“He’s just a big gentle giant. I have been working hard on flat-schooling him, which helps with the turns out there.”
Kershaw and seven-year-old Kiwi Vision train with Andrew Scott, who Kershaw said had been instrumental in helping develop the Fernhill Stud-bred horse.
They did a few Amateur Series starts late last season and Kershaw planned to do as many as she could this season.
It was a small field that lined up in the series class at the Gisborne show, with a four-fault jump-off between Randall and Kershaw.
“Jenny is very hard to beat in any jump-off so I knew I had to do tight turns out there; I just went for it,” Kershaw said.
They had an early rail but Kershaw said she was just happy to be there and even prouder of her horse.
“A rail is nothing for a young horse like him,” she said.
Randall and Nero Bello looked on track for a winning round until the Emerre and Hathaway fence, where they dropped a rail and then another in quick succession before opting to retire.
Placing third in the class was Sarah Denton (Feilding) on BSF Sequell.
Both Kershaw and Randall did well in the show hunter classes earlier in the show.
Top-ranked Australian course designer Graeme Watts is loving his first visit to Gisborne.
“These are beautiful grounds and the footing has been safe and good,” he said.
And he’s been impressed with the horsepower he has seen.
“It is very similar to what we have in Australia at the top end – there is a lot of quality but due to our location there’s not the quantity of horse and rider at the top,” he said.
Graeme is one of a handful of FEI Level 3 course designers in Australasia. He’s in New Zealand to build the opening FEI World Cup Qualifier in Hastings next week, which has meant many of that field are competing at the Gisborne Show to get a feel for his courses.
His courses have produced some excellent classes so far. Brooke and Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) took the quinella in the open horse 1.4m on Thursday with Brooke winning on LT Holst Andrea and Oliver runner-up on Takapoto Tinka. Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) and Windermere Cappuccino were third.
Oliver Edgecombe won the open horse 1.3m, on Normandy GHP.
In the show hunter arena, Hollie Falloon rode Merran Hain’s Untouchable to take the champion show hunter title. Jenny Randall and Nero Bello were runners-up.
In the showing, Gisborne rider Briar Herries and Skibbereen Xtravagant were reserve champion first- ridden pony behind Millie White (Otane) and Leeara Park First Edition.
China Gunness (Gisborne) and Mr O’Likely were reserve champion novice hack behind Adrienne van den Berk (Hastings) and Royal Oak, who also won the champion open hack crown.
Molly McEwen and Wembleybrook Giovanni won the champion hunter jumping pony and the supreme champion working hunter pony. Fellow local rider Zoe McNaught and Nitro Pandora were reserve champion in both classes.
Vinessa Taylor and Shotgun won the champion novice park hack ahead of Bianca Gardiner on Lysnar Valley Glen.
Former eventer Danielle Wheeler and CP Aurelio took out the champion novice riding horse ahead of Jade Gunness and Budwiser.
Henrike Puketapu and HSP Soe won the champion open riding horse, with Wheeler and CP Aurelio reserve. Puketapu also won the champion senior rider ribbon and took out the supreme champion paced and mannered horse of the show with HSP Soe.
Lisa Walker and MJK Vern were reserve champion novice saddle hunter behind Whakat`ane visitor Karen McRobbie and Rhylie. The result was replicated in the champion open saddle hunter class.
Axelrose Campbell and Irie Queen won the champion novice saddle hunter pony (not exceeding 138cm).
Olivia Fay Briant and Totaranui Hope took the champion novice saddle hunter pony (over 138cm and not exceeding 143cm), and was reserve champion in the open saddle hunter pony (over 138cm and not exceeding 143cm).
Jordan-Ivy Campbell and Valley Heights Court Jester won the “tomorrow’s stars” class, with Wairoa’s Ella Powdrell and Wilbur runners-up.
