First blood to Australia

Flying high: Georgie Coop on Little MacIntosh won the open 90cm division yesterday on Day 1 of the equestrian championships. Picture by Liam Clayton

Australia have drawn first blood on the opening day of the Trans-Tasman Young Rider Test at Showgrounds Park.

The Larsen Sawmilling 32nd Equestrian Championships got under way in Gisborne yesterday, and the transtasman test was the feature.

The four riders from both teams all had faults aboard their borrowed horses in the first round but clears came in the second as they came to grips with their horses.

Riders meet their mounts only 20 minutes before the class and are allowed just six jumps in the warm-up.

Three clears in the second round from Australian riders Hayden Parker on Aorangi Legato, Charlie Richardson on Cheval du Fond, and Anneliese Wansey on Pilot gave the team a bonus point as well as the win, for a final tally of six.

For the Kiwis, clears came from Tyla Hackett (Cambridge) on Dynavyte Cancion HSH and Rylee Sheehan (Te Aroha) on Arlo, to finish the day on three points.

Australian chef d'equipe and trainer Todd Hinde was pleased with the efforts of his young charges.

“That first round is always hard for everyone,” said Hinde, who extended a big thank you to the owners who had made their horses available.

“It is important for our young riders to experience a team event so when they reach the senior ranks, the team environment is the norm,” he said.

“Riding borrowed horses brings another level to it, so there is plenty of pressure for the riders.”

The team had enjoyed a fun day before the show started, making the most of the Rere rock slide.

“The kids are having a great time,” he said.

Both teams attended a team dinner along with owners and other officials.

Australia had 62 applicants for the team, making it challenging for the selectors.

“The standard and quality were extremely high,” Hinde said.

New Zealand chef d'equipe and trainer John Cottle said his riders had done well yesterday, and faced challenges head on.

“Everyone went better in the second, which is a good sign,” he said.

“They just get a better feel for it. We will be chasing hard and are still in the hunt.”

The teams were to swap horses for today's competition, which continues over the weekend with two rounds a day and — if scores are tied at the end — a jump-off.

It was a great opening day for the popular show — the rain almost stayed away. Top Australian course designer John Vallance created beautiful flowing courses for the Ring 1 competition with some exciting finishes.

It was a Gisborne trifecta in the open pony 1.1m with Isobel Jayne Bevitt and Fire Bandit taking the win ahead of Iyve Speirs on Ace in second place and Lily Beaufoy on Simply Sassy, third.

Lucy Win-Hewetson and Harry Wakatipu took the honours in the open horse 1m, Georgie Coop and Little MacIntosh won the open pony 90cm, and Sam Brooks and The Tontonator won the open pony 1m.