Equestrian: Showjumping riches for Best

New Zealand's richest showjumping prize was decided at Kawerau's Festival of Showjumping yesterday.

The Pinelands Grand Prix was a two-round competition, with six horses and riders going into the jump-off with double clear rounds.

Some of the most experienced showjumping riders featured, with the top honours going to two of the best.

Hastings rider and Olympic silver medallist Greg Best was first to go in the jump-off and set a hot pace with a third clear round and a time of 29.85s.

Clevedon's John Cottle, riding a new horse, the imported Australian mare Miss Brunei, jumped second and was also clear, on 30.36s.

In fact, they were the only clear rounds in the jump-off.

Best won the $10,000 first prize and John Cottle took $5000 for second.

Third was Gisborne rider Merran Hain, with Tregonning, on four faults.

Waipukurau rider Claire Murphy on Answer Back was fourth, Lisa Coupe, from Kumeu, on Jemima Puddleduck fifth, and Wairoa's Molly Savill and Richard the Third sixth.

Seventh equal were Molly Savill, on Kiwi Brave, Sam Beatson (Dannevirke) on Primo Ventura, Catherine Cameron (Te Puke) on Belltower and Doug Isaacson (Dannevirke) on It's About Time.

The Pony Grand Prix at Kawerau was won by Sam Duncan (Hunterville) on Cheblinkers.

Kate Hartley and Mr Skywalker (Whakatane) were second, Melanie Purcell (Kawerau) was third and fourth with Zing and Transformer, and John Sullivan and Ridgewood Panache (Takanini) were fifth.

- NZPA