Gisborne riders in Opotiki Showjumping and Show Hunter Show

LOOKING AHEAD: Jaime De Costa looks towards the jumps to come as Simply Sassy clears the rails at the Opotiki Showjumping and Show Hunter Show at Memorial Park. Picture by Karen Bevitt

THE neighbouring Otara River offered a cooling close to a day of competition for riders and horses at the Opotiki Showjumping and Show Hunter Show at Memorial Park this month.

Gisborne equestrians travelled through the Waioeka Gorge to take part.

Placegetters among the Gisborne riders included Phoebe Williams. Riding Mr Ernesto, she was first in the one-metre and 1.10m showjumping events, and riding Magnus Lennie Derby she was third in those events.

Isobel Jayne Bevitt, on Where’s Wally, was third in the Category A show hunter 70 centimetres and fourth in the 12-years-and-under equitation. She also picked up two other fourth placings. Her brother Oliver was placed fifth with Hot Ice in the Category A show hunter 60cm.

Lily Beaufoy had a successful time with her two ponies. On Sunland Baroque, she was third in the Category A show hunter 60cm, and on Glenbrook Barney she was second in the Category A show hunter 70cm, fifth in another Category A show hunter 70cm and fifth in the 12-years-and-under equitation.

Merran Hain and Untouchable were first in the amateur rider one-metre show hunter and second in the 1.10m-to-1.15m show hunter. They won the 1.15m show hunter championship.

Holly Baines continued her good form with Hero and Pre Mo. She was first and third in the 90cm-to-1m handy hunter and third in the 1.15m show hunter championship. She picked up two fifth placings in the show hunters. Baines and Pre Mo were third in the hotly contested amateur rider showjumping series class and third in the 1.25m showjumping.

Lisa Walker stepped up a level and competed on Miss Serendipity in the pro amateur 1.20m-to-1.30m series showjumping where they placed fifth.

Over the same weekend (February 3 and 4), Tess Clark and Sinatra were placed second in the 1.30m showjumping at the Dannevirke A&P Show.

Mick Gardner’s Two Eye See was ridden by Dannevirke’s Robert Steele into first-equal place in the six-year-old series class at the Taihape Area Show Jumping Championships. Two Eye See and Steele are second on the national series leaderboard.

The final rounds of the Bernina Sewing and Crafts showjumping, LP low hunter and the E J Gordon Livestock show hunter series are to be held at the Waerenga o Kuri sports day at Showgrounds Park on Saturday.

Standings in each of the series Bernina Sewing and Crafts showjumping points prize: Caroline Richardson, Kiwi Corona, 45 points, 1; Fraser Tombleson, Mea, 39, 2; Shelagh Nolan, Ngahiwi Eyeza Blue, 37, 3.

Ponies: Phoebe Williams, Mr Ernesto, 39, 1; Jessica McCann, Last Spring, 22, 2; Jaime De Costa, Silver Star, 21, 3.

LP low hunter: Shelley Watts, Craighaven French Made, 42, 1; Caroline Coop, Pro Fumo, 26, 2; Lydia Edginton, Vanilla Skyes, 20, 3.

E J Gordon show hunter series, ponies: Isobel Bevitt, Where’s Wally, 58, 1; Lily Beaufoy, Glenbrook Barney, 54, 2; Ella Rouse, Ruby Tunes, 27, 3.

E J Gordon show hunter, horses: Merran Hain and Caroline Coop, Untouchable, 80, 1; Holly Baines, Pre Mo, 23, 2; Lisa Walker, Mistaken Identity, 19, 3.