Pony Grand Prix Series classes this season.
“They have both jumped really well, [and] I am stoked with both of them,” Borthwick said.
“To get first and second, it is just so cool. I would never have thought that would actually happen.”
The EvoEvents Horse Grand Prix Series went the way of Brooke Edgecombe from Waipukurau and LT Host Andrea, who also won the EquiBreed Top-Ranking Mare Series.
In the rider series, Larina Dolman [Gisborne] took out the Harrison Lane Pro-Am for the third consecutive time, Sam Carrington [Takapau] triumphed in the FMG Young Rider, Emma Gillies [Oamaru] won the Mainland Coachwork Junior, and Shanae McKay [Levin] claimed the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur. The Main-Events Tertiary Challenge was won by Michaelee Head from Cambridge.
Lauren Mitchell from Kumeu had an absolute blinder in the show hunter ring, winning the Sport Horse Junior High Points Series with Sonny Bill, the ESNZ Show Hunter Junior Equitation Series, and the Aniwell Cat C High Points Series aboard Mahachi Gold Rosado KF. She also won the NRM Open High Points grand final aboard Craighaven Black Heart, ESNZ Show Hunter Pony Equitation grand on Mahachi Gold Rosado KF, and placed in numerous other series and finals.
Louise Marriott (Rangiora) won both the NRM Open High Points Series and the Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Equitation Series.
The three-day series final show attracted more than 450 combinations to Solway Showgrounds, and is the culmination of a challenging season that rewards those combinations who have been consistent throughout the year.
