The Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre came alive this weekend for the Tamworth World Cup Show, with some of Australia and New Zealand’s best combinations taking to the arena across a thrilling four days of competition.
With competitions commencing across all three arenas at 7:30am each day, it was dawn ‘til dusk action.
Thursday’s program concluded with the second leg of the Senior Teams Trans-Tasman Test. In an exciting showdown following the first leg held at Waratah World Cup Show just the weekend before, team New Zealand comprising of Sophie Scott (Normandy GHP), Samantha Whale (Fleur Delacour), Oliver Croucher (NRS Ricochet MVNZ) and Emma Gillies (Lafayet Ego Z) came out on top. Australia’s Green team of James Mooney, Gemma Creighton, Mattea Davidson and Clem Smith finished in second ahead of the Australian Gold team, which included William Wood, Paige McBain, Victoria Hoy and Samuel Overton.
616 starts on Friday
Friday was another huge day, with 616 starts across the three arenas. Held in memory of the late Peter Simmonds, Victoria Hoy won the sentimental 1.30m class sponsored by the Friends of Pedro aboard ES Canada.
Held as a warm-up for Saturday’s World Cup Qualifier, Samuel Overton and Conchita Van De Helle impressed the evening crowd with Conchita Van De Helle to secure the win in the Howden Insurance World Cup Welcome Stakes 1.45m.
Over a testing track set by Aran Ghafouri, New Zealand’s Young Rider team secured the win in the second leg of the Divas Beverages Young Rider Trans-Tasman Test, making it back-to-back victories for the Kiwi visitors. The New Zealand team comprising of Sophia Blackbourn (Roxette ECPH), Molly Moffat (Lazarus GNZ), Catalina Rocco (Orietta MVNZ) and Emma Gillies (Benrose Black Jack) will be looking to continue their winning form at the final leg of the competition at Willinga Park in a couple of weeks’ time. Australia’s Green team of Emily Lang-McMahon, Molly Mooney, Emmy Ravenscroft and Holly Tomkins picked up second place ahead of the Australian Gold team comprised of Lorna Clifford, Ella Silk, Olivia Gostelow and Mack Rudder.
Saturday’s action
Saturday presented a jam-packed program, including the Winnings Futurity and the Hunter Homes Children’s Tour Final, before culminating in the feature class of the event, the Carmyle Veterinary Services Tamworth World Cup Qualifier.
In the Winnings Futurity for horses six, seven and eight years old, James Paterson-Robinson rode Inca NZPH to finish atop the leaderboard just fractions of a second ahead of runners up Chloe Latham and Cil Dara Dainty. Rounding out the top three in this class was Paige McBain and her home bred gelding Greengrove Caspian.
In the hotly contested Hunter Homes Children’s Tour Final, Mila Jakic and Tarcoola Leo were crowned champions ahead of fellow competitors Alexa Garcia and Sylvie Rudder.
World Cup win for Sophie Scott
As a large crowd gathered in the grandstands of AELEC, twenty of Australia and New Zealand’s best World Cup combinations took to centre stage to take on the challenge set by course designer Mark Atkins.
At the conclusion of the first round, Sophie Scott and Benrose Stellar were the only combination to record a clear round. Three combinations joined Sophie in the jump off carrying one time penalty including Samuel Overton and World Cup debutant Cha Cha Blue GHP, James Mooney and KPH Cavatina, and Sophie Scott with her second ride Normandy GHP.
With the crowd on the edge of their seats, twelve combinations returned to contest the jump off. Carrying only one time penalty through from the first round, last week’s Waratah World Cup Winner Sam Overton returned to the arena, this time with World Cup debutant Cha Cha Blue GHP. Sam well and truly put the pressure on those to follow with a clear round to jump to the top of the leaderboard. James Mooney and the lovely KPH Cavatina also jumped clear, however weren’t quite quick enough to trouble Sam’s position.
It all came down to the final rider, twenty-three-year-old New Zealander Sophie Scott and her nomination of Normandy GHP. In just his second ever World Cup Qualifier, Normandy GHP showed his class to produce a quick clear to secure the win. For Sophie who has been campaigning in Australia as part of the New Zealand team in the Trans-Tasman Test, this trip will surely be one of a lifetime.
Whilst it was a win for the Kiwis, it was also a win for Australian breeding. Both Normandy GHP and runner up Cha Cha Blue GHP were bred at Glen Haven Park by Queenslander Olivia Hamood. For Olivia, who was in the crowd to celebrate, Saturday’s results were incredibly exciting and a testament to her breeding program.
Finals day
Sunday was finals day across the three arenas. In the JNSW Bronze Tour Final, Billy Raymont took the win aboard Nixstar ahead of Gemma Creighton and Krescendo. In the JT Fossey Cars and Trucks Silver Tour Final, Paige McBain aboard Charlotta II were crowned victorious, continuing their winning form from last week’s victory in the Riders Cup at Waratah.
In the JNSW Young Rider Final, Holly Tomkins and Finch Farm Vroom took the win ahead of Olivia Gostelow and Tulara Cristo and Elkee Lang-McMahon who rounded out the top three with Balmoral Lassandra. In the Trailrace Junior Tour Final Kadell Sykes and her eye-catching Rocket of Gold took home the win.
In the Black Diamond Building and Construction Arena, Michael Short and Belle Phlynn Park Calisto were the winners of the Orangeville Performance Horses Rising Stars 7 Years and Under, whilst Mia Jensen and Vakarra Kahlua were crowned champions in the JPR Equestrian Amateur Final.
View all the results from the AELEC Tamworth World Cup show via Equipe.
