Tauranga trio jump for glory

Three Tauranga riders will be keen to make a big mark on the 2011 Horse of the Year Show this week.
Ike Unsworth, along with Sally and New Zealand test rider Phillip Steiner, have their eyes on the clutch of top prizes - first up for the trio will be the Norwood Gold Cup tomorrow.
Unsworth came out of nowhere to win that prestigious cup in 2007 aboard Senator VDL and he'd dearly love to repeat the victory.
However, the 29-year-old stud manager and rider at Mount View Sport Horses will be competing at the show with a broken hand. He was riding a young horse several weeks back and while he didn't fall off, he rolled his hand in an awkward way.
"It's strapped but a bit sore so it is not the ideal way to be going to the Horse of the Year Show but that's what happens with horses isn't it," Unsworth said.
Unsworth is taking just two horses to the show instead of the bevvy he'd normally compete on.
Both 12-year-old Seremonie VDL and eight-year-old Wimbledon MVNZ will start in the Norwood and the Silver Fern Stakes - the second richest class of the show which also includes the Australia-New Zealand test.
Seremonie will definitely line up in the Bell tea Olympic Cup - the $200,000 glamour class of the show that decides the New Zealand Showjumper of the Year but is also a qualifying round for the 2012 London Olympics, and maybe Wimbledon but much will depend on how he is going.
The Steiners are also set to star in those top classes - Phillip will compete for New Zealand aboard nine-year-old Annandale Online NZPH in the Silver Fern Stakes, as well as the Norwood and the Olympic Cup.
The 39-year-old knows the transtasman test is going to be tough but he's confident the Kiwis carry a good mix of experience, and in particular from Olympian and world games representative Katie McVean (Mystery Creek). The rest of the team comprises Lucy Akers (Mystery Creek) and Chris Harris (Christchurch).
"It's probably been eight or nine years since I was in a New Zealand team so it's an exciting start for me."
Phillip also has a promising trio of youngsters in Annandale Waitangi Triple X, Annandale Branson and his stallion Annandale Eros K, who will compete in the age group championship classes.
Sally will be hoping it's her time to shine with Annandale Brannigan and Annandale Laughton's Legacy who she'll compete on in both the Norwood and the Lady Rider of the Year. She's placed a number of times but that top lady rider title has always eluded her.
Unsworth and the Steiners are just three riders who make up more than 2600 combinations competing at the week-long show, starting Tuesday.
It's the pinnacle event for New Zealand and applauded the world over as a true celebration of all things equestrian.
The show is a valuable cog in the Hawke's Bay economy, and is worth around $11.52 million to the wider region.
Show director Kevin Hansen and his team work year-round to ensure every detail is seen to - with 18 disciplines competing over 28 arenas, there is no room for maybes. From showjumping to dressage, eventing to the newest discipline to join the show, para-equestrian - all is represented by the best in the land.
Highlights of this year's show include the transtasman test, which is being run as part of the Silver Fern Stakes during the Friday Night Extravaganza. The class alone has a prize purse of $50,000.
The event culminates next Sunday (March 20) when the winner of the Bell Tea Olympic Cup is presented to the NZ Showjumper of the Year. The class carries a prize purse of $200,000, with a $40,000 cheque for the winner.
Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios (Venezuela) is once again heading Down Under to create challenges for horse and rider while entertaining the crowds.
More than 70,000 people are expected at Hawke's Bay Showgrounds over the coming week.