Local riders shine at out-of-town events

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

Gisborne riders Merran Hain and Larina Dolman were among the local riders to shine at outside equestrian events in the past two months.

Many showjumpers and show hunters travelled outside the district to compete in the two months leading up to Christmas.

The Wellington-Horowhenua Show Jumping and Show Hunter Championships were held on November 30 and December 1 at the Central Districts Equine Park in Foxton.

Show hunter placings picked up by Hain and Untouchable included the title of champion show hunter, first in the Ultimate Egg Company Amateur, first in the open one-metre jump, and a second and a third in the NRM Sponsored high points classes at 1.10m.

At the Feilding AP&I show held at Manfeild Park from December 6 to 8, Dolman continued her great form with Kiwi Lansing. They won the Harrison Lane Pro Amateur class.

Hain and Untouchable had a successful time in the show hunter ring, winning the champion show hunter title, and earning second place in the 1m show hunter, first in the NRM High Points 1.10m and second in the Ultimate Egg Co. Amateur Show Hunter Series class.

The East Coast Performances Horses Young Horse Championships were held at the Hastings showgrounds on December 13, 14 and 15.

Caroline Coop and her young grey Moritz were first-equal in the qualifier for four-year-old horses, second in the 90cm open show hunter and second in the four-year-old show hunter.

Shelagh Nolan and Ngahiwi Eyeza Blue were second in the Dunstan Horse Feeds Amateur Rider.

Lidy Loffler and Parafino were second in the 1.10m show hunter and fifth in the seven-year-old show hunter.

Dolman and Kiwi Lansing won the open horse 1.20m, and were third in the Harrison Lane Pro Amateur Series class, where Dolman was also fourth on Floriant DHU. With Eye See Ruby, Dolman was placed fourth in the six-year-old show hunter. Eye See Ruby is owned by Fraser Tombleson.

Hain and Untouchable won the 1.10m show hunter derby, the 1.15m open show hunter and the 1.10m open show hunter, and was third in the 1m show hunter and the amateur show hunter.

The next three weeks will be busy for local competitors.

The Waerenga-o-Kuri Sports will be held tomorrow at the Mossman family property at Waerenga-o-Kuri.

Wairoa A&P Show will be held the following week, on January 17 and 18, with the Wairoa Jumping Show on Sunday, January 19. Both will be at the Wairoa A&P Showgrounds.

The Larsen Sawmilling Gisborne Showjumping Championships will run from January 24 to 26 at Showgrounds Park.

Local series points can be earned at all these events. Winners will be announced on January 26 at the Larsen Sawmilling Showjumping Championships.