<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: white; ">Catherine Cameron has
had the dream start to her 2012 New Zealand Horse of the Year Show with victory
in the Norwood Gold Cup.</span><br></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The full time rider from
Cambridge and her showy chestnut I Reckon (owned by Stephanie Anderson) headed
home a large classy field in the first of the 'big' classes at the prestigious
show.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Cameron, who finished
second in the class eight years ago aboard another “tough old chestnut” in Bell
Tower, was rapt with their efforts.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Forty started the class
and rails fell like match-sticks for many combinations, with just six going
through to the jump-off.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">New Zealand
representative Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) and the imported mare Estina were
first out and laid the challenge with a clear round in 42.01 seconds. Lucy
Akers (Palmerston North) and the quirky Cortaflex Tinapai notched the fastest
time of the day with 37.71, but dropped a brick in the final fence as they flew
towards the finish.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Olympian Daniel Meech
(Taupo) and the German import Carlotta, starting in her biggest ever class,
went for a steady clear in a deceptively fast time to go clear in 41.59.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Then came the
Australians – Tim Clark and his showy steel grey Caltango took the third to
last fence in 40.45 with magazine editor Paula Hamood and her big spooky grey
Nero GHP riding a brilliant clear in 41.47.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">That left the gates open
for 37-year-old Cameron. <br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">He's big strong forward
going horse and this was ideal for him,” she says of I Reckon. “I thought the
others probably hadn't gone as quick as they may have – probably because it is
the beginning of a big week.”<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Cameron helped owner
Stephanie Anderson find the horse several years ago, and often trains the combination.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">When Stephanie said she
was taking a bit of a break, I was quick to put my hand up to ride him.”<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">True to his bloodlines,
Cameron says 14-year-old I Reckon is a “real German”.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">He's strong minded with
a tonne of jump. He's a lot of fun.”<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Cameron has only had the
ride since December, but says he has been very consistent, placing in all of
his last 10 starts.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The Lady Rider class (on
Thursday) is at the top of my wish list for this show, but I'm really happy to
win this,” she says. “It's always exciting to win a major title win here.”<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Cameron will start
Campione GNZ (owned by the Cameron family and Gary Alton) and I Reckon in the
Lady Rider on Thursday afternoon.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">She's disappointed not
to have her rising little star Lights Out at the show – she's just had her
second major colic surgery in nine months.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Cameron has been
competing at the Horse of the Year Show since she was about 15 she figures and
has won many a title and featured in many a line-up.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">A long-time track rider,
Cameron's race training partner Gary Alton is facing a tough week without his
star rider.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">I love the racing game,”
she says.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Cameron's win was a
special one for her mother Audrey.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">That jump-off was
particularly nerve-wracking,” she said with a chuckle. “It's the first time I
didn't bring flowers from the garden for the truck – it must have been a sign!”<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The Horse of the Year
Show has attracted more than 2600 horses and riders from all over the country.
The six day show is expected to attract more than 75,000 spectators to the
Hawke's Bay Showgrounds. <br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The show culminates on
Sunday afternoon with the presentation of the Bell Tea Olympic Cup for
showjumper of the year.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Results - <br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><strong>Norwood Gold Cup:
</strong>Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) I Reckon (owned by Stephanie Anderson) 1, Paula
Hamood (Australia) Nero GHP 2, Daniel Meech (Taupo) Carlotta (owned by the
Burnett-Grant family) 3, Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) Estina 4, Lucy Akers
(Palmerston North) Cortaflex Tinapai 5, Tim Clarke (Australia) Caltango 6.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><strong>Junior rider: </strong>Rebekah
van Tiel (Karaka) Leeston Eagle 1, Rebekah van Tiel (Karaka) Double J Angelic
2, Megan Webb (Hunterville) Abernaki Chief 3, Henry Booth (Masterton)
Getemshorty 4, Melody Matheson (Hastings) Scottish Lad 5, Lily Tootill
(Pukekohe) Ngahiwi Cruise 6.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><strong>Seven-year-old: </strong>Georgina Power (Christchurch)
Brooklynite 1, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark 2, Daniel
Meech (Taupo) Branson MVNZ 3, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Springfield
4, Amanda Roy (Clinton) Rumours NZPH 5, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan
Delilah 6.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
