The second qualifying class in the Takapoto Estate Showjumping Gold Tour was conducted this afternoon at the beautiful Takapoto Estate. The top six placings in yesterday’s first qualifier were:

In warm sunshine, twenty-one combinations competed in the Belleview Arena with a view to being invited to participate in Sunday’s final. In what turned out to be a challenging course, only five of the combinations were able to record clear rounds.

The fastest of these clear rounds was Taupo’s young-gun, Briar Burnett-Grant in combination with the 10-year-old red roan gelding Fibre Fresh Veroana. Flash, as he known at home, was “particularly suited to the open course which allowed him to utilise his speed”, said Burnett-Grant.

Briar Burnett-Grant and Fiber Fresh Veroana

Briar Burnett-Grant and Fiber Fresh Veroana

Just over two seconds slower, was Hastings rider Melody Matheson, who, in combination with the 9-year-old bay mare Cortaflex Graffiti MH, took out 2nd place. Brooke Edgecombe, who came 2nd in the recent World Cup Qualifying series, and LT Holst Andrea took out third, less than a second behind.

Melody Matheson and Cortaflex Graffiti MH

Brooke Edgecombe and LT Holst Andrea

Fourth fastest of the clear rounds was the current Australian Senior Champion combination of Amber Fuller and CP Aretino, who is visiting Takapoto from Sydney. Fifth place in the class went to Nicole White and her 12-year-old gelding LC Sampson. White, who has travelled all the way from Invercargill, had a much-improved round after they took four rails to finish 26th yesterday. Filling 6th place was the other Australian visitor in the field, Kate Hinschen with  Finch Farm Cadel. Hinschen, who placed second in the recently completed Australian World Cup Qualifying series, is in fine form after her second placing in last week’s Gold Tour at Takapoto.

New Zealand Jumping is looking forward to capturing all the action in Sunday’s Gold Tour Final and wish all competitors the best of luck.

The top six placegetters in this class were: