Colossal effort to keep show running

Lynley Stockdale (left), from Waimate, and Megan Robinson, from Timaru, soldier on in the muddy conditions at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds.

The skies opened up but the show will go on.

Horse of the Year organisers were pushed to their limits yesterday by the impending arrival of Cyclone Pam, with heavy rain and 120km per hour winds forecast.

Horses were halted in Taupo, with around 250 spending the night at the National Equestrian Centre there, while others were moved from Hawke's Bay Showgrounds to the race course.

Ruby Hansen, 7, from Hamilton, wheels her bike through the mud and rain at Hawke’s Bay Showgrounds, Hastings, where the Horse of the Year Show officially kicks off today.

"It has been horrendous," show director Kevin Hansen says, "but it has also brought out the best side of human nature.

"The support we have received and the understanding from riders, supporters and volunteers has just been incredible - we are hugely appreciative of that support."

He hoped to have a helicopter in the air tomorrow evening drying out Land Rover Premier Arena, in readiness for the first big event of the show - Wednesday's Norwood Gold Cup. Hansen estimated the showgrounds would be full last night with about 8000 people and 1800 horses.

"Once we get everything in here, we'll be fine ..."

Tractors with chains were on standby to help any trucks which become stuck.

However the biggest impact from bad weather has been on the tradespeople, who moved more than $10 million of stock last year. "We've probably got 20 to 30 tonnes of freight under the grandstand waiting to be moved into marquees," Mr Hansen says. "It is a colossal job getting that to all the trade sites, some of the marquees are full of water and we've been digging drains to try and clear it."

Many of the sites could only be accessed by foot last night, while organisers worked to reduce the footprint of all machinery at the grounds. Warm-up and training areas for horses were also in short supply, but Mr Hansen said they were working to clear spaces for them. "The show will go on - everyone is here and ready to go. This is the event they all work towards all season ... it is where they want to win the big titles."

Competition was canned yesterday but gets underway this morning. The show is worth in excess of $12.5 million to the Hawke's Bay economy each year, with more than 80,000 spectators set to flow through the gates over the six days. The show culminates on Sunday when the Bostock International Olympic Cup is presented to the Showjumper of the Year.