Local riders do well on the road

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

Several local show hunter and showjumping riders competed at the National Young Horse Show held at the Hawke’s Bay A&P Showgrounds on December 9, 10 and 11.

It was nice to see Fraser Babbington make a return to the show circuit. He had a successful time with Awanui’s Tennessee Honey, placing first equal in the four-year-old qualifiers on the first two days of the show. He was also second in the four-year-old show hunter class.

Claudia Porter and Wooing had a win in the 1.05-metre championship showjumping, and in the show hunters they were second in the open 1.10m and third in the seven-year-old show hunter.

Caroline Coop and her home-bred mare Zola were first-equal in both four-year-old qualifying classes and finished sixth-equal in the final. Their success continued in the show hunter ring, where they were winners of the four-year-old class.

Isobel Bevitt had a successful day at the Waipukurau-Waipawa District Sports Day on November 19. In the 1.10m pony mini prix, she was second on Fire Bandit, third on Mr Monochrome and fourth with Mangatu Solar Eclipse.

Showjumping and show hunter series are again being staged in the Gisborne area for local riders. These series have been running for several years and are hotly contested. They would not be possible without the support of sponsors. McCannics sponsor both the pony and horse showjumping series, EJ Gordon Livestock sponsor the show hunter series and the Harris Family sponsor the LP Introductory show hunter series.

After two events — the Poverty Bay A&P Show and the Gisborne Pony Club Sports — the leader boards are —

McCannics Horse Showjumping Series: Holly Rider and Cheerio, 17 points; Larina Dolman and Kiwi Lansing, 13; Holly Rider and Evo, 11; Claudia Porter and Wooing, 10; Amelia Paull and Vanguard, 8.

McCannics Pony Showjumping Series: Iyve Speirs and Ace, 18pts; Georgia Hulme-Moir and Chica Caliente, 16; Georgie Coop and Little MacIntosh, 15; Georgie Coop and Barney Rubble, 14; Sam Brooks and The Tontonator, 13.

EJ Gordon Livestock Ltd Horse Show Hunter Series: Fraser Babbington and Awanui’s Tennessee Honey, 12pts; Shelley Watts and Craighaven French Made, Claudia Porter and Wooing, and Jaimee Rika and Tuahu Castaway, 10; Cindy Kershaw and Kiwi Vision, 7.

EJ Gordon Livestock Ltd Pony Show Hunter Series: Zoe McNaught and Nitro Pandora, 18pts; Harlo Greaves and Hololio Sparkling Rose, and Georgie Coop and Barney Rubble, 17; Zoe Newman and Seren Olos, 12; Anna Spence and Greyfriars Imp, 10.

LP Introductory Show Hunter Series: Grace Cooney, 12pts; Lucy Bond and What a Gentleman, 10; Caroline Coop and Zola, 9; Isobel Bevitt and Fantastic Mr Fox, 7; Megan Kanz and Solmization, 6.