Equestrian: Red letter weekend for Northland showjumpers

Event secretary and organiser Heather Deane said the event is one of the biggest in the Northland showjumping calenda Photo / Chris Rudsdale

If you're passing through Maunu this weekend and see 236 riders and 384 horses on Barge Park, don't worry, it's for the Northland Area Two Star Jumping Show.

Event secretary and organiser Heather Deane said the event is one of the biggest in the Northland showjumping calendar and was attracting people from as far south as Rotorua.

She said there was likely to be riders who "chase the circuit" attend, much the same as surfers chase the summer around the world.

"It is part of the New Zealand circuit," Deane explained. "People go to these events to collect points on certain classes we run, and that all ends up at the Horse of the Year Awards in March. They chase the circuit.

"Last year we had 268, so we're up by over 100. We're very happy as an organising committee for the entries we have received.

"I do know there was a show which was cancelled in Cambridge, so instead of going to their local show they've travelled. If they want to travel over the Brynderwyns we'll welcome them."

Deane said the event was a "two star", which means the difficulty is up there, but not the hardest there is. Riders would be doing jumps of 1.25m to 1.3m on ponies and 1.25 to 1.5m on horses.

"Sunday is our big day because that's when we have our Pony and Horse Grand Prixes, because the jumps are quite big in them. It's quite a spectacular event ..."

Northlanders to look out for were Vicki Wilson, who is riding about 16 horses, and her sister Amanda. Another to watch was one of Northland's top showjumpers, Nakeysha Lammers, who finished with a place in the Grand Prix this year and is sitting third.