Merran Hain and Untouchable. File picture by Diana Dobson
EQUESTRIAN
GISBORNE rider Merran Hain added the 2018 Working Hunter of the Year title to the numerous Horse of the Year titles she has won in her equestrian career.
This time she did it on Untouchable, a 17-year-old thoroughbred by Warsaw Pact out of an Icelandic mare, Melting Point.
Hain had two aims for this season — to win the Thoroughbreds in Equestrian Sport (TiES) show hunter series, and to win the working hunter title at the Horse of the Year Show. She achieved both.
At the Horse of the Year Show at the Hawke’s Bay A&P Showgrounds in Hastings this month, she also took the prize for best presented in the working hunter class.
As well, Hain and Untouchable won the working hunter over-163cm class.
In the show hunter section, they were eighth in the amateur show hunter of the year, fourth in the high points 1.10-1.15m, and seventh in the amateur high points 1m.
Luke Dee picked up the ride on Untouchable and they were placed seventh in the show hunter of the year. They took a first and a second in the 1.15m show hunter, were sixth in the 1.10m show hunter championship and were fifth in the equitation medal 1.15m class.
Tess Clark and Sinatra were placed sixth in the Silver Fern Stakes 1.40m-1.50mTess Clark and Sinatra were placed sixth in the Silver Fern Stakes 1.40m-1.50m.
Clark was also part of the New Zealand team who competed against Australia in conjunction with the Silver Fern Stakes. Australia won the teams event.
Cadbury (owned by Rick Shanks) was second in the speed horse of the year class.
Fraser Tombleson and Mea were placed 10th in the Horse of the Year.
Sarah McKinnon was placed fourth in the 1.10m-1.20m showjumping and picked up sixth place in the junior rider equitation run in conjunction with the junior rider of the year event.
Of the other Gisborne equestrians to feature at the Horse of the Year Show, Lily Moss had some outstanding results in the led classes with Phoenician Night Girl (owned by the Moss family).
They were the winners of the led-broodmare/stallion-of-the-year award and were also judged best presented. Rotherwood Peep to the Stars (owned by KS Show Horses) was runner-up in the led-partbred Welsh youngstock of the year class and Moss won the best-handler award.
KS Beez Kneez (owned by Moss) was fifth in the NZ Pony Breeders Sash class and sixth in the Youngstock Pony of the Year. KS Gin and Tonic (owned by KS Show Horses) was third in the led-hunter pony of the year.
Sarah Gault came away with a third in the sidesaddle concours d’elegance and a fourth in the sidesaddle unitySarah Gault, riding the 20-year-old Whoasuga, competed in the sidesaddle section and came away with a third in the sidesaddle concours d’elegance and a fourth in the sidesaddle unity.
Anna Harris and Mr Crème Brulee were fourth in the Rising Star Riding Horse under 163cm.
Isobel Jayne Bevitt, competing at her first Horse of the Year Show, was placed seventh in the Category A 60cm show hunter, on Where’s Wally (owned by Caree Speirs).
Jessica McCann and Kaycee Montego were ninth in the Category A pony show hunter of the year.
Shelagh Nolan and Ngahiwi Eyeza Blue were fifth in the amateur rider of the year.
Two Eye See, owned by Mick Gardner and ridden by Robert Steel of Dannevirke, was third in the six-year-old horse of the year.
Holly Baines and Pre Mo were placed fifth in the 1.15m show hunter and fifth in the 1.05m-1.10m handy hunter.