Escada Scales New Heights for Felton at Kihikihi
Escada Scales New Heights for Felton at Kihikihi
Felton Clinches Unique Full Set of Titles
By Diana Dobson
Samantha Felton completed a rather
unique clutch of titles today with her victory in the Waipa
Home of Champions CIC3* Forest Gate Trophy at the Kihikihi
International Horse Trial.
Her win aboard Ricker Ridge
Escada in the national one day title class means she has now
won a ‘full set’ – from pre novice to 1*, 2* and now
the 3*.
“It is cool and something I have been quietly
trying to achieve for a while now,” said the 25-year-old
full time rider. “I broke my collar bone one year and just
haven’t had the horses at the right stages, so this is
great.”
She has had 11-year-old Escada, a full
thoroughbred, since he was five. The horse had done pre
novice but she’s brought him on from there.
“The
ability has always been there,” she said. “He is a real
workman and a quiet achiever even though he can have a bit
of a grumpy old man persona sometimes.”
The combination
were sixth after the dressage, sitting on 53.6 penalty
points.
“Our dressage is always a work in
progress.”
They do a lot of work with Penny Castle and
Tracy Smith.
“It is just getting more of everything
really . . . collection, balance and that
consistency.”
Felton has every confidence the horse is
a 4* for the future.
“I think he has definitely proven
he has the goods, so it will be about seeing what next year
brings.”
Coming in second today was Bundy Philpott
(Cambridge) aboard Tresca NZPH. The combination were third
coming into the all-important showjumping where they were
clear but had two time faults.
“I don’t think anyone
would be surprised at that,” said Philpott. “I am the
queen of slow.”
Kihikihi was her first big event back
after a nasty fall at Taupo in 2014, and just Tresca’s
second 3* start.
She was rapt with their second
placing.
“He is a super genuine horse and one I am
lucky to have in the yard,” she said of the 10-year-old
who was bred to showjump.
Third place today went to Andy
Daines (Kumeu) and Spring Panorama who had eight faults to
move back a slot.
“He still jumped amazingly and I am
stoked with him,” he said.
British FEI judge Les Smith
was most impressed with what he saw at Kihikihi.
“It is
a fabulous venue, terrific track and just a brilliant cross
country, which was beautifully presented,” he said.
“John (Nicholson) is a world class builder.”
Brooke
Campbell (Coatsville) couldn’t believe a horse who had
been all but written off by others today won her the CIC2*
Waiteko Trophy Championship.
Freddy Dash was bought as a
training horse for Campbell’s mother and passed to her
when she lost her own horse Stretch to colic.
“I
didn’t want him because I thought he was useless,” she
said. “He was lazy and bludgie but with a heart of
gold.”
That was three years ago, and while he is still
known as Fat Freddy at home, plenty of coaching and loads of
hard work has made the difference.
Clarke Johnstone
(Matangi) and Balmoral Sensation won the CIC2* class but
were ineligible to win the national title, as was the
second-placed Amanda Pottinger (Havelock North) and Just
Kidding.
Johnstone was rapt with the efforts of
Sensation, who at sixth place was New Zealand’s highest
placed eventer at the Rio Olympics.
“Kihikihi is such a
lovely event and Ritchie (Balmoral Sensation) had such fun
in all three phases. It is down a level or two to what he
usually competes at so it is easier for him but it is just
nice to bring him here and have him enjoy himself so
much.”
He and Ritchie were second place going into the
cross country and had to “put the foot down” to go
inside the time.
Johnstone didn’t go home empty-handed
though – he won the Wade Equine Coaches CIC1* Ferndale
Salver Trophy Championship for the third time.
Johnstone
guided In Disguise to victory in the title class he has
previously won on Orient Express (2006) and Quainton
Labyrinth (2014).
“Winning a national title is always
special,” said 29-year-old Johnstone (Matangi).
The
combination were second after the dressage, sitting on 40.9
penalty points, just adrift of leader Dannie Lodder
(Auckland) aboard Eye Spy on 38.7.
“I was very happy
with his dressage,” he said, “and he was simply superb
in the cross country. He made the time very easily and I
don’t think he put a toe on anything”
The effort put
them into the lead, which they held on to thanks to a lovely
double clear in the showjumping.
“He is a super
consistent horse. He has jumped to 1.35m in showjumping but
when you are under pressure without a rail in hand for a
national title, anything can happen.”
But he had every
confidence the horse would shine.
The win today was
special too for In Disguise’s owner Janene Maxwell who had
been a great supporter of Johnstone for many
years.
“Kihikihi is probably the best in New
Zealand,” said Johnstone. “The venue, surface, and the
cross country is always a fair but difficult test. The
showjumping arenas are nice and the event is as good as you
will get anywhere in the world. I just love coming
here.”
A barefoot, opinionated mare who loves to be the
centre of attention proved her worth today winning the JLT
CNC105 Tait Trophy.
Spellbound carried her owner and
rider Christine Jeffs (Matakana) to victory with double
clear in the showjumping to finish on 33.3 penalty points,
edging out runner-up Abigail Long (Levin) and My Tom Tom on
34.
Movie director Jeffs, who is currently doing a
masters in fine arts, was over the moon with her
“beautiful” mare.
“I didn’t even know we had won
until I got a call from a friend. I am blown away. Really
thrilled and very proud of her. Sassy (Spellbound) is a real
performer on every level,” she said. “She is hot but
just wants to get on with the job.”
Results –
Waipa Home of Champions CIC3* Forest Gate Trophy Championship: Samantha Felton (Cambridge) Ricker Ridge Escada 77.2 penalty points 1, Bundy Philpott (Cambridge) Tresca NZPH 81.4 2, Andy Daines (Kumeu) Spring Panorama 90.1 3, Chloe Phillips-Harris (Kerikeri) Cor Jet 92.1 4, Sarah Dalziell-Clout (Masterton) Benrose Super Star 98.5 5, Ashleigh McKinstry (Owhango) Pioneer Brass Monkey 103.6 6.
Trust Waikato CIC2* Waiteko Trophy Championship: Brooke Campbell (Coatsville) Freddy Dash.
Trust Waikato CIC2*: Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) Balmoral Sensation 42.2 penalty points 1, Amanda Pottinger (Havelock North) Just Kidding 48 2, Brooke Campbell (Coatsville) Freddy Dash 57.7 3, Abigail Long (Levin) Enzo 58 4, Heelan Tompkins (New Plymouth) Snow Leopard 58.3 5, Donna Edwards-Smith (Te Kauwhata) DSE Cluny 58.9 6.
Wade Equine Coaches CIC1* Ferndale Salver Trophy Championship: Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) In Disguise 40.9 penalty points 1, Samantha Felton (Cambridge) Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ 42.8 2, Dannie Lodder (Auckland) Eye Spy 43.5 3, Angela Lloyd (Hunua) 43.8 4, Kate Herdson (Eon) 47.5 5, Madison Crowe (Hamilton) Lucius GNZ 53.1 6.
Results – JLT CNC105 Tait Trophy Championship: Christine Jeffs (Matakana) Spellbound 33.3 penalty points 1, Abigail Long (Levin) My Tom Tom 34 2, Sophie Wilkinson (Taupo) Astek Gravitty 35.2 3, Christen Lane (Pukekohe) Henton Armada 35.4 4, Danielle Wheeler (Clevedon) Pierre 35.4 5, Sophie Wilkinson (Taupo) Astek Varius 35.4 6.
Horselands CIC1*: Megan Finlayson (Waimate North) Greensleeves 40.2 penalty points 1, Holly Morrell (Taupo) Pampero 50.6 2, Kelsey Leahy (Cambridge) Showcause 52.4 3, Dayna Fox (Otorohanga) LV Little Chief 54 4, Abby Lawrence (Te Puke) Django 54.1 5, Cherie Jacques (Otorohanga) Tobinator 55.6 6.
Vosper CNC105 Open A: Anna Mesman (Silverdale) Chester FW 30.8 penalty points 1, Anna Nelson (Aria) Cricket 32.5 2, Kaasandra Chee (Tauranga) Presque Noir 36.2 3, Paxton Conder (Tirau) Your Royal Highness 38.2 4, Melissa Armit (Cambridge) Barrington 38.8 5, Bridget Sullivan (Pukekohe) Judicious 41 6.
Vosper CNC105 Open B: Jeffrey Amon (Murupara) JA Take A Shot 1, Eden Doull (Pukekohe) Noble Value 29.4 2, Scout Lodder (Auckland) Pioneer Makokomiko 31.5 3, Anne Marie Styles (Papakura) Sharvalley Music 32 4, Sarah Bleakley (Whangarei) El Novio 32.5 5, Elleysha Eastell (Kumeu) Voluminous 34.8 6.
ends