Racing: Tight tussle as riders battle for crown

Hastings rider Melody Matheson was on song at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds.

NZ age-group equestrian Hastings

New Zealand's age group stars have faced three full days of jumping to find the champions at the National Young Horse Show in Hastings.

The event started on Friday, with each age group holding qualifying rounds and just the best making it through when even after three rounds, jump-offs were still needed to decide some crowns.

The show highlights the breeding and progression of New Zealand's young showjumping horses.

Star stallion for the year was Xtreme Performance Stallions' Corofino II (sire Corrado I/dam Valeska IV) and best mare L T Holst Andrea (sire Casall/dam Palaune), who is ridden by Brooke Zander (Waipukurau).

A field of 21 started the Longspring Sport Horse Four Year Old Championship with just Melody Matheson (Hastings) and Elmwood Park (sire Crighton Lanarkshire) keeping their slate clean after the three days of competition.

Forty-seven started the East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Championship, with seven jumping off on the final day to decide the title.

Winner William Willis (Papakura) and Sabine (sire Cassius GNZ/dam Stellar) were the fastest with their clear round in 41.25 seconds.

But there was a blanket over the top four, with second-placed John MacLennan (Waipukurau) and Ngahiwi Para (breeding unknown) stopping the clock at 41.44, Lucy Akers (Opiki) and Faratona STS (sire Appleton DHU/dam Arabella) at 41.75 and Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) aboard Equador MW (sire Escudo/dam Gina) in 41.89.

All were clear.

Jesse Linton (Hastings) and Kiwi Ridge (sire Kiwi Legacy/dam Liberty Hill) were comfortable winners in the four strong jump-off of the Mitavite Six Year Old Championship, stopping the clock at 39.87.

Second-placed in the class, which attracted 30 starters, was Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) and Turbo Touch (sire Lindberg des Hayettes/dam

unknown) who notched the only other clear round in the jump-off in their

44.2 second effort.

It was much closer in the ESNZ Seven Year Old Championship where Caroline Kennedy (Cambridge) and Smoken Up (sire Denmarks Platinum Playboy/dam Faheems Ebony)headed home the far more experienced Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) aboard Dunstan Casebrooke Lamond (sire Lansing/dam Lara 1) and Lucy Olphert (Hamilton) Eve Saint Laurent (sire Lindberg des Hayettes/dam Lara) to take the title in the 22-strong class.

The trio jumped off, with Kennedy home clear in 34.55, Laurie also clear in 35.21 and Olphert leaving everything in place in 36.66.

In the North Island v South Island young rider clash, it all went the way of the mainlanders who remained on zero faults over the two rounds.

The North Island team finished on 20 faults.