NZ EQUESTRIAN News


Hansens Honoured for HOY Work
Thursday, 19 March 2015


The 2015 Farmlands Horse of the Year Show is the last for organisers Kevin and Sue Hansen, and the stalwart couple were honoured at tonight's gala dinner.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule and his deputy Cynthia Bowers, who is also chair of the Horse of the Year board, both thanked the couple for their work.

“I am very pleased to be here to celebrate this absolutely wonderful show and recognised the contribution that Kevin and Sue Hansen have made to it,” said Bowers.

The shaky start to the week with Cyclone Pam had been a tough way to launch show week, but Bowers had heard nothing but praise from people about the way everything had been handled.

“Kevin, Sue and (their son) Andrew are leaving the show in a really good place,” she said. “They are leaving us with something we can build on for the future.”

Yule thanked the Hansens on behalf of the Hastings and wider Hawke's Bay communities.

“Without the Hansen family, this HOY in Hastings wouldn't exist,” he said. “I can't think of another individual or family who would be prepared to mortgage their house to support this event, as you did a number of years ago.”

The couple received a standing ovation as they came to the stage.

“This is all about family,” said Kevin Hansen. “I have a habit of making whirl winds, and Sue just goes away and sorts it out. She has been my rock.”

He also paid tribute to his brothers Chris and Warwick and their wives Helen and Juliet, his father Osie and sons Andrew and Stuart.

“We leave here with fond memories, facing exciting opportunities we haven't faced for years. We leave here with few regrets. This show is about people – not even horses and riders – and those who have helped us.

“I hope HOY will go forth and be better and better.”

Hansen earlier thanked the sponsors of the show, describing them as the heart and soul of the event.

“But the real heartbeat are the volunteers,” he said. “Event-Pro is very proud and privileged to have brought the Horse of the Year Show to Hawke's Bay for the past 18 years.”

In reality, he and his team had been working on the show for close on 19 years as they worked to bring it to the bay.

“We are very proud of what has been accomplished for equestrian in New Zealand,” he said.