Veroana Pretty Flash at North Islands
Briar Burnett-Grant couldn’t believe it when she won the North Island Bayleys Real Estate Premier League at the APL
Showjumping Waikato Festival at Mystery Creek.
She and her nine-year-old Fiber Fresh Veroana yesterday headed home a very smart field, including Olympians, to win
their first premier league.
“I came into this with no expectations, thinking I would do my bit and he (Veroana) would do his . . . I wasn’t
expecting to win,” said the 17-year-old from Taupo.
But win she did. In the opening round, Burnett-Grant picked up four faults after she dropped the last rail and another
four in the second round when she took the first.
Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) and Breeze were the only other combination on four faults, with Clarke Johnstone (Matangi)
on Quainton Labyrinth and Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) aboard Larinium LS both on eight.
Just five of the 19 starters came back for a second crack at the John Vallance (AUS) designed course.
“It was quite technical out there,” said Burnett-Grant, who has previously won North Island titles in the young rider
and junior rider divisions.
Everyone added faults to their tallies in the second round – Laurie and Johnstone adding four apiece and Massie another
12.
In the end, while Laurie and Burnett-Grant were both on eight faults, the younger rider’s 49.95 second round was the
winner. Laurie came home in 57.42 seconds.
Veroana’s win was the second title of the day for breeders Ike and Kylie Unsworth – they also bred Grand Cabello, who
with Mikayla Herbert (Rotorua) won the North Island FMG Young Rider.
It was all about speed in the North Island Country TV Pony Grand Prix.
Winner Emma Watson (Morrinsville) and the former Pony of the Year Maddox Fun House were the only combination in the
six-strong jump-off to finish with a clean slate and making it two North Island consecutive titles. Watson flew home in
46.63 seconds, however, Olivia Dalton (Coatesville) and Simply Samantha HH looked well on track to take the title until
the last fence where they bagged four faults, stopping the clock at 42.54.
It’s been a tough weekend for Watson who lost her horse Maddox Oscar Star on Friday.
“It was a really special to win for me,” said the 14-year-old. “I have been trying all weekend to keep my mind off Oscar
and it was all a bit emotional when I won.”
Watson had watched Dalton go before her and says she didn’t think she would have been able to better her time.
“She rode a beautiful round but had an unlucky rail at the end. I was lucky to be last to go but had to go clear, so the
pressure was on. I definitely wanted to win for Oscar.”
The reserve for Dalton rounded off a brilliant weekend. The teen also won the North Island Speed Pony 1.2m crown with
Simply Samantha HH, and was fourth in both the North Island FMG Young Rider and Dunstan Horsefeeds & EquiFibre Junior Rider title classes with Appleton and Bling Du Roue respectively.
Results -
Showjumping,
North Island Bayleys Real Estate Premier League: Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Veroana 1, Katie Laurie
(Mystery Creek) Breeze 2, Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) Quainton Labyrinth 3, Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Larinium LS 4,
Brayden Aarts (Auckland) LT Holst Aunty Annette 5, Samantha Peters (Northland) Zabambi 6.
North Island Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Maddox Fun House 1, Olivia Dalton (Coatesville)
Simply Samantha HH 2, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tony the Pony 3, Georgia Bouzaid (Cambridge) Redcliffs Bill 4, Ella
Hawkeswood (Whitford) Kaycee MacKay 5, Tyla Hackett (Waiuku) The Dreamer 6.
North Island Dunstan Horse Feeds & EquiFibre Pro Amateur Rider: Louise Bowie (Pahiatua) Kiwi Hammer 1, Jeremy Whale (Cambridge) Aldivo 2 2, Karen Riddle
(Rotorua) LC Talent 3, Cerys Tarr (Rotorua) Madam Coco 4, Karen Riddle (Rotorua) LC Telepathy 5, Abby Robinson (Ohaupo)
Hillman Hunter 6.
North Island Speed Horse 1.3m: Elmo Jackson (Auckland) Next 1, Keean Cooper (Te Kauwhata) Amarula MVNZ 2, Sinead Dolman
(Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing 3, Amanda Wilson (Hikurangi) Caretino Jewel 4, Daniel Blundell (Auckland) U Can Dance NZPH 5,
Jeremy Whale (Cambridge) Aldivo 2 6.
North Island FMG Young Rider: Mikayla Herbert (Rotorua) Grand Caballo 1, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Waitangi Surf 2,
Emily Hayward (Te Awamutu) Yandoo Lady Gold 3, Olivia Dalton (Coatesville) Appleton 4, Elmo Jackson (Auckland) Dr Fell
Good 5, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Cormina Obolensky 6.
North Island Speed Pony 1.2m: Olivia Dalton (Coatesville) Simply Samantha HH 1, Georgia Bouzaid (Cambridge) Recliffs
Bill 2, Sarah West (Matamata) Showtym Cruiser 3, Brooke Hawthorne (Cambridge) Easy As 4, Summer Denize (Kerikeri)
Limerick’s Black Samba 5, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tony the Pony 6.
North Island Pony 1.1m: Eloise Beattie (Nelson) Demi Quaver 1, Fenella Skelton (Whitianga) Starlight Il Divo 2, Emma
Watson (Morrinsville) Bells Mystique 3, Tara Gower (Otorohanga) Ngahiwi Roany Pony 4, Caira Manson (Auckland) Maserati
II 5, Kirsty Browne (Morrinsville) All That Jazz 6.
North Island Horse 1.35m Championship: Jasmine Sketchley (Whangarei) Bravado Ego Z 1, Rachel Malcolm (Cambridge) Henton
Excalibur 2, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) WTF Cabello 3, Amanda Wilson (Hikurangi) Caretino Jewel 4, Logan Massie
(Dannevirke) Intellect 5, Paula Mussen (Papakura) KK Tane Mahuta 6.
North Island Pure Pine Shavings Seven-Year-Old: Duncan McFarlane (Taupo) Be Mine NZPH 1, Lucy Fell (Longburn) Faratona
STS 2, Ash Hart (Hastings) Kiwi Showtime 3, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Kingslea Couture 4, William Willis (Karaka)
Sabine MS 5, Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) La Riviere 6.
North Island Mitavite Six-Year-Old: Samantha Peters (Whangarei) Cadillac NZPH 1, Rachel Malcolm (Cambridge) Monte Carlo
MVNZ 2, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Lamondo GNZ 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Central Park 4, William Willis (Karaka)
Cassera MS 5, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) McCaw MVNZ 6.
North Island East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old: Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Double J Kelvin 1, Amanda Wilson
(Hikurangi) Daminos TWS 2, Heloise Tolo (Ohariu Valley) Doris NZPH 3, Helen Kippen (Ocean Beach) Dakota NZPH 4, Heloise
Tolo (Ohariu Valley) Dangermouse NZPH 5, Vicki Prendergast (Matamata) Selena C 6.
North Island Dunstan Horsefeeds & EquiFibre Junior Rider: Blake Davis (Palmerston North) TM Marjay 1, Sinead Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing 2, Deanna
Horsburgh (Cambridge) Ngahiwi Possum 3, Olivia Dalton (Coatesville) Bling Du Rouet 4, Colleen Crous (Dairy Flat) Orames
Girl VDL 5, Sophie Littlewood (Helensville) Peak Wood Quiz GNZ 6.
North Island Caledonian Holdings Amateur Rider: Shelley Bridgeman (Auckland) Midway Smooth Dude 1, Carla Ross (Taupo)
Tricks Unlimited 2, Kelly Hawkeswood (Whitford) Little Curioso 3, Laura Pratt (Hamilton) Just Jess 4, Tessa Ranger
(Putaruru) La Paz 5, Julia Johnston (Tuakau) Starlight Dalaman 6.
North Island Horse 1.25m Championship: Greta van den Brink (Auckland) Billy Sparky 1, Bob Bleakley (Whangarei) Airthrey
Resolution 2, Emma Gaze (Ohaupo) Woodland Bug 3, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Delta Fasteuex 4, Louise Bowie (Pahiatua)
Kiwi Hammer 5, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Kingslea Couture 6.
Show Hunter, North Island Cat A Pony Championship 70cm: Emma Bates (Rotorua) My Gemma Bear 1, Zara Main (Waitoki)
Benrose Obbi 2, Vienna Wilson (Taupo) Love Joy 3, Emma Bates (Rotorua) Destiny’s Park Royal 4, Sophie McQuade (Matamata)
Adlou Patrick Star 5, Tessa Harre (Pio Pio) Whistledown Galileo 6.
North Island Cat B Pony Championship 80cm: Amelia Newsom (Tauranga) Moonspirit Jitterbug 1, Fenella Skelton (Whitianga)
Starlight Smarda 2, Charlotte Guy (Auckland) Tuff Enuff III 3, Brieanna Kersel (Reporoa) Annabelle of Alshar 4, Maddi
Davidson (Te Awamutu) Starlight Indrani 5, Alisha MacFarlane (Cambridge) Starlight Ignite 6.
North Island Open Pony Riders Equitation 80cm: Brianna Lette (Rotorua) My Duplicate 1, Michaelee Head (Cambridge)
Chantilly Lace III 2, Emily Hayman (Pukekawa) Triple Star Clean Slate 3, Lena Hayes (Waikato) Prince Charming 4, Amelia
Paull (Gisborne) Platinum Playboy 5, Molly Pike (Cambridge) Kaimai Rua 6.
North Island Aniwell Cat C Pony Championship 90cm: Michaelee Head (Cambridge) Chantilly Lace III 1, Molly Pike
(Cambridge) Kaimai Rua 2, Emily Hayman (Pukekawa) Triple Star Clean Slate 3, James Steiner (Tauranga) Little Miss
Vanilla Twist 4, Brianna Lette (Rotorua) My Duplicate 5, Lena Hayes (Waikato) Prince Charming 6.
North Island Junior Championship 1m: Katelyn Harper (Cambridge) GT 1, Bryony Smith (Waimauku) Ngahiwi Orlando 2, Mikayla
Herbert (Rotorua) Snow Storm 3, Anna Kincheff (Rotorua) JR Graphite 4, Brianna Hayes (Raglan) Ruatoria Lady Sioux 5,
Madison Tibbits (Auckland) Stone-River Rakau 6.
North Island Amateur Championship 1m: Chloe Van den Boorn (Auckland) Mirrabella Piper 1, Stephie Joustra-Smith
(Waumauku) Disney 2, Macey Gill (Auckland) Astin Martin II 3, Sharyn Goodwin (Hamilton) Showtym Duchess 4, Michael
Morton-Beetham (Cambridge) Flint RC 5, Laura Madden (Papakura) Sedbury’s Wholly Moses 6.
North Island Open Horse Rider Equitation 1m: Abby Robinson (Ohaupo) Hillman Hunter 1, Stephie Joustra-Smith (Waumauku)
Disney 2, Katelyn Harper (Cambridge) GT 3, Macey Gill (Auckland) Astin Martin II 4, Paxton Conder (Tirau) Your Royal
Highness 5, Melanie Dudding (Tuakau) Country Vogue 6.
North Island Open Horse Championship 1.1m: Stephie Joustra-Smith (Waumauku) Disney 1, Macey Gill (Auckland) Astin Martin
II 2, Phillip Steiner (Tauranga) Alaska NZPH 3, Melanie Dudding (Tuakau) Country Vogue 4, Sharyn Goodwin (Hamilton)
Showtym Duchess 5, Abby Robinson (Ohaupo) Hillman Hunter 6.
ends