Gisborne Pony GP victory ‘long time coming’ for Norsewood rider Calder

Norsewood's Regan Calder and TRS Sniper won the Pony Grand Prix at the Gisborne Show on Saturday.

It turned into the battle of the coloured ponies in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix at the Poverty Bay A&P Show on Saturday ... and it was Norsewood’s Regan Calder and TRS Sniper who rode off with the goods.

Their double clear effort – the only one of the class – also earned them the Lawson Candy Memorial Challenge Cup.

“That [win] has been a long time coming,” said the 16-year-old, who has had Sniper for five years and has been competing at Grand Prix level for the last two-and-a-half years.

“He is tricky, but he is a real character and does save me. He may be small, but he’s got a high IQ and really rates himself.”

It was their second Grand Prix win.

Calder had a less than ideal start to the show, falling off on the opening day, so was relieved to finish on a high.

“You never know what you are getting with Sniper. He is never the same pony from day to day and is so cheeky. I just wanted to get around the first round and then go clear in the jump-off.”

They delivered on both.

Calder and Sniper and Lottie Bull (Atiamuri) and Rascal Flatts OS were the only two to progress to the jump-off.

Bull was first out and set a cracking pace, but she and Rascal Flatts OS were unlucky to incur four faults on the last jump in their 38.57s second round.

Bull, a regular competitor at Gisborne shows, was also third on TCH Centadel, Tessa Moffett (Hawke’s Bay) and Ricky Baker II were fourth, Lily Kent (Waipawa) and Jonesy fifth, and Gisborne’s Isobel Bevitt and Mangatu Solar Eclipse sixth.

Calder knew she just needed to leave everything in place, and did so in 44.23s.

“It was an advantage to go last for me. It means everything to me to win this. I am very happy to see all the hard work pay off.”

It was the first time she had competed at the Gisborne show, which she entered with the aim of gaining valuable points in the Pony Grand Prix national series.

Calder does her schooling by correspondence, works on a dairy farm and trains her horses.