Equestrian: Where there's a Willa, there's a way

Willa Aitken and Kirkwood Greenlight will be among the fancied starters. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

Organising events and competing at the same time can be tough but Hawke's Bay dressage rider Willa Aitken has the ideal recipe.

"When I'm competing, I'm fully focused on my events. As soon as they are finished, I go and help out in the office," Aitken explained as she prepared for Monday's 24th annual Woodford House Equestrian Event at the Hawke's Bay Equestrian Park.

The 2014 level-two title winner at the New Zealand Pony and Young Rider Championships has an extra incentive to help her Woodford House team get the Top Four Overall title back from Gisborne Girls' High School.

"It's my final year at school and, after competing in this event since my year seven days, the teams title would be a good one to go out with. We've got good numbers as well as the strength to do it, too," the 18-year-old year 13 student explained.

Aitken, who is a level five competitor on the national scene and a level three rider at the Woodford event, has received some timely quality coaching in the countdown. Hawaii-based Austrian coach Dieter Reidinger has been in the Bay this week.

"I've been coached by Dieter for a couple of years and Mum has for many years," Aitken said, pointing to her mother Lucy Robertshawe.

A dressage rider since she was four, Aitken has regularly won the dressage events at the Woodford show on her 16-year-old horse Kirkwood Greenlight, which she has nicknamed Ted.

"I'm hoping to continue that trend on Monday. In the 80cm showjumping, I'm just hoping to go clear with some solid rounds ... although in 2013 I managed to win my showjumping events, too," Aitken recalled.

If any dressage rider beats Aitken it would be an upset. She is the 2015 national level three champion. Aitken also finished second in the Accumulator Series to Taranaki's Vanessa Way, who went close to selection for the 2012 London Olympics and Aitken also finished third in the Zilco Accumulator Series.

When quizzed on who her closest rivals could be Aitken replied:

"It's hard to say. We've got some new schools among the 12 who will be represented and, when there are 120 riders, it's tough to single anybody out ... there is so much talent among them."

This summer she is aiming to produce "another solid season" and advance up the classes. The March national championships and annual Horse of the Year Show in Hastings will again be her major assignments.

It will be interesting to see how Aitken juggles these with her first taste of university life. She intends to study law and also complete a Bachelor of Arts degree at Victoria University in Wellington.

"Hopefully I will be able to keep Ted out at Upper Hutt when I'm at university so I can keep riding him."

Other Bay riders tipped to shine on Monday are Napier Girls' High School showjumper Ruby Mason, Karamu High School showjumper Hunter Durrant and Woodford House showjumper Molly Goodisson. Three showjumping levels, 80cm, 90cm and 110cm, and three dressage levels, one, two and three, will be catered for on Monday.

Aitken and one of the long-time organisers of the event, equestrian stalwart Amy Roydhouse, pointed out one of the reasons more schools and riders had entered Monday's event was the fact it was being staged the day before the Havelock North High School-hosted show.

"If they are going to travel a long way, doing shows on consecutive days makes the trip worthwhile," Roydhouse said.

Such shows wouldn't function without sponsors and the Woodford crew are grateful for the support they receive from major sponsors Gemco Construction & Trades, Bayleys Real Estate and the Lowe family.