Exciting World Cup Qualifier Beckons at Dannevirke
Wednesday, 3 January 2024

The FEI World Cup (NZ League) Series is still wide open as riders head into the penultimate round at the Alabaster Contracting Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay Jumping Show at Dannevirke this weekend.

Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) heads the leaderboard on 54 points, with Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) eight points back and Julie Davey (Hastings) another point adrift.

Brooke has twice taken the top points in qualifiers this season and will surely be keen to build on her advantage aboard LT Holst Andrea as the final looms later this month.

Julie has shown to be very much the in-form rider to watch and Saturday will be no different with her mares LT Holst Freda and Just D on the 16 strong card.

Sophie has two lining up with her anchor Waitangi Skynet and World Cup debutant Benrose Stellar. The perennial Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) will start Central Park while Vicki Prendergast (Matamata) is back on her homebred Selena C.

Jake Lambert (Cambridge) and Takapoto Alaid de Chez Nous line up in their first World Cup qualifier together, but both have started before in other combinations.
Logan Massie (Dannevirke) will be hoping home ground advantage pays off for him with his two mounts Bravado Ego Z and Florence, while Takapoto rider Tyla Hackett (Cambridge) and Global PH Cocofino have just their second qualifier start together.

Vicki Wilson (Hastings) has had a single World Cup start for a third placing with Millionaire VWNZ and is on debut with her grey stallion Daminos TWS. Kathryn Loiselle (Norsewood) and Haupouri Drama NZPH are back while Oliver
Edgecombe (Waipukurau) and Takapoto Tinka are on debut as a combination at this level, as is Isabelle Whatley (Carterton) aboard Villarrica.

Heather McDonald is tasked with designing the course, with the class set to go on Saturday afternoon. The winner of the series has the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the world final in Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in late April.

The New Zealand League is run over four qualifiers and the final, with the best four results from each rider to count to their final series tally. The final will be hosted by Waitemata Showjumping at Woodhill Sands on January 14.

FEI World Cup (NZ League) Series (after 3 rounds – best 4 to count): Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) 54 points 1, Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) 46 2, Julie Davey (Hastings) 45 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) 31 4, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) 27 5, Kathryn Loiselle (Norsewood) 20 6.

WHAT: FEI World Cup Qualifier (NZ League)
WHERE: Alabaster Contracting Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay Jumping Show
WHEN: Saturday, January 6, 2024
START LISTS AND RESULTS: www.main-events.com