January 24, 2012

With under three weeks until the New Zealand Showjumping Championships, the Ashburton Area One Star Show acted as a forerunner for some of the contenders on the weekend.

Rolleston's Tegan Fitzsimon got off to a flying start, taking out the first southern round of the Horse Grand Prix series for the year.
Riding the starry Alacazam MH, the in-form combination produced the only clear in an action-filled first round of the two-round competition, in which two of the six-strong field were eliminated.
Held in wet and heavy conditions, Fitzsimon had just the one rail down in the second round over the Roger Lap-lanche-designed track to win ahead of Cave's Kelly Evans on Hammertime, second, on nine faults incurred in the first round.
Emily Cammock of West Melton finished third on Transcend with a total of 20 faults ahead of Chris Harris and Zilco Te Peka Lotto out of Alesbury fourth with 30.
Fitzsimon's win backed up from a strong second behind Dunedin's Brittany Whelan on George Jetson in the South Island young rider yesterday going down in the jump-off, after being one of the only two combinations to go clear in the first round.
Despite the inclement weather, the Pony Grand Prix yielded some tough competition with a strong field of 10 starters.
Top local hope Lucinda Askin on Totem and Ohoka's Olivia Robertson on Mr Black Magic were left to battle it out in the jump-off after posting the only two double-clears over the two rounds.
Robertson took the honours with the faster time in the jump-off, leaving Askin second.
Kimberley Bird rounded out the top five with on Showtym Image for fourth and fifth on Brenwood Stevie James.
Harris took out the 1.30m Horse Championship on Zilco Cassius GNZ ahead of Georgina Power's duo Brooklynite (second) and Waldorf (third) out of Little River.
On Sunday Rose Alfeld (Weedons) returned to winning form in the Junior Rider taking the honours aboard My Super Nova with a scorching 41.45 against the clock in the jump-off, ahead of Lily Catterick (Queenstown) on Adoris, second, and Bonnie Farrant (Rangiora) and Kaipara Dior, third, having all jumped double clear.
Alfeld was also fourth on her second ride Last Song.
The hotly contested Amateur went to Gore's Fiona Sharp and Rainbow Priceless with a smart 42.58 in the jump-off, well clear of her closest rival Melanie Morris (Oxford) and Malluka second on 46.94 with Kate Taylor (Kurow) and Next third stopping the clock in 48.70.
South Island Open Pony Points Prize went to Jamiee Bird on Bucc A Boo followed by Askin on Mahoe Moon Frost in second.
The two-day show attracted large fields making for some stiff competition, just what the riders wanted before the Nationals at McLeans Island starting on February 10.

Pictured: Lucy Askin and Mahoe Moon Frost clear a rail during the two-day Ashburton Area ESNZ One Star Show.

Photo Tetsuro Mitomo