Lilly Tootill on Ulysses NZPH.

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Lily Tootill and Ulysses NZPH have laid down the challenge for the rest of the nation’s top jumpers who are keen to chase honours in the New Zealand World Cup League which got underway on Friday at the Hawke’s Bay Royal A&P Show in Hastings.

Fourteen started the international class with clear rounds coming from first-timer Lucinda Askin (Ashburton) aboard Portofino, along with former series winner, Olympian Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) on Mandalay Cove, Lily (Karaka) on Ulysses NZPH and Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) aboard LT Holst Andrea. Sitting on four faults apiece were the stallions – Eros K with Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) and Bravado Ego Z with Jasmine Sketchley (Whangarei). Those six were the only combinations to come back for the second round of the Roger Laplanche designed course where Lucinda and Steffi both finished on 16 faults, Jasmine added eight to finish on 12 faults, Maurice had also picked up eight, with Brooke and Lily both all clear. Lily and her former Olympic Cup winner Ulysses NZPH stopped the clock at 64.98 seconds to take the win over Brooke’s steady clear in 69.45.

“I would have been happy if we were double clear and 10th,” said 21-year-old Lily. “I came into this wanting to jump double clear, and to win is a bonus.”

The combination looked a little strong coming into the second to last fence, a big triple bar, but 11-year-old Ulysses NZPH “exploded” over it. “He is just amazing,” said his doting owner.

It is their second World Cup victory. “I thought the first round was very encouraging and approachable but they certainly wacked those jumps up for the second – especially that triple bar.”

Lily has had a good show with her team and with her winnings in her pocket, she’s contemplating heading across the Tasman to watch the Cox Plate in Melbourne. She and Ulysses, who are in their fourth season together, will target the World Cup Series but not at all costs. “I want to keep those double clears coming and to be consistent but I am not going to run his legs off.”

She is planning on heading to the UK with her chestnut gelding towards the end of the season. “He is the most humble and sweetest horse in the world,” said Lily of Ulysses. “All he wants is a pat.”

Steffi, who at 18 was in her first world cup start, placed fifth in the class aboard Eros K and they also won the prize as the best presented combination at the horse inspection.

The New Zealand World Cup series will continue at the Egmont A&P Show (November 16-18), Feilding (November 30-December 1), Taupo’s Christmas Classic (December 13-16), and the Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay Showjumping Show (January 4-6), with the grand finale at the Waitemata World Cup Festival in Auckland (January 10-14).
The winner of the series has the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the world final in Sweden next year.
 
Results:

ESNZ FEI World Cup (NZ qualifier – first round):
1st - Lily Tootill (Karaka) Ulysses NZPH
2nd - Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Andrea
3rd - Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Mandalay Bay 
4th - Jasmine Sketchley (Whangarei) Bravado Ego Z 
5th - Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) Eros K
6th - Lucinda Askin (Ashburton) Portofino  

Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series:
1st - Olivia Apatu (Waipukurau) Alasaan Arzu 
2nd - Phoebe Burns (Hastings) Galaxy Masterpiece
3rd - Tara Gower (Ohura) Ngahiwi Roany Pony
4th - Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Maddox Fun House 
5th - Lily Moore (Poukawa) Showtym Highlight and
5th - Lilly Carpenter (Taihape) Tallyho Mystic
 
FMG Young Rider Series:
1st - Drew Carson (Putaruru) Winston V Driene
2nd - Nicola Hammond (Cambridge) Carlo I
3rd - Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) On the Point Eve 
4th - Oliver Croucher (Cambridge) Waitangi Surf
5th - Olivia Dalton (Karaka) Master of Hossack
6th - Maia Coster (Tauranga) Landenfeld
 
Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old Series:
1st - Heloise Tolo (Wellington) Can’t Touch This NZPH
2nd - Robert Steele (Dannevirke) Two Eye See 
3rd - Ashley Hart (Hastings) Kiwi Cheroso 
4th - Alyvia James (Cambridge) LC Taste of Diamonds
5th - Samantha Peters (Whangarei) Cadillac NZPH
6th - Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Lamondo GNZ
 
Mitavite Speedi-Beet Six-Year-Old Series:
William Willis (Karaka) Chio MS, Heloise Tolo (Wellington) Dangermouse NZPH, Lily Tootill (Karaka) Domino NZPH, Harry Feast (West Melton) Double J Barista, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Double J Kelvin, Kathryn Alabaster (Ocean Beach) Drama NZPH, Sophie Scott (Wellington) Glenbrooke Rich as Roses and Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Elizabeth =1.
 
East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series:
Jaime Campbell (Cambridge) Casanova Xtreme and Rose Alfeld (Leeston) Eye Catcher NZPH =1.
 
Dunstan Horsefeeds and EquiFibre Junior Rider Series:
1st - Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Maddox Kiwi Silverkee
2nd - Samantha Carrington (Takapau) Double J Breeze On
3rd - Amy Moore (Rotorua) Cricklewood Banjo
4th - Katie Bridgeman (Auckland) Centino 
5th - Maia Coster (Tauranga) Clearwater
6th - Ally Carson (Putaruru) Whiorau Ritchie
 
Dunstan Horsefeeds and EquiFibre Pro-Amateur Rider Series:
1st - Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Victoria’s Secret
2nd - Will Lyles (Taupo) Mangatu Bandito
3rd - Jaime Campbell (Cambridge) Lanice van de Heffinck
4th - Christine Cornege (Cambridge) Varekai SL
5th - Vicki Ridley (Auckland) Mosaic II
6th - Bob Bleakley (Cambridge) Airthrey Resolution  
 
Hinterland Amateur Rider Series:
1st - Jessica Giles (Upper Hutt) Dining at Dusk
2nd - Shelley Bridgeman (Auckland) Midway Smooth Dude
3rd - Caroline Sutherland (Whakatane) Layla MVNZ
4th - Kaleigh Kent (Otane) Double J Sponge Bob Square Pants
5th - Frankie Darter (Wairoa) Ngahiwi Vesper
6th - Emma Deadman (Taupo) Avichi AF

Source: Event press release

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