Showjumping: Long trip pays off for first timer

Celebration Time: Abby Hore (left) with the Amateur Rider silverware and daughter Jessica Hore after their Horse of the Year Show debuts yesterday. Photo/Paul Taylor

Central Otago showjumper Abby Hore has always had a lot of faith in Beaumont Geldolf.

But she was surprised they produced the only clear round on the way to victory in the Wade Equine Coaches Amateur Rider, the feature Premier Arena event on day one of the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings yesterday. This class is part of the season-long Caledonian Holdings Amateur Rider Series.

"I thought he could be tired because we spent two-and-a-half days travelling here from our station at Millers Flat before arriving on Saturday. We were lucky we missed the fires at Hanmer Springs by a day too," Hore said.

The fact the 42-year-old mother of three was competing at the show for the first time added to the significance of the feat.

"It has been my dream all year to make the Premier Arena. It was the first time for a couple of us at this level," Hore said.

Ten-year-old Beaumont Geldolf is a three-quarter thoroughbred and one-quarter Clydesdale. It is Hore's third season competing the horse and yesterday she stopped the clock at 76.66s on the course designed by Germany's Werner Deeg, well inside the time limit of 84s.

"He has been very consistent in the series and usually places in the top five. He just loves getting in the ring."

"I had the qualifier for the Lady Rider earlier today and with another clear round. I opted out of the jump off because I wanted to save him for this ... completing the first round was enough to qualify us in the Lady Rider."

Being heralded out of the ring with the song Stand Up For The Champions playing over the arena sound system added to her delight. Her next stop was the Showing section for ponies where the oldest of her and hubby Richard's children who all travelled north, nine-year-old Jessica was competing at the show for the first time aboard Glenmoor Lucky I Am.

Hore arrived in time for the judging.

"Jessica was one of the youngest in the class and wasn't placed. But we are all very proud of her," Hore said.

She reckoned she would be allowed a celebration drink with Richard last night as she wasn't competing again until tomorrow when she will tackle the 1.15m class.

The 29 in the title class came through from the 86-strong qualifier earlier in the day. In the title class, there were faults aplenty.

Second-placed Nicola Smith of Cambridge and Verdant Blue NZPH were the fastest of the four faulters by almost six seconds. Kumeu's Ann Fletcher was third on Coast to Coast and Noni Morgan of Hastings aboard Secret Keeper was the best of the Hawke's Bay starters in fourth place.

Today's feature events in the Premier Arena will be the AHD Ltd Six Year Old Horse of the Year, the Horse 1.35m, the GJ Gardner Pro-Amateur of the Year and the Virbac Equine Norwood Gold Cup.

More than 7600 entries have been received for the show from riders throughout the country, as well as showjumpers from Australia and mounted games competitors from the United States. More than 60,000 spectators are expected at the show which continues until Sunday.

Competition covers showjumping, dressage, show hunter, eventing, showing, mounted games, para-equestrian, pleasure and more - all vying for 'of the year' titles.

The jewel in the crown of the show though is Sunday afternoon's Olympic Cup, where the best showjumpers go head to head, chasing the most sought-after of titles.

It is but one of a number of highlights over the week. Today's Norwood Gold Cup is the first of the 'big' classes of the show. The historic cup was first presented in 1967 and has since been won by many of the nation's top riders.

Results:
Wade Equine Coaches Amateur Rider, part of the Caledonian Amateur Rider Series: Abby Hore (Central Otago) Beaumont Geldolf 1; Nicola Smith (Cambridge) Verdant Blue NZPH 2; Ann Fletcher (Kumeu) Coast to Coast 3; Noni Morgan (Hastings) Secret Keeper 4; Kirstin Beaven (Christchurch) La Riviere 5; Graeme Isaacson (Dannevirke) Pokere 6.