Showjumping: Top local riders perform at home

Samantha-Lee Wakeling riding BMW Sweet Chilli in a speed event in the pony class during the Northland Area Showjumping Grand Prix. Photo / John Stone

The Northland Area Showjumping Grand Prix showcased the region's best riders who were nearly blown away by the conditions.

A blustery weekend didn't stop a small but enthusiastic crowd gather to watch some super jumping over the two days of competition.

Northland riders held their own and picked up placings in all the national series class with Whangarei's Amy Gravatt and Dubrovnik winning the amateur rider class.

The highly contested FMG young rider was the class of the day. It came down to a fantastic jump-off pitting Elmo Jackson and Next against local talent Sharnaye Lammers and Romeo NZPH.

In an exciting battle Jackson pipped Lammers at the post.

Organiser Heather Deane said the whole event was a massive success and enjoyed by everyone who attended.

"A super weekend was had by all, a big thanks must go to all our fabulous volunteers who without them we can't run these events."

Sunday saw many local riders again featuring strongly in all three rings.

The featured events on Sunday were both the pony and horse grand prix. A decent crowd gathered to witness a fantastic two classes.

Kerikeri rider Summer Denize on Limericks' Black Samba took out the pony grand prix to back up her win last year in the same event.

Jump-offs became somewhat of a common occurrence as the horse grand prix went down to the wire, featuring two local riders.

Jasmine Sketchy set a time of 47.65 and clear before fellow Northlander Nakeysha Lammers went very close to beating the time, finishing in 47.89.

This set the scene for Jackson and Next, who were on fire all weekend. They needed a top effort and delivered just that with a beautiful clear riding in the shorter routes and stopping the clock at 37.5.

The hotly contested 1m pony championship for the junior riders saw 40 entries start the class with Whangarei's Freya Topper edging out the other 12 in the jump-off, beating Wellsford rider Samantha-Lee Wakeling.

Ellie Bestwick of Kerikeri topped class one in the grand prix show, beating Whangarei's Benjamin Bremner.