World Cup Series showjumping final offers CHB rider a shot at treble

Two-time FEI World Cup New Zealand final winner from CHB Brooke Edgecombe aboard LT Holst Andrea will be chasing a treble of titles this weekend. Photo / Cheleken

A treble could be on the cards for Waipukurau showjumper Brooke Edgecombe as she heads into the FEI World Cup (New Zealand League) Series final in Auckland on Sunday.

The two-time World Cup Series final winner will be chasing a three-peat this weekend aboard LT Holst Andrea at Show Jumping Waitemata.

But, she will have to compete in a three-rider battle against back-to-back series winner Tegan Fitzsimon and Taupō teen Annabel Francis.

The 40-year-old was second in the competition last year on 11-year-old holsteiner mare Andrea.

Edgecombe said with the talent in the field, anyone could win this weekend.

"It is wide open." She said. "For me, the final is just another World Cup round, and you try to do the best you can on the day."

Fitzsimon is leading the series with a 10-point buffer on Edgecombe, and Francis another point back in third.

The final offers points-and-a-half, but it gets complicated as each of those top three will have drop scores, having started in all the rounds with just the top four results to count.

League leader Fitzsimon said she will not be starting her superstar Windermere Cappuccino, but instead will compete aboard 8-year-old Campari - the youngest horse in the field.

"It will be a big ask to expect an 8-year-old to go out and win a final like this in such a quality field - so we will just take it how it comes," she said.

The top-flight class will be held in the Giltrap Audi Grass Arena at 2.30pm this Sunday, January 17. The competition finale will be livestreamed on Sky Sport Next via YouTube.

The winner of the New Zealand league usually has the chance to represent the nation at the Longines FEI World Cup Final.

This is scheduled to be held from March 31 to April 5 this year in Gothenburg, Sweden - but with a global pandemic whether it goes ahead is uncertain.