Akers and Tinapai Bag First World Cup Win

Akers and Tinapai Bag First World Cup Win

It’s taken five years but finally Lucy Akers has her first Ultra•Mox FEI World Cup (New Zealand Series) win aboard her off-the-track thoroughbred Tinapai.
The Opiki combination were one of four to go clear from the original nine starters in the prestigious class at the APL Showjumping Waikato Festival at Mystery Creek this afternoon.

Eight came back for the second round where 30-year-old Akers was the first out of the clear rounds. Behind her were the rather formidable Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek), who earlier this year rode in the World Cup final in Las Vegas, Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) who was second in the series last season, and Vicki Wilson (Hukerenui).

“The plan was to go for a clear round,” said Akers, who has twice won the Lady Rider of the Year title aboard 17-year-old Tinapai.

“He’s a naturally fast horse and covers the ground quickly.”

They took a rail in the second round of the Gerrit Beker-designed course, coming home in 61.09 seconds. Laurie and Dunstan Breeze also added four faults to their tally, stopping the clock at 66.85, while McNaught-McFarlane aboard Carnutelabryere had eight faults and Wilson on Showtym Cadet MVNZ had 12.

“This is such a special win,” said Akers. “Before he retired I just wanted him to have a World Cup win on his record – he’s always been good enough but things have got in the way. It is so cool . . . he has given me so much.”

The two have been together for 11 years. They had their first World Cup start for the season in Hastings but the bridle broke two fences from home and they had to pull up.

Together Akers and Tinapai – who is by Omnicorp – have travelled around the world to compete.

“With him being 17, I thought I had to make the most of him. He is at the wrong end of his career so I am careful about where I start him but I knew the footing would be good here and that the courses would be great too.”
She’s hopeful this won’t be his last season but knows that with horses, anything is possible.

“In the last few years he has been so much more consistent compared to him as a young horse. He tries so hard and is my best friend. He swims a lot now and just loves it. It gets him really fit and he can do all that work without any stress on his joints.”

Akers works at her partner Duncan Fell’s Fairdale Stud helping with the breeding programme.

Earlier in the show Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) won the Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider class aboard Cool Encounter while Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) aboard Double J Cloud 9 took out the Telford Junior Rider class and Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) and the perennial Fiber Fresh Kabo Silver won the Country TV Pony Grand Prix.

The national series classes are contested throughout the season, with riders accumulating points for their efforts.

Results -

Ultra•Mox FEI World Cup New Zealand Series: Lucy Akers (Opiki) Tinapai 1, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Breeze 2, Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) Carnutelabryere 3, Vicki Wilson (Hukerenui) Showtym Cadet MVNZ 4, Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Biarritz 5, Ryan Lim (Karaka) Pasir Ris 88 6.

Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider Series: Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Cool Encounter 1, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) AP Ninja 2, Lucy Bull (Taupo) Westhay Grace 3, Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing 4, Caroline Kennedy (Ohaupo) Classic Arrow 5, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Carlotta 6.

Let’s Bale Pro Amateur Rider Series: Greg Jamieson (Paeroa) Volrath Chagall 1, Samantha Felton (Matangi) Ricker Ridge Rui 2, Michelle Wakeling (Wellsford) BMW Littorroan 3, Alexa Randall (Auckland) Chairman 15 4, Laura Stenberg (Helensville) Craighaven Nitro 5, Donna Atkinson (Te Puke) Brixie 6.

Caledonian Amateur Rider Series: Katie Hercock (Matamata) Kiwi Express 1, Candice Fox (Auckland) Bush Magic 2, Tors Rattray (Mangatangi) Sunkist CSNZ 3, Anna Wishart (Cambells Bay) Styletto 44 4, Torey Bartlett (Reporoa) TLB The Waipaoa Eddition 5, Jessica Connell (Reporoa) Broadlands 6.

Telford Junior Rider Series: Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Double J Cloud 9 1, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Yandoo Lady Gold 2, Keean Cooper (Te Kauwhata) Amarula MVNZ 3, Drew Carson (Putaruru) Winston V Driene 4, Brayden Aarts (Pukekawa) Puma des Hayettes 5, Drew Carson (Putaruru) Double Shott 6.

Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Kabo Silver 1, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Redcliffs Muchintuchin 2, Ella Poole-Crowe (Whangarei) Gizbo 3, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tony the Pony 4, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Redcliffs Galeforce 5, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Phantom Warrior 6.

ESNZ Seven Year Old Series: Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Dorothy II 1, Lucy Olphert (Hamilton) Eve Saint Laurent 2, William Willis (Papakura) Dollar Roll MS 3, William Willis (Papakura) Dardanelle MS 4, Natasha Brooks (Cambridge) Curzon 5, Caroline Kennedy (Ohaupo) Smoken Up 6.

Mitavite Six Year Old Series: Amanda Wilson (Hukerenui) Woodbine Legacy ST and Tessa Ranger (Putaruru) Alezan Chablis =1.

East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Series: Danielle Maurer (Auckland) Le Bam, Helen Kippen (Ocean Beach) Bandito NZPH, William Willis (Papakura) Sabine MS, Helen Kippen (Ocean Beach) Be Mine NZPH, Abby Robinson (Ohaupo) Hillman Hunter, William Lyles (Turangi) Midway Detroit and Helen Kippen (Ocean Beach) Believe NZPH =1.

ENDS

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