Katharine Van Tuyl and Double J Sunshine sealed their win in the Waipa Home of Champions CIC3* with a stunning clear round at the Kihikihi International Horse Trial this afternoon.
The two, who this year also showjumped to grand prix level, were nearly 10 penalty points clear of the second-placed Dannie Lodder (Auckland) aboard Tomahawk II, with Donna Edwards-Smith (Matangi) and Mr Hokey Pokey moving back up the leaderboard to take third place.
Van Tuyl, who only recently gave up full time riding to get a ‘proper job’ was over the moon with her win, which came a decade after she last competed at Kihikihi.
She was the only rider to go clear over the Gerrit Beker-designed showjumping course, albeit garnering two time faults. Rails fell freely through the seven combinations who started the final of the three disciplines at the event.
But Van Tuyl was as cool as a cucumber as she guided her chestnut to victory.
“I was getting jumped right out of the saddle out there,” said the 36-year-old. “He was just jumping bigger and bigger. He was just awesome.”
In the warm-up, Double J Sunshine had felt a little tired but grew “springs on his feet” when he entered the arena.
“This is a class I have always wanted to win but everything gets sold, so this is just fantastic,” said Van Tuyl. “I knew it would be a massive ask for him – he is only eight. I have had some really cool horses over the years but this one is the bet . . . he has so much scope.”
She is now considering a start at the 4* in Adelaide in November.
Lodder had two rails down – one for her and the other for the horse – and picked up two time faults, but was very happy to take second place.
“I got a little lost in the moment after the treble and forgot that (fence) six came after five,” she said.
Edwards-Smith was rapt to come up onto the podium. She and her palomino had been leading after the dressage, but a conservative cross country saw her slip to fifth. She had a fall in the CIC2* cross country, but still rode Mr Hokey Pokey in the 3*.
For the showjumping, she put boots on the horse making for a rather challenging ride which saw them take a rail and add a single time fault to their tally.
“I am disappointed how I rode but so happy with him,” she said. “He is such a sweet horse.”
Samantha Felton (Matangi) and Ricker Ridge Pico Boo held on to their overnight lead to take out the AON Insurance CIC2* class, despite dropping a rail in the showjumping.
The 24-year-old said she focused on each jump as it came, rather than the whole course.
“When I finished I wasn’t even sure if I had won,” she said. “It has been a big journey with Pico Boo – he has been injured a few times, and then reinjured himself during rehabilitation and had only had a handful of starts before this.
“A lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into him. It is lovely to have it all come together and have the horse we love back in form.”
Felton won the same class two years ago aboard Ricker Ridge Escada, on whom she today placed sixth in the CIC3*.
Kimberley Rear (Hamilton) and Delta Legacy moved up from sixth to second with Megan Finlayson (Kerikeri) and Greensleeves taking third spot. Sarah Young (Tokoroa) and SS Galaxy who yesterday finished in second spot after the cross country, withdrew from the showjumping.
Also making an appearance on the final day was former world number one eventer Andrew Nicholson’s horse Quimbo, who has semi-retired to New Zealand. The horse, who in 2013 won the Rolex Kentucky CCI4*, in 2012 Boekelo CCIO3* and CIC3* at Blenheim, among many other events, flew ‘home’ in December to live with Charlie Sellar – daughter of Quimbo’s owner Libby.
It was the 20th birthday for the Kihikihi International Horse Trial and tributes were paid to those who had worked so hard to create an award-winning event that continued to garner praise from so many.
 
Results –
 
Waipa Home of Champions CIC3*: Katharine Van Tuyl (Palmerston North) Double J Sunshine 66.4 penalty points 1, Dannie Lodder (Auckland) Tomahawk II 76 2, Donna Edwards-Smith (Te Kauwhata) Mr Hokey Pokey 81.3 3, Amanda Pottinger (Waipukurau) Just Kidding 83.8 4, Andy Daines (Kumeu) Spring Panorama 89.2 5, Samantha Felton (Matangi) Ricker Ridge Escada 94.2 6.
 
AON Insurance CIC2*: Samantha Felton (Matangi) Ricker Ridge Pico Boo 55.3 1, Kimberley Rear (Hamilton) Delta Legacy 60 2, Megan Finlayson (Kerikeri) Greensleeves 60 3, Aleisha Collett (Morrinsville) Mi Focus 60.6 4, Abigail Long (Levin) Enzo 61.6 5, Lauren Alexander (Waitemata) BMW Ripley 61.7 6.
 
Prestige Equestrian CIC1* (6, 7 and 8-year-old horses): Abby Lawrence (Te Puke) Charlton Yamani 48.7 1, Jessica Woods (Ohaupo) LV Balou Jeanz 50.1 2, Samantha Felton (Matangi) Ricker Ridge Mystery Man 52.8 3, Jeffrey Amon (Murupara) JA Candy Girl 53 4, Fleur Rohleder (Cambridge) The Alchemist 54 5, Donna Edwards-Smith (Te Kauwhata) Cluny 6.
 
Horselands CIC1*: Dannie Lodder (Auckland) Eon 49.3 penalty points 1, Lauren Currie (Lower Hutt) Rockdon Wildfire 49.6 2, Calla Toyne (Bay of Plenty) Scottish Lad 52.5 3, Alex Anderson (Taupo) Gina VT Bloemenhof 56.7 4, Abbey Thompson (Pukekohe) Rockin It 57.1 5, Loran Mathis (Waikato) Charlton Xplorer 57.5 6.
 
Wade Equine Coaches CNC1*: Karla Jamieson (Stratford) Westamour 32.7 1, Anne MacAulay (Te Awamutu) Cliebrig Alexandria 33.3 2, Holly Morrell (Taupo) Pampero 35.7 3, Sharon Cann (Te Awamutu) King Edward II 36.3 4, Richard Otto (Te Awamutu) Windsor 36.4 5, Melissa Armit (Cambridge) Timmy 36.5 6.
 
BetaVet CNC105: Kylee McCambridge (Cambridge) Chicago 25.2 1, Kyle Calder (Auckland) Apteryx 29.8 2, Georgia Bennett (Taupo) Telestory 31.2 3, Kady Prujean (Drury) The Duke 32.3 4, Ashleigh McKinstry (Taumarunui) Pioneer Techtonic Shuffle 35 5, Kelsey Leahy (Waikato) Show Cause 35.2 6.
 
JLT CNC105 Amateur: Su Jenkins (Te Puke) Anonymous 22.2 1, Shannon Galloway (Hamilton) Day Walker 24.8 2, Elsa Wrathall (Cambridge) Vincitore 28.2 3, Sally Gunn (Hastings) Kiwi Highlight 30.5 4, Melanie Molitor (Kumeu) Intersect 32 5, Nicky Mamo (Remuera) War Paint Gypsy King 32.2 6.
 
Vosper Law CNC105 (5 and 6-year-old horses): Alex Anderson (Taupo) Tigerherz 33 1, Alex Chambers-Steward (Auckland) Zenvo 37.5 2, Abby Lawrence (Te Puke) Django 38.2 3, Katharine Van Tuyl (Palmerston North) Centavino 38.5 4, Jane Callaghan (Helensville) Weiti West End 38.7 5, Sarah Bevege (Te Kuiti) The Little Major 40 6.
 
PEL CNC105 (21 years and under): Abigail Long (Levin) My Tom Tom 33 1, Elise Power (Auckland) Chocolate Liqueur 33.2 2, Alex Chambers-Steward (Auckland) Manuka Meilekke 33.2 3, Vicky Browne-Cole (Waiuku) Secret Sensation 34.2 4, Jordie Watson (Dairy Flat) Meersbrook Viva La Vida 34.8 5, Rene Ryall (Clevedon) Boots and All 34.8 6.
 

Diana Dobson