RIDING HIGH: Gisborne’s Hain inducted into ESNZ Hall of Fame

Hain with a bunch of ribbons won at the 1980 Poverty Bay A&P Show including champion open hack on board Smiley John. Hain was among the country’s top riders for decades and is widely regarded as having ridden more horses in more competitions than any other Kiwi rider. Picture from Herald files

The accolades for top equestrienne Merran Hain QSM continue.

The Gisborne grandmother can already lay claim to winning every major national title in the sport and has now added the Equestrian Sports New Zealand Hall of Fame to her CV.

Hain, John Cottle, the late Peter Morris, Catriona Williams and Alan Hampton ONMZ were inducted into the Hall of Fame at a special awards dinner in Christchurch.

The evening was all the more special as Hain’s husband Sid and daughter Diana and her family were on hand for the presentation.

“It was great to have them all there for the awards,” she said.

Hain’s list of achievements is a reflection of her skill, tenacity and passion for the sport.

She has ridden at top level on the national show circuit, competing across such disciplines as showjumping, show hunter, eventing and dressage for nearly 70 years.

She is widely regarded as having ridden more horses in more competitions than any other Kiwi rider.

Hain is believed to be the only New Zealander to have represented the nation at senior level in showjumping, dressage and eventing — a feat unlikely to ever be repeated.

Her first major title came in 1968 when she was a surprise winner of the Lady Rider of the Year crown at the Horse of the Year show.

The successes have kept coming ever since.

She has twice won the Olympic Cup as Showjumper of the Year at the Horse of the Year and in 2003 was the oldest to have done so at that time.

She was also the first to win three championships at the prestigious event.

Her horses have been ridden by many an Olympian including Sir Mark Todd aboard Bago at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, with Hain his groom.

Hain’s fellow inductee Hampton wasn’t able to attend the awards dinner so she visited him the following day to present it.

The 93-year-old is a trustee of the Ian Nimon Memorial Trust, which offers financial support to young riders heading offshore, and has asked Hain to take over as  chair.

“He has done so much for the sport,” said Hain. “He certainly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.”

The ESNZ Hall of Fame was introduced in 2019 with Olympians Todd, Blyth Tait, Andrew Nicholson and Vaughn Jeffries the first inductees.

The following year, 1964 Tokyo Olympians Bruce and Graeme Hansen  and Charlie Matthews — all of Gisborne — alongside Adrian White were inducted.

In 2021, there was another Gisborne connection when Marcia Bayley — Sid Hain’s sister — was inducted.

In 2010 Hain was an inaugural inductee into the Horse of the Year Hall of Fame and she is also in the Tairāwhiti Legends of Sport Hall of Fame.