She and mum Rachel Holdsworth had opted to travel from Waikato for the 140-year-old provincial show and it paid big dividends for them. The 16-year-old won both the Telford Junior Rider and Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider classes.
She was in the big league in the grand prix but rode a great jump-off, finishing with four faults in 43.38 after taking a rail mid-course.
Former Olympian and World Cup representative Beatson (Dannevirke) can never be underestimated, and he came out flying aboard the big grey home-bred horse, Schimmel Warrior, taking the win in 41.56, thanks to an inside turn midway through the course.
Beatson, of Dannevirke, was rapt.
"Schimmel hasn't won a grand prix for a while," he said, "so this is great. It was his day I guess."
It turned out to be a good show for Beatson and his partner Sally Clark - Beatson won both 1.4m classes with Schimmel's half brother Mandalay Cove and Clark won the 1.2m aboard Victoria's Secret.
All seven of the horses in their truck headed home with at least a single ribbon.
"This is a great show," said Beatson, who has been making the trip to Gisborne for more years than he cares to count.
"It's always nice weather, good grounds and fabulous facilities - and it's the perfect run-up for Hastings and the opening World Cup round."
Leeshelle Small (Auckland) and Tallyho Bandit won the Country TV Open Pony Grand Prix ahead of local hope Sinead Dolman and Strawberry Fields.
