<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt"><strong>The 2011 New Zealand Horse of the
Year Show was launched in style last night (Tuesday) before nearly 300 people
at the <st1:place><st1:placename>Waikoko</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Gardens</st1:placetype></st1:place>
in <st1:city><st1:place>Hastings</st1:place></st1:city></strong>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">Among the festivities at the
Hawke's Bay Showgrounds was also an honouring of two people who had done much
for the show over the years. Life membership to Showjumping Hawke's Bay was
awarded to former show chairman <st1:place><st1:placename>Ray</st1:placename> <st1:placename>Lake</st1:placename></st1:place>
and long-time showing section coordinator Sue Thomas. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">“These two have made a huge impact
on what is a very special event for the Bay,” said show director Kevin Hansen. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">He was also chuffed to tell
guests, sponsors, volunteers and business people from throughout Hawke's Bay,
that they had attracted a record 11 Australian showjumping combinations to the
show this year. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">“That is tremendous news for us
all,” he says. “Some of them are bringing several horses.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">Many would be coming to stake a
claim for the 2012 London Olympics – the first round of the Bell Tea Olympic
Cup is a qualifying round for the Olympics. It was an added bonus to the show
and largely only possible because HoY had again attracted world-class course
designer Leopoldo Palacios (<st1:country-region><st1:place>Venezuela</st1:place></st1:country-region>)
to build at the event. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">A key part of the show is the
Trans Tasman Test, which featured four-strong teams from NZ and <st1:country-region><st1:place>Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>
who will do battle for top dog honours during the Silver Fern Stakes. The
class, the second richest of the show with a prize purse of $50,000, is part of
the HB Today Friday Night Extravaganza. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">“We're pushing hard to make the
test a series that is held each season on both sides of the Tasman,” says
Hansen. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">This year the show would again
feature 2500 horses and riders who would compete across 18 disciplines in 28
arenas over the six days. For the first time para equestrian is part of the
show, a step Hansen says is very positive for the future and something he sees
growing in years to come. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">It is expected that around 76,000
spectators will flood through the gates to be entertained by the talent of so
many riders and entranced by the many trade stands at the show. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">There's $1 million of
infrastructure that has been put into the grounds for the show, and organisers
have sourced $1 million in sponsorship to make it all happen. And it is the
wider bay that really benefits from hosting the show, with an estimated spend
of $11.52 million parted with over the six days. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">“This is why this event belongs in
Hawke's Bay – it's good for the sport, we know how to put on a fabulous event,
but it's also hugely beneficial for our region,” says Hansen <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">Those sentiments were reiterated
by Hastings District mayor Lawrence Yule. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">“The Horse of the Year Show is
here to stay,” he says. “There have been some challenging times in recent
years, but long term it is looking good. Our council is right behind the show
as our most significant event of the year.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">Bell Tea marketing manager Jessica
Bailey says the event rates highly on their calendar too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">“We're delighted to be associated
with the show again – this is a huge event on the equestrian calendar and of
course, our own Bell Tea calendar too,” she says. “It's perhaps more special
this year to have the Bell Tea Olympic Cup as a qualifier for the Olympic Games
and we're thrilled to be a part of the <st1:country-region><st1:place>New
Zealand</st1:place></st1:country-region> bid.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">The Bell Tea team will be at the
show and expect to serve thousands of cups of tea throughout the event.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">All three speakers remembered the
people of <st1:city><st1:place>Christchurch</st1:place></st1:city> and their
families around <st1:country-region><st1:place>New Zealand</st1:place></st1:country-region>
in their speeches.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:10.0pt">The Horse of the Year Show runs
March 15-20.<br><br>- Diana Dobson<br>Media Liasion, Showjumping NZ<o:p></o:p></p></span></p>
