Busy Gizzy riders racking up ribbons

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

Gisborne showjumping and show hunter riders have had a busy start to the season with many travelling far afield to compete.

Lily Beaufoy and Jakaranda — owned by Mick and Suzy Gardner — were second in the pony 1.15 to 1.2m class at Te Teko, fourth at Hawke's Bay in the 1.2m class and second in the mini-prix at the Central Hawke's Bay Show.

Ella Rouse and her ponies have picked up ribbons in show jumping and show hunter.

At Te Teko, aboard Ruby Tunes, Ella was third in open pony 90cm SJ and first in the Category B high points. On Welldun Daisy, she picked up a third in the Category C show hunters.

Ella also travelled to the Hawke's Bay show from which she and Ruby Tunes came home with placings in every class.

Iyve Speirs and her pony Miss Candy Floss had a successful trip to the Bay of Plenty Show Hunter Spring Championship in Rotorua. They placed second in the 60cm class, fifth in equitation and third in the 70cm championship round.

Molly McEwan and Pied Piper Alizè have had a great season, with numerous wins and placings.

At the Hawke's Bay A&P Show they won the Category A Horse of the Year qualifier (HOYQ) hunter 65cm class, were fourth in the Category A high points 70cm, fifth in the equitation 12 years and under 70cm and third in the Category A hunter 70cm.

They then went on to the Waikato Show Hunter Spring Show in Taupo where they placed fourth in the Category A open hunter and sixth in the Category A HOYQ high points 70cm.

At the Central Hawke's Bay A& P show in Waipukurau,they were fifth in the Category A intro 50cm class, second in the Category A HOYQ 65cm class and won the Category A HOYQ high points 70cm class.

Not to be outdone by the girls, Sam Brooks and his pony Kingslea Chat Up have also taken home their share of ribbons this season.

At the Hawke's Bay A&P show they were fourth in show hunter equitation, and fifth and sixth in Category B high point classes.

At the Central Hawke's Bay Show, they were fifth in a Category B class and the following day placed second in the handy hunter and won the Category B class.

Most recently they attended the Waikato show hunter champs and were fifth in the Category B handy hunter.

Isobel Jayne Bevitt and Fire Bandit were first in the pony 1m and 1.05m classes at the Central Hawke's Bay Show, and second in the pony 1.1m mini prix the following day.

Georgie Coop and Billy the Kid were third and fourth in show hunter classes at the Central Hawke's Bay Show.

Larina Dolman and Kiwi Lansing have been unstoppable this season in the ESNZ Harrison Lane Pro Am Series, winning their classes at Te Teko, the Hawkes Bay A&P Show, Takapoto Estate, the Central Hawke's Bay A&P show and the Feilding show.

Riders have a short break over the Christmas period then get back into competition mode, with many looking to gain points or qualification for the Horse of the Year Show in March.