Camaraderie strong between teams

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

NEW Zealand won the first day and Australia the second, setting up a stellar transtasman battle for the final day and overall honours at the Larsen Sawmilling Gisborne Showjumping Championships.

There was nothing but praise all round for the riders — the winning New Zealand team of Lucinda Askin (Ashburton), Matt Irvine (Takapau), Nakeysha Lammers (Taranaki) and Oliver Croucher (Rotorua), and Australian visitors Jamie Priestley, Jessie Rice-Ward, Madeline Sinderberry and Jessica Tripp.

New Zealand chef d’equipe and trainer John Cottle was rapt with his team but also acknowledged the visitors.

“It was a good, close contest,” he said.

“After a not-so-good round on the second day, our riders stepped up today (Sunday). The horses were getting tired and the riders just needed to get the job done. They had to use their instincts as they got on new horses.”

All of the New Zealand riders had contributed to the final result.

“My job was very easy — all of my riders are very talented,” he said.

“The Aussies had around 70 young riders apply to be on their team, so the best of theirs are here.”

He extended thanks to those who had loaned the “nice bunch of horses” and to the riders who had all done so well.

Cottle said it was disappointing that the Gisborne show clashed with another in Hawera, depleting fields.

Those thoughts were echoed by Australian chef d’equipe and trainer Becky Jenkins. It is her second visit to Gisborne’s January champs and she was looking to replicate their winning effort of last year. However, it wasn’t to be.

“It's been a fantastic experience,” she said.

“I'm very proud of the girls. They all dug deep. Things fell apart a bit in the first round today (Sunday) but they put it all back together for the second and did well.”

She felt the horses had been even across the two pools, with riders swapping each day.

“It made for a very even playing field. It shows the riders’ skills. Each horse has its little quirks and the rider has to sort that all out very quickly.”

The hospitality extended to the visitors had been amazing, and she was heartened to see the friendships between the riders.

“It’s a fierce competition but there was amazing camaraderie among the riders. Everyone was keen and happy to share information about the horses. While the teams want to win, they are all also very good friends.”

Both chefs d’equipe, course designer John Vallance and many riders praised the team behind the championships. In particular, compliments mentioned the footing, which owed much to the dedication of Ange Dolman, who irrigated the grounds in the month leading up to the show.

Teams picked up bonus points for three clears in a single round, with five for a win and three for second.