InFocus

Francis Flies to Victory in World Cup Qualifier

Taupo teen Annabel Francis has added another solid win to her tally with victory in the POLi Payments FEI World Cup Qualifier at the MetalForm Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay Showjumping Championships in Dannevirke this afternoon. Ten lined up to be challenged by course designer Roger Laplanche in the last qualifier of New Zealand’s highest-ranking series, with the final next weekend in Auckland. Clear rounds came from Emelia Forsyth (Clevedon) aboard her former eventer Henton....

It’s an 11-strong field filled with quality that lines up in the POLi Payments FEI World Cup at the Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay Showjumping Champs this week. There is plenty to chase for the top combinations at the last qualifier of the six-round series that will culminate at the final in Auckland later this month. Two-time series winner Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) and the ever-consistent Windermere Cappuccino spear-head the field that also includes current Olympic Cup holder Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) aboard LT Holst Andrea, former Olympic Cup....

Takapoto Estate Showjumping is back, with planning for another stellar show running over two weeks in February. “What a wild ride 2020 has been,” says event director Mikayla Plaw. “For a number of months we were unsure whether we would even be able to run the show or not. Thankfully we can, albeit a scaled back version.” New Zealand’s strict border controls mean there will be no internationals competing at the show, which is scheduled to run February 19-21 and February 25-28, 2021. However, that doesn’t mean a big international flavour at the....

A forward and flowing course was just the ticket for Olympian and World Championship rider Samantha McIntosh who this evening won the fourth round of the New Zealand FEI World Cup Series at the Taupo Christmas Classic Show. The POLi Payments and McIntosh Global Equestrian World Cup class attracted 11 of New Zealand’s best showjumping combinations who were challenged by Pip Howells building her first course at this level. In the opening round at the National Equestrian Centre indoor arena, clears came from Taupo teen Annabel Francis who nailed the course with both La Quinara and Carado GHP. She was joined in the clean slate brigade by Samantha (Cambridge) aboard....

Top-Class Competition on Cards for World Cup at Taupo

  New Zealand’s best showjumpers are heading to Taupo this week for the Christmas Classic World Cup Show. It’s getting to the business end of the POLi Payments and McIntosh Global Equestrian FEI World Cup qualifier – the nation’s highest-ranked series with riders chasing valuable points before the January final. Back-to-back series winner Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) is leading the charge on a perfect 60 points from the three rounds....

The superstars have been found across the age groups after another very successful National Young Horse Jumping Championships in Hastings this weekend.   The moment Bailey Marshall sat on Haupouri Evandro NZPH she knew she was onto something special. Today, at the 2020 Championships he delivered, taking out the Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Championship Final ahead of a very competitive class. The registered nurse from New Plymouth was ecstatic with Lou – as he is known at home. She only got him in August after a trip to Haupouri Sport Horses to....

New Zealand’s future superstars are heading to Hawke’s Bay this week for the 2020 National Young Horse Jumping Championships with a record 510 horses taking part in the 25th anniversary event. It’s a very special event that was started by long time Hawke’s Bay breeder Graeme Hart but only in the last eight years has it been hosted in the Bay. Champions are decided over the three days in four, five, six and seven-year-old divisions, alongside national series classes and the FEI CSI1* class which has attracted 53....

Francis Flies to Victory in World Cup Qualifier

  Taupo teen Annabel Francis has ticked off one of her big goals for the season with a win in a very competitive POLi Payments FEI World Cup qualifier at the Feilding Industrial, Agricultural & Pastoral Show at Manfeild this evening. The 18-year-old was one of 10 very classy combinations to line up in the qualifier of the high-ranking series which was held in the indoor arena. In the opening round clears came from Annabel aboard La Quinara, the in-form Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) on....