Nakeysha Lammers in action at the Larsen Sawmilling Showjumping Championships in Gisborne. Photo/Dianna Dobson
Nakeysha Lammers in action at the Larsen Sawmilling Showjumping Championships in Gisborne. Photo/Dianna Dobson
Hikurangi's Nakeysha Lammers put in a valiant effort but it wasn't enough to help New Zealand win at the Larsen Sawmilling Showjumping Championships.
Lammers competed with Briar Burnett-Grant, Harry Feast and Lily Tootill in the Trans Tasman Young Rider Test in Gisborne but weren't able to topple Australia, despite astrong performance on the final day.
The 20-year-old said she loved her experience in Gisborne.
"It was my first time representing my country in the sport so I was very nervous," Lammers said.
"It was great to be a part of the competition. It was such an awesome experience to represent my country alongside three other top young riders with one of NZ's top coaches."
Hikurangi's Nakeysha Lammers took on Australia in the Larsen Sawmilling Showjumping Championships in Gisborne. Photo/Sarah Lord
Lammers went double clear in the final two rounds of the competition, but due to how Australia performed over the first two days, it was always going to be a tough ask for the Kiwi side.
With just the best three rounds to count, it left the Aussies with four faults from the two rounds and the Kiwis all clear.
The run of clears also mean two bonus points for the hosts, while the visitors picked up one for their efforts in the opening round today.
But in the end, the Australians won the test 10-6.
Lammers said she was proud of the final day effort from her team.
"Our team all rode very well over the three days but we just had an unfortunate rail or two between the team which let the Australians get ahead of us,' she said.
"Australia won the first and second day so coming in to the last day we were very determined to take out the final day of competition and we did."
The competition had a point of difference, with riders not being able to use horses they had ridden before.
Lammers said it was a challenge but also a great leveller.
"We all had to ride horses that we had never ridden before which made it very fair. I was matched with Lansbury Grosve on the final day of competition," she said.
"I had never ridden him before but watched him go with one of the Australian riders the day before so knew what I had to be careful of and it gave me an idea of how he likes to be ridden.
"The three horses I got matched with were all so different to ride which is the difficult part of this event but also what makes the competition so exciting."
Each rider from the NZ team had to put forward two horses which were then split into two groups. On the second day NZ swapped horses with Australia and then on the final day the horses were drawn into new groups again.
Lammers has no designs on slowing down following the championships, with more competitions on the way.
"I'm training six days a week and spend Friday-Sunday at a competition most weekends. I've had a couple of lessons with top instructors to help me throughout the season," she said.
"We have a few shows left this season before we head to the Horse of the Year show which is held in Hastings at the beginning of March. I am aiming to do well in my main events which are Young Rider of the year and the Lady Rider of the Year."
