Show jumping: Dannevirke's Holden family history a part of A&P show

Marking 67 years since the first New Zealand showjumping event was held at the Dannevirke A&P Show, after Saturday's Kelso 1m.30 event. Maurice Beatson (left), who won the Kelso, Julie Davey, second, Peter Holden, son of Duncan Holden, who built the original FEI course and donated event prizemoney, Graeme Isaacson, Sue Thompson-Brown, Murray Thompson, Doug Isaacson and Lucy Fell, third on Saturday.

The birthplace of New Zealand showjumping, along with some Havelock North identities — were celebrated at the A&P Show in Dannevirke recently.

It was an historic and unique occasion when descendants of that day in 1951 came together to reminisce. Havelock North's Peter Holden and his youngest son Matt celebrated the day 67 years ago when Duncan Holden, Peter's father, built the first FEI course in New Zealand at the Dannevirke A&P Showgrounds.

"That was the first FEI showjumping event to be held in the country and it was here at the 37th Dannevirke and Districts A&P Show," Peter told the Dannevirke News.

Peter Holden from Havelock North gives the first-place ribbon to Dannevirke's Maurice Beatson on Schimmel Warrior after their win in the Kelso 1m.30 showjumping event.

There were 29 starts on the 852-yard course, which had 11 fences. The time allowed for riders and horses was two minutes.

Starters included Henry Isaacson, whose two sons Graeme and Doug were on course on Saturday, with Doug competing and judging, Peter Small, Bill Meech and his cousin Ian Meech, Malcolm and Judy Coop and Peter Holden, then just 17, riding a bay gelding called Pater.

"As well as building the course, my father gave five guineas towards the prizemoney of £20 which was split among the top-four placings," Peter said.

Duncan Holden on Starlight came in first, Hugh Thompson on Optimist second, Ted English on Big Shot third and Mrs C E Baird and Ranger fourth.

"The event judge was the late Larry White, of Sherwood in Takapau," Peter said. On Saturday, Hugh Thompson's daughter, Sue Thompson-Brown, and her brother, Murray, represented the family at the presentation after the Kelso 1m.30m event.

"The Holdens have had a big impact on showjumping and hunting," Doug Isaacson's wife Carole said.

Some years ago the Holden family donated the Starlight Cup and the Duncan Holden Memorial Perpetual Trophy to the Dannevirke and Districts Association, with the trophy donated to the winner of the grand prix.

And although Peter's youngest son, Matt, never rode competitively, he still keeps the family connection with the Dannevirke show. Running a sheep genetics business, Kelso, based in Ongaonga in the Hawke's Bay and Marton in Rangitikei, Matt said it was about giving back to the community.

"It's been a lovely, relaxed day here and it's about people meeting people," he said. "We have a lot of clients and their children who are into showjumping and that's why we like to give back to shows such as this."

Keen to acknowledge Henry Isaacson as New Zealand's best huntsman, Peter tried to play down his own prestigious riding career before retiring in 1958 when he married. He was a member of the first New Zealand showjumping team to Sydney in 1953 and again in 1955.

"I was just 19 and very excited," he said. "My cousin, Adrian White, was also in the team and he was New Zealand's first equestrian, riding in Rome in 1960, finishing 17th in the individual event." Peter won two Horse of the Year Olympic Cup titles, in 1953 on Starlight, his father's horse, and 1957 on Rum.

Competing against Hawke's Bay's best, including Hugh Thompson, Bill Meech and Bruce Hansen, winning was a huge thrill, he said.

His father, Duncan, was the driving force behind the first Horse of the Year Show and in 2010 the Holden family was inducted into the Horse of the Year Hall of Fame. Peter is chuffed the Dannevirke and Tararua Districts A&P Show has a place in showjumping fame 67 years on.