Appreciate top show despite challenges

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The number of entries was not the biggest but the quality was certainly there.

Those who made the trek to Gisborne for the Larsen Sawmilling 32nd Equestrian Championships were hugely appreciative of another top show.

It was a Gisborne trifecta in the open horse 1.1m with Fuatino Jahnke and Double J Barman taking the win ahead of Fraser Babbington on Awanui's Tennessee Honey and Lucy Win-Hewetson on Harry Wakatipu.

It was an all-Gisborne affair in the open pony classic 95cm, with Sam Brooks on The Tontonator winning ahead of Georgie Coop on Little MacIntosh, Jaimee Rika on Charlie Taplin and Ella Rouse on MJK Isle of Skye.

Lily Beaufoy and Simply Sassy had a win in the open pony classic 1.05m, with Holly Baines and Cherrio taking the open horse classic 1.05m ahead of Ruby Lobb on Highway Man and Kim Leckner on Sassafras.

Georgie Coop won the open pony 85cm with Little MacIntosh and the open pony 1.05cm with Barney Rubble, while Ella Rouse and MJK Isle of Skye claimed the open pony 95cm. Iyve Speirs and Ace were the winners of the open pony 1.1m.

Also picking up prizes in the showjumping were Lucy Hill on Mount Tullock Encore, Sofie Gaddum on Sentra, Cindy Kershaw on Kiwi Vision, Nikki McHugh on Belle, Brooke McEwan on Dipped'n Paint, Isobel Jayne Bevitt on Mangatu Solar Eclipse, Georgia Hulme-Moir on Chica Caliente, and Annabelle Gourlie on Double O Seven.

Jaimee Rika shone in the show hunter arena, winning the Big on Writing Pony Rider Equitation Series, the Aniwell Open High Points, and the Horse of the Year Cat C 80cm qualifier with Charlie Taplin. She also had a win in the Sport Horse Junior High Points and placed second in the combined ESNZ Junior and Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Rider Equitation with Tuahu Castaway.

Georgie Coop and Barney Rubble picked up a win in the Horse of the Year 80cm Cat B qualifier among other placings, while Claudia Porter and Chance took out the Horse of the Year Qualifier 1m.

Ella Rouse, on MJK Durham, won the combined ESNZ Junior Equitation and Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Rider Equitation, and she picked up minor placings with Let's Rumble.

Placings went to Lily Beaufoy with Simply Sassy and Zoe McNaught on Nitro Pandora.

Cindy Kershaw and Kiwi Vision continued their consistent run, winning the Day 2 NRM Open Horse High Points, and placing second in the combined Sport Horse Junior and Carousel Equestrian Amateur High Points series class, the Day 3 NRM Open Horse High Points, and the Carousel Equestrian Amateur High Points.