Claudia Wilson and Citadelle are the inaugural TiES winners
Citadelle, ridden and owned by Christchurch based Claudia Wilson, has won the very first Thoroughbreds in Equestrian Sports (TiES) series competition in New Zealand
The TiES programme is a new initiative resulting from the partnership between ESNZ and NZ Thoroughbred Racing. The objectives of the scheme are to raise awareness of the huge potential thoroughbred horses have for a career in other equestrian sports after racing and thereby increase opportunities for these horses. The eligibility criteria for the series is that the horse must have been registered with NZTR, although they do not have to have raced.
The ESNZ registered sports of Jumping, Dressage, and Eventing held a competition throughout the 2013/2014 season. Individual titles were on offer at each show with the national title going to the horse with the most points accumulated at the end of the season.
Finishing in 4th place at the NRM Taupo Three Day Event clinched the championship for Wilson and Citadelle, with Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding finishing second.
Ten-year-old Citadelle (formerly Vintage Peak) is by Centaine out of a Musical Phantasy mare called Shekanwyn. Owned by Kem Keene & trained by Lisa Latta, he had two wins and four placings. After finishing racing, Citadelle went to Alice Montgomery who taught him all about his new job. Stephen Montgomery competed him up to 1* level before selling him to Claudia last August.
Claudia was thrilled with her win. "We decided to have a go at the TiES series and finished second at the South Island Dressage Championships in January then second again at the McLeans Island one-day event in March before we ended up fourth at Taupo."
Next season TiES will be run at eligible ESNZ events for Eventing, Dressage, Jumping and Show Hunter with the final event being the Horse of the Year show. $500 will be up for grabs for the winner in each discipline and $2,500 for the national winner. All thoroughbreds will receive a TiES passport when registered with ESNZ. More details about the series will be announced in August.
Claudia and Citadelle at McLeans Island Photo: Annie Studholme
