Equestrian: Davey adds to her trophy cabinet on Air Hill Myka

Julie Davey. Photo / APN

Julie Davey and Air Hill Myka scored a nice addition to their trophy cabinet in winning the horse grand prix crown at the North Island Equestrian Championships in Gisborne yesterday.

The Hawkes Bay combination just sneaked home ahead of Lisa Coupe (Hawkes Bay) on My Ocean Wave.

It was a small field that started the star class of the show. In the opening round Coupe rode a beautifully calm and clear round on Ocean Wave - the only ones to leave everything up.

Carrying four faults through were Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) and Nicalette NZPH who were unlucky with a toe in the water, Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) and Swinger and Davey.

Davey picked up just a single time fault in the second round to finish with a total of five faults. That left Coupe, last to go, to just ride another careful clear and take the title.

But it wasn't to be and not only did they take a rail but they added a single time fault to their tally.

Both riders were on five faults apiece but Davey was 0.41s faster.

Davey was rapt with 12-year-old Myka's efforts. "I really didn't think I had done enough."

She was full of praise for the John Vallance-designed course, and said the Australian's designing had been brilliant all weekend.

In the pony grand prix championship it was a battle between a trio of greys and a bay. In the end Rebekah van Tiel (Karaka) and the quirky Guthrie set a jump-off time none came that close to. They were one of four combinations through from the 22 starters. Takapau teenager Emily Fraser, the series leader, brought two of her stars through in Tony the Pony and Tiger Tale LS, with Elle Phillips (Hamilton) on Guess Once More.

Van Tiel, despite rubbing a few rails, left everything in place and smoked her way home in 40.80s.

Phillips and Guess Once More were clear but couldn't crack van Tiel's time and had to settle for second.