New Zealand's best showjumpers boosted by launch of Takapoto Estate Show

Samantha Mclntosh of New Zeland rides Check In during The President of the UAE Show Jumping Cup. Photo / Getty

New Zealand's best showjumpers will receive a significant boost with the launch of the inaugural Takapoto Estate Show close to Lake Karapiro, starting tomorrow.

The four-day event at Maungatautari will include Olympic and prominent international riders and is aimed at beefing up the standard of New Zealand showjumping in a top class setting which has been designed on layouts at major European events.

Think equestrian and the first stop is eventing, with names like Todd, Nicholson, Tait and Paget giving the discipline a high profile in New Zealand.

But the show, which is intended to become an annual event, is aimed at helping prepare the country's best showjumpers, and the best of the rising talent, for overseas competitions, and raise the standards.

Among those competing at the 600-acre setup is New Zealand's Sam McIntosh, while her Nations Cup-winning teammates, Bruce Goodin, Daniel Meech and Richard Gardner - who achieved one of New Zealand's finest showjumping successes in winning the Nations Cup event in Abu Dhabi this month - while also be present.

The course is on the land of Waikato businessman Mitch Plaw and his wife Kate. Plaw has invested in high performance sport including sponsorship of rowing and hockey and the Avantidrome cycling centre near Cambridge.

"He had the idea of trying a show at his place," show director Jaime Campbell said.

"It's been a venture he's wanted, and a dream of mind to do as well."

Campbell has been riding for Plaw since July when she went to France and was based with the well-performed McIntosh at her base in southern France.

Plaw is a low-profile operator but Campbell said high performance sport has long been an interest of his.

"He's really interested in high performance pathways and community sport," Campbell said.

Plaw helps sponsor McIntosh and is involved in a horse breeding programme as well.

There are 432 horses competing, with 239 riders spread over 29 classes beginning today and running until Sunday.

Several riders and horses have come from Australia, including prominent New Zealand representative Katie Laurie.

"I am really looking forward to coming back for the very first Takapoto Estate Show," McIntosh said. "It is going to be a unique event in an incredible setting and it is great to be joined by my winning team-mates after our success in Abu Dhabi."

The idea is this will be the start of an annual, high quality jumping programme.

There is a plan for larger Australian contingents to come across, then dovetail it with a trip to the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings.

"One goal is to increase competition between the two countries and we've been in talks with other disciplines, trying to get bigger and bigger," Campbell said.

"The idea is to have a quality event highlighted on the (equestrian) calender."

There is almost $70,000 on offer in prize money.

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