Julie Davey and her horse LT Holst Freda claimed their second straight victory in the ClipMyHorse.TV FEI World Cup NZ League Series on Saturday at Takapoto Estate in Cambridge. The win capped a season-long duel with Sophie Scott, who took the final but fell short in the overall standings. Davey's consistency proved decisive in the closely contested league.
The ClipMyHorse.TV FEI World Cup NZ League Series concluded with Julie Davey of Hastings topping the standings for the second year running, amassing 87 points aboard LT Holst Freda. The final event at the scenic Takapoto Estate in Cambridge highlighted the season's rivalry between Davey and Sophie Scott of Palmerston North, who finished second with 78 points.
In the series finale, Scott rode Australian-bred Normandy GHP to a clear round victory, the only combination to achieve a fault-free performance over two rounds designed by Canadian Peter Holmes. Davey and Freda incurred a single time fault in the opener but jumped clear in the second, securing second place on one fault overall. Scott's other mount, Benrose Stellar, placed third after a clear first round followed by four faults.
"Freda is a lovely horse," Davey said. "We are quite the team. It means a lot to win this again – almost as much as the first time. It is hard to win anything two years in a row!" She praised her competitor: "We get on well and you need someone better than you to make you be better."
Scott reciprocated the admiration: "I am very happy for Julie. Her horse is amazing, and she is always a great competitor. My horses have been amazing this season – I am more than stoked to get the win (in the final)… the series would have just been the cherry on top."
Makenzie Causer of Christchurch placed third in the series with 70 points, riding Dolce Del Colle to fourth in the final. Francesca Corich of Auckland and Tara Gower of Cambridge rounded out the top six. Normandy GHP was the only horse to win twice in the league, including the second qualifier at Takapoto.
As series winner, Davey earns a spot at the FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas, in April. She plans to base in Germany, while Freda, the current Olympic Cup holder, heads to Europe for the World Championships campaign. Luke Dee represented New Zealand at last year's final in Switzerland, finishing 31st.
