There are just days to go before New Zealand equestrian entertainment heads into new territory with the inaugural Riding With The Stars show in Hamilton.
Event director Andrew Hansen has enticed some of the very best dressage and showjumping combinations from both sides of the Tasman to compete, along with the Wilson Sisters of Keeping Up With the Kaimanawas fame on Friday and Saturday (February 12 and 13) at Claudelands Arena.
While each is chasing victory for him or herself, there is one thing all the riders are unanimous about – how exciting it is to have a new event that showcases the sport they love in a completely different way.
Three time Australian Olympian Vicki Roycroft has plenty of praise for the organisers.
“It is a fantastic initiative by the Hansen family to make our sport so spectacular and spectator friendly,” she said. “I am really looking forward to being part of it all.”
Top Kiwi showjumper Helen McNaught-McFarlane agrees.
“It is going to be a blast,” she says. “I am happy to support someone who is trying to do something different to better our sport . . . it is the way of the future.”
The showjumping is going to be a classic Australia-New Zealand showdown.
The Aussies have Roycroft on Congo Z, Clem Smith on the former Kiwi horse Delilah and James Arkins on Rosthwaite Vigilante II.
But the Kiwis claim home ground advantage and impressive CVs include Olympians Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) on Dunstan Breeze and Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) on Mandalay Cove, NZ World Cup final winner McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) on Carnutelabryere and high performance eventer Clarke Johnstone, who is hoping to make the team for Rio, and Quainton Labyrinth.
Also stepping into the arena will be Vicki and Amanda Wilson (Hikurangi) on Ngahiwi Showtym Premier and Showtym Cassanova, rising young star Sam Morrison (Tauranga) on Biarritz, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) on Mr Marmite, Jaime Campbell (Albany) on Socrates de la Vie Z and Josh Barker (Morrinsville) aboard his stallion Eros K.
International course designer Gerrit Beker (Tauranga) is tasked with challenging the top-flight combinations over the two round 1.6m world cup-style grand prix showjumping class.
The Grand Prix freestyle dressage to music promises so much. The celebrated Brett Parbery (Aus) on Zeppelin, Rozzie Ryan (AUS) on Jarrah-R, Jody Hartstone (Raglan) on the engaging imported Lusitano stallion Ali Baba, Anya Noble (Hamilton) on her stunning stallion Airthrey Highlander, Abbie Deken (New Plymouth) on AH Ambrose and Rio hopeful John Thompson (Hamilton) on JHT Antonello.
With $16,000 in prize money up for grabs between the two classes, there will be no concessions given by either side.
Saturday night’s Keeping up with the Kaimanawas Show is an adaptation of the Wilson sisters very successful television show.
Hansen says the two nights of entertainment – a light, sound and action spectacular – have been especially choreographed and will revolutionise equestrian entertainment in New Zealand.
What: Riding With The Stars
When: Friday, February 12 and Saturday, February 13, 2016
Where: Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
Tickets: selling fast through www.ticketek.co.nz
Head-to-head Katie Laurie (NZ) and Clem Smith (AUS)
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There’s an interesting tale behind this match-up.
These two have battled it out in showjumping arenas in the past, but this time Smith is aboard a horse bred and produced by Laurie. Eighteen months ago Laurie sold Delilah ago Laurie sold her jumper.
“I was sad to sell her but I had to,” said Laurie. “It’s cool she has gone to someone like Clem – it’s the best thing you can hope for and now she is coming here to compete. I can’t wait!”
And she knows that Delilah will be right at home in the tight Claudelands Arena.
“I have watched (husband) Jackson ride rodeo in there . . . it’s pretty small and not the most normal shape but it’s what you get overseas.”
Laurie represented New Zealand at the Longines FEI World Cup final in Las Vegas last year in a challenging indoor arena.
“It’s going to be exciting for both the riders and spectators,” she says.
She’s hoping her own horse Dunstan Breeze will do well.
“She’s got better jumping indoors but it is hard to know what to expect. It is going to be interesting to see what horses handle the atmosphere.”
Smith agrees.
“Competing in another country is exciting and taking my own horse is a bonus,” he says. “Being part of a new style of event is super. The Hansens certainly know how to put on a good show.”
And he knows he will need to be in searing hot form to beat the locals.
“Katie is a top competitor and we will have to have our game on.”
He and Delilah have only one competition under their belts this year.
“Delilah is brave and tough, so usually, a bigger track is better for her. She is a quirky horse and all credit to Katie who bred her and took her to her first World Cup win. She has made herself a big part of my team and been competitive in grand prix and world cup classes. I am looking forward to a big year with her in 2016.”
While here Smith will also be doing some coaching clinics.
Head-to-head Helen McNaught-McFarlane (NZ) v Vicky Roycroft (AUS)
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McNaught-McFarlane and Roycroft are both highly complimentary of each other . . . but they are both known for their fierce competitive streaks.
Roycroft has competed at three Olympic Games, was the only female rider to compete in two disciplines at the Olympics, has thrice been to the World Equestrian Games and three times coach for the eventing team at the Olympics where her riders won four gold medals and a silver.
But her CV doesn’t stop there – she has twice been crowned Australian showjumping champ and once as the national eventing champion.
“It’s been a while since I have done an offshore trip,” says Roycroft. “Helen has been in great form and obviously has a nice horse so I think I am the underdog!”
She says her horse Congo Z should do well at Riding With The Stars.
“He is a super little horse and normally fairly adaptable to any situation, being competitive indoors and outdoors. Our main problem is that we haven’t had a show since early December as it’s been too wet in this part of the world.”
McNaught-McFarlane remembers Roycroft from her days in Europe.
“She is a great horsewoman, which means more to me than being able to ride a horse . . . anyone can ride but not anyone can be a horsewoman.”
She’s backing her horse Carnutelabryere to do well at Claudelands.
“He did quite a bit of indoor competition in the United States and typically likes it,” she said. “He likes atmosphere and plays to the crowd . . . he thinks everyone is there to see him.”
Head-to-head John Thompson (NZ) v Brett Parbery (AUS)
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This is mate versus mate.
Thompson only last year left his Australian base to follow his heart to homeland New Zealand which he had left as a 12-year-old.
No one was sadder to see him leave than Parbery.
“I have a lot of time for Johnny,” says Parbery. “He’s a ball of energy and enthusiasm and I must admit I was disappointed when he told me he was moving to New Zealand . . . I had some big plans for him here in Australia.”
The two have gone head-to-head many times and each is as appreciative of the other in their talents and efforts.
“I am looking forward to competing against Johnny again because he always brings his best to the arena.”
This will be the first time Parbery has competed aboard Zeppelin against Thompson.
“Zeppelin is very new to this level so I will be doing my very best to gently nurse him through the freestyle,” says Parbery. “The freestyle I am planning to ride is the one that placed me in the top 10 in the world at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010.”
He’s counting on Zeppelin “amping” up when he comes into the arena.
Thompson is one who certainly loves a crowd but knows JHT Antonello will be cautious.
“I need to be careful about the atmosphere in there,” says Thompson.
“I look forward to channelling his energy into the right direction and getting the most out of him.”
And he’s keen to turn the tables on his good mate.
“I have ridden against Brett a lot and keep coming second. I am looking forward to another good match up.”
Parbery is no stranger to New Zealand. For the past decade he has been crossing the Tasman to teach.
“I feel I have a close association with the country and am excited to be riding in such a new and innovative event, and especially in the wonderful Claudelands venue.”
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Diana Dobson
The Black Balloon
