Two Titles for Tegan

Tegan Fitzsimon & Windermere Cappuccino on their way to winning the National Grand Prix Title (Image: Jane Thompson, Pegasus Communications)

Tegan Fitzsimon won two major titles on the final day of the Tavendale & Partners National Show Jumping Championships.

Windermere Cappuccino added a national title to his already comprehensive CV when he triumphed in the feature event in Christchurch today.

The final two round of the Dunstan Horsefeeds & Equifibre National Grand Prix was watched by a good sized crowd who were treated to a nail-biting finish which came down to the last fence.

Tegan Fitzsimon and the superstar Windermere Cappuccino (“Vollie”) came into the final round just 0.64 behind Steffi Whittaker on Eros K. Both horses had jumped clear in the first speed class on Friday and then again the first round of the Grand Prix. It all came down to the final round of the Gerit Becker designed course and it didn’t look like it was going to be Tegan’s day when Vollie took a pole. “He just felt like he was running out of fuel towards the end, it was really hot and he hasn’t done a lot of jumping since he won the World Cup Final,” Tegan said.

Steffi and Eros K had been looking good all show, but the big chestnut stallion made one mistake mid-way through the round, and then heartbreakingly knocked the last fence down as well, to give the win to Tegan and Vollie.

This win meant a lot to Tegan. “I didn’t really know where I was going to be with the horse and I didn’t even think I would be able to start in this competition. I am just grateful that I am here. He has given me everything today and he has come out on top. He really does deserve this title. I am so pleased that his name is now on the Mary Dalley Memorial Trophy.”

She also admitted to a few tears, and predicted there were many more to come as it looks like he will be sold to the USA. He has passed the veterinary inspections and now the potential new owner is coming out to ride the horse. “Yes, there have been quite a few tears, but he is worth them.”

Alacazam MH and Tegan Fitzsimon (Image: Jane Thompson)

Tegan also came third in the class with her other horse, Double J Monarch. These placings came on top of another great win in the Hygain NZ National 1.30m Horse Championship on her faithful campaigner, Alacazam MH. The 20-year-old horse looked half his age, and headed off Molly Buist-Brown and Vali who looked like they had the competition wrapped up until they faulted at the last fence. Tegan triumphed again as a result and was delighted for Alacazam. “He has won Young Rider titles and stuff like that before, but never a National championship title. He must have heard us talking about him retiring!”

As to whether retirement ever will come for the horse, Tegan says it all just depends on how he feels from now on. And as to celebrations after a great weekend of showjumping, Tegan doesn’t drink alcohol so was looking forward to a fanta and then a good sleep!

Lincoln’s Sophie Geddes had a thrilling result in the Fiber Fresh NZ National Pony Championship, taking out first and second place with her ponies Benrose Silver Shadow and Te Ngaio Raggamuffin respectively. “I have never been first and second before, so it is a pretty cool feeling,” she said. “I have never won a National title either though!”

Sophie has had Benrose Silver Shadow for just over a year, and Te Ngaio Raggamuffin for two years. The 15-year-old St Margaret’s College student is planning on heading to the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings in mid-March, with the Pony of the Year in her sights.

Dunstan Horsefeeds & Equifibre NZ National Grand Prix Horse Championship in conjunction with Wilcox Perlas Potatoes

1st Windermere CappuccinoTegan Fitzsimon (West Melton)

2nd Eros K Steffi Whittaker

3rd Double J Monarch Tegan Fitzsimon

4th Cera Cassina Kimberley Bird

ygain NZ National 1.30m Horse Championship

1st Alacazam MH Tegan Fitzsimon

2nd Vali Molly Buist-Brown

3rd WS Paradise Rebecca Wardle

4th Kiwi Spirit Grace Percy

Fiber Fresh NZ National Pony GP Championship

1st Benrose Silver Shadow Sophie Geddes (Lincoln)

2nd Te Ngaio Raggamuffin Sophie Geddes

3rd MF Spot Me Ella Wylie

4th EB Esperenza Harriet Stock

Tavendale & Partners NZ National 1.20m Horse Championship

1st Winterberg Lucinda Askin (Leeston)

2nd Silversmith Amy McMullan

3rd Commissioner Chris Harris

4th Wallflower Kate Cavanagh

Hilton Press NZ National 1.10m Horse Championship

1st LC Umhlanga Rocks Nicole White (Invercargill)

2nd Williby Wisdom Victoria Brown

3rd RH Royally Olivia Brown

4th Sunny Disposition Grace Percy

5th Ngahiwi Call Girl Florence Tapley

Zilco NZ National 1.00m Horse Championship

1st Leopoldo TSH Ella Rae-Wood (West Coast)

2nd Good Luck Charlie Abbey Baker

3rd Firebird Timothy Richards

4th Ziggy Stardust Grace Percy

T & M Nurseries NZ National 1.10m Pony Competition

1st Freestyle Twyst & Meg Bisset (Blenheim)

2nd Galaxy Masterpiece Madeline Woods

3rd Tallyho Primrose Ella Rae-Wood

4th Junior Disco Samantha Gillies

RVC NZ National 1m Pony Championship

1st Tallyho Cleopatra Ruby Rae-Wood (West Coast)

2nd Missing Peices Summer Borrie

3rd Tallyho Mayflower Ella Wylie

4th Aorangi Bella Charlotte Bota

Show Hunter

LONE GOAT VINEYARD NZ National Title Open Championship 1.15m

1st Vera Mera VA Anna Redmond

2nd Shaw Lee Emily Cammock

3rd Carolina Zoe Shore

4th Eye Candy Katie Meredith

MORRISON’S SADDLERY NZ National Title Amateur Championship 1m

1st Kosciuszko Melanie Morris

2nd My Countess Emily Barton

3rd PL Classic Z Hayley Shaw

4th PL Queen of Hearts Hayley Shaw

BROUGH EQUESTRIAN NZ National Title Junior Championship 1m

1st Tikity Tok Sarah Hay

2nd Paintball Georgia Allison

3rd Silver Sonic Abriele Morse

4th Good Luck Charlie Abbey Baker