Riding high: two months worth of competition bring podium results

Sam Brooks on his horse The Tontonator, took second in the showjumping, winning the Lidy Memorial Trophy 1m showjumping. Picture by Paul Rickard

Gisborne riders continued to shine at equestrian events outside the district over the past two months.

Several competed at the Central Hawke’s Bay A&P Show in early November.

Molly McEwan and her pony Wembleybrook Giovanni were placed first in both the novice working hunter with up to five wins and the open working hunter pony, and then picked up the award for champion working hunter pony.

They were first in both the novice pony hunter over fences (0-5 wins) and open pony hunter over fences, and then won the Blair Taylor Memorial Trophy for champion hunter jumping pony, and qualification for the champion of champions competition.

That combination also picked up a fifth placing in the pony mini prix over 1.10 metres.

Sam Brooks and The Tontonator were second in the 90-centimetre showjumping and were the winners of the Lidy Memorial Trophy 1m showjumping.

Ella Rouse and MJK Durham won the Auckland and Waitemata Show Hunter Junior Equitation Series and the Equimatch Junior High Points Class.

Ella and her pony Let’s Rumble Bumble were third in the pony 1m and 1.10m showjumping.

Oliver Bevitt and Dublin VWNZ were first-equal in the East Coast Performance Horses Five-year-old Breeders’ Series.

Georgie Coop and Gaucho were first in the pony 1m showjumping and fourth in the 1.05m. With Barney Rubble, Georgie had a win in the pony 1.05m, a fourth placing in the 1.10m and a third in the mini prix 1.10m.

In the show hunter ring, Georgie and Barney Rubble were first in the Category B high points and first in the 12-years-and-under rider equitation.

Caroline Coop and Zola were first-equal in the East Coast Performance Horses Five-year-old Breeders’ Series, first in the amateur show hunter, second in the adult equitation and third in the open 1m.

Oliver Bevitt and Astek Quickstep competed at the Flaxmere Pony Club ODE where they were placed third in the open 80cm.

And at the Waipawa Sports, Oliver and Dublin VWNZ were fifth in the 1.20m showjumping.

In early November, Iyve Spears, Ella Rouse and Ruby Carr hit the road to compete at shows on the Taranaki circuit.

First up was the Wanganui A&P Show.

Iyve and her pony Ace placed second in the Tartek Pony 1m, third in the Eastown Pony 1.05/1.10m, second in the P Neal Accountants 1m and finally first for the second year running in the Highlander Cabins Pony Mini Prix.

Iyve also placed third in the P Neal Accountants 1m on WE Benson.

Ella and MJK Durham were second in the Auckland and Waitemata Show Hunter Group Junior Rider Equitation Series and fifth in the Equimatch Junior High Points.

Ruby Carr and MJK Isle of Skye were placed second in the intro pony 80cm and second in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Show Hunter Group 12-years-and-under Equitation Series.

Iyve, Ella and Ruby then continued on to the Waverley A&P Show.

Iyve placed first in the Egmont Horse Coaches Pony Series 1m on Ace and fourth on WE Benson, and then fourth in The Gambler Pony Championship 1.10m on Ace.

Ruby was first in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Show Hunter Group 12-years-and-under Equitation Series and fourth in the Category C pony 90cm show hunter.

Ella and MJK Durham were third in the horse 1m show hunter, first in the Equimatch Junior High Points Show Hunter, second in the Auckland and Waitemata Junior Equitation Series and fourth in the 1.20m showjumping.

Their final stop before home was the Egmont A&P Show, where Iyve placed first on Ace and fourth on WE Benson in the open pony 1m, fourth on WE Benson in the Saddlery Warehouse Open Pony 1.10m and first in the open pony 1.10m.

Consistent results over the three shows mean Iyve leads the Egmont Horse Coaches Pony Series with Ace.

Ruby and MJK Isle of Skye were second on both days in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Show Hunter Group 12-years-and-under Equitation Series and third in the Brave Pants Company Category C High Points Series.

Ella and MJK Durham placed third and fourth in the Equimatch Junior High Points over the two days and won the Waitemata and Auckland Show Hunter Junior Equitation Series on both days.

Fraser Babbington had a fantastic time at the Bayleys Hawke’s Bay National Young Horse Jumping Championships.

Aerials Airline Alley (bred by Warwick and Fraser Tombleson) jumped three clear rounds over the three days and won the Equine Science New Zealand Four-year-old.

Fraser was also second with Midweek Martini (bred by Caroline and Diesel Coop).

In the East Coast Performance Horses Five-year-old class, Fraser was fourth with Awanui’s Tennessee Honey (bred by Trevor and Natasha Chambers).

Fraser’s partner, Emma Gibson, took over the ride of Midweek Martini in the show hunter and was placed fourth in the four-year-old show hunter championship.

Ella Rouse and MJK Durham also competed at the Young Horse Show and again came away with a win in the Equimatch Junior High Points Series class.

They were also second in the Auckland and Waitemata Show Hunter Group Equitation and third in the NRM Open High Points Series.

It was nice to see a show again being held in Opotiki, and a few riders made the trip through the Waioeka Gorge and enjoyed the hospitality of the Eastern Bay of Plenty Group.

Sarah Kapene and Pearl were winners in the 80-90cm derby and second in the 90cm showjumping.

Sam Brooks and The Tontonator were second in the 95cm showjumping, fourth in the 1m pony classic and third in the 85cm pony derby.

With The Lone Ranger, Sam was fourth in the 95cm showjumping and third in the 90cm pony classic.

Georgie Coop and Barney Rubble won the pony derby 0.95-1.05m, and were third in the 1.05m welcome stakes and fourth in the pony 1.10m championship.

With Gaucho, Georgie was fourth in the pony 0.95-1.05m derby.

Caroline Coop and Zola were placed fourth in the 0.95-1.05m derby.

Paula Newman and Holly won the horse 90cm championship.

Megan Crawshaw and Indianna were fourth in the horse 75cm and second in the horse 80cm championship.

Georgia Hulme-Moir and Chica Caliente were placed second in the pony 1.05m, third in the pony derby 0.95-1.05m, first in the 1m and second in the 1.10m. Iyve Spears and her ponies went to the Taupo Christmas Classic, where they had another good show and picked up numerous placings.

On the Thursday, Iyve rode WE Benson to victory in the open pony 1m.

In the open pony 1.10m, she placed first on WE Benson and second on Ace.

On Friday she took first place on Ace and second place on WE Benson in the open pony 1m, and finished the day winning the open pony 1.10m on Ace.

On Saturday, Iyve gave the pony six-bar challenge a go, clearing 1.40m on Ace.

She gave the next round of 1.50m a go and had two rails down, but for Ace — a little pony — it was an impressive effort.

Georgie Coop and Barney Rubble were second in the pony 1.10m.