<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">There were plenty
of winners at the three star Larsen Sawmilling Equestrian Championships in
Gisborne this weekend but most weren't even riding horses.</span><br></strong></p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">For the second year
in a row the show had its World Cup NZ qualifying round cancelled thanks to
rain.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">But for the many
farmers, sponsors and supporters there, the rain was welcome – just not at the
show.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Show committee
member Kaye Williams says that while everyone was very disappointed, the rain
was gold for the district.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm">“<font face="Arial, sans-serif">Many of our
sponsors are rural based and desperately needed this – we all do actually,” says
the hill country farmer.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The show managed to
hold all its national series classes, which saw Danielle Maurer (Auckland)
extend her enviable lead in the young rider. She and Blue Rinse also won the one
star grand prix.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Gisborne teenager
Luke Dee had a good show winning both the pony grand prix and open pony 1.2m
aboard Wild Thing.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The forecast saw
entries affected by scratchings with around 360 combinations making the trek
from all over the North Island to take part in the show.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Australian course
designer John Vallance was impressed with what he saw at the show. His passion
for young horses was clear, and he said the five and six year old horses he saw
competing had been particularly good.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">He's built courses
at the Sydney Olympics, many a World Cup course in Australia, in Asia and is a
regular visitor to New Zealand for both building and teaching.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm">“<font face="Arial, sans-serif">When you're
building at a show like this you want the horse and rider combination to develop
from day one, through to three – it's just unfortunate we didn't get to day
three really when a builder will definitely ask more questions than on the
first,” he says.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The wet weather
early in the show saw him reduce the spreads and heights of some jumps.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">It's not just the
riders competing in next month's World Cup NZ series final at Tauranga that are
missing out at a bit of an inside look at how Vallance designs those top courses
– he too likes to see how the riders tackle his courses.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Vallance is in New
Zealand for four shows – Gisborne, the Young Horse Show in Taupo next weekend,
the World Cup final in Tauranga in early February and the National Championships
in Christchurch.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">It's actually the
third consecutive time a Gisborne Show has had its wings clipped, the other
being the Spring Show in October.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><h3>Results - </h3>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>One star horse
grand prix: </strong>Danielle Maurer (Auckland) Blue Rinse 1, Rachel Moore (Waipukurau)
Navy Blue 2, Tess Williams (Gisborne) Alltech Walnut Brown 3, Anna Parson
(Takapau) Arc de Triomphe 4.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Young rider</strong>:
Danielle Maurer (Auckland) Blue Rinse 1, Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) Nicalette
NPZH 2, Rachel Bentall (Hastings) Kiwi Brave 3, Hannah Burnett-Grant (Taupo)
Winston Darco V 4, Natasha Brooks (Cambridge) Uranda 5, Alexa Randall (Auckland)
Chairman 15 6.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>STH pro am rider:</strong>
Sharleen Workman (Levin) Kiwi Vibe SL 1, Melanie Purcell (Whakatane) Kiwi Iron
Mark 2, Tasha Brown (Tauranga) Maserati 3, Trudi Mitchell (Wairoa) Judge's
Decision 4, Tasha Brown (Tauranga) Llanmaree 5.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Iverquantel amateur
rider</strong>: Jenny Peters (Whangarei) Oriwa Cossack 1, Merran Hain (Gisborne)
Untouchable 2, Tim Finch (Waipukurau) Mr Munga 3 3, Jackie Jermyn (Hamilton)
Circus 4, Lidy Lofler (Gisborne) Tinka Boy 5, Sofie Dever (Kotimaori) Guarana
6.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Kiwispan junior
rider: </strong>Natasha Smith (Albany) 1, Shaun Fannin (Hawke's Bay) Strathcarron Zaurak
2, Bridget Grylls (Te Awamutu) Yippee-Yi-Yo 3, Pryor Collier (Te Teko)
Optimystic 4, Mary Mitchell (Tauranga) Pay Day 5, Luke Dee (Gisborne)
Lowenbehold 6.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Hit and hurry
1.15m:</strong> Mary Mitchell (Tauranga) Pay Day 1, Anna Sinclair (Feilding) Strawberry
Fields 2, Kirsten McLeod (Gisborne) Ngahiwi Cruise 3.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Cushionride seven
year old: </strong>Molly Bennett (Wairoa) Ngahiwi Cupid 1, Lucy Olphert (Tauranga) Delta
Pierre 2, Allan Goodall (Auckland) Leeston Eagle 3, Jake Lambert (Cambridge)
Quality NZPH 4, Megan Stacey (Te Puke) Bordeaux 5, Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach)
Quickstep NZPH 6.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Mitavite six year
old</strong>: Billy Raymont (Australia/Ocean Beach) Romeo NZPH, Katie McVean (Mystery
Creek) Dunstan Springfield, Phillip Steiner (Tauranga) Annandale Branson MVNZ,
Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Delilah, Melanie Purcell (Whakatane) Kiwi
Iron Mark, Rachel Moore (Waipukurau) Dark Ages, Billy Raymont (Australia/Ocean
Beach) Renoir NZPH =1.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Astek Stud five
year old:</strong> Paula Mussen (Pukekohe) KK Tane Mahuta, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge)
Kinsale II, Ike Unsworth (Tauranga) NRM Cervelt MVNZ, Paula Mussen (Pukekohe)
Firthview Dakota =1.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Open horse 1.4m:</strong>
Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Daffodil 1, Ike Unsworth (Tauranga) NRM
Seremonie VDL 2, Adrian Bruce (Gisborne) Witheze 3, Ike Unsworth (Tauranga) NRM
Wimbledon MVNZ 4, Billy Raymont (Australia/Ocean Beach) Nicalette NZPH 5,
Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Kahurangai Valentino 6.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Open horse 1.35m</strong>:
Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Kahurangi Tardak 1, Paula Mussen (Pukekohe)
Meersbrook Flintstone 2, Ike Unsworth (Tauranga) NRM Wimbledon MVNZ 3, Lucy
Akers (Mystery Creek) Tinapai 4, Hannah Harding (Papakura) Cosmic Cowboy 5, Tess
Williams (Gisborne) Alltech Walnut Brown 6.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Pony grand prix:</strong>
Luke Dee (Gisborne) Wild Thing 1, Shaun Fannin (Hawke's Bay0 Barrel 51, Rebecca
Porter (Hawke's Bay) Chobidong, Emily Fraser (Takapau) Tony the Pony, Rebekah
van Teil (Pukekohe) Homeland Hero, Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) Hopeful Illusion
=2.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Open pony 1.2m:</strong>
Luke Dee (Gisborne) Wild Thing 1, Rebekah van Teil (Pukekohe) Guthrie 2, Melanie
Weal (Te Awamutu) Hopeful Illusion 3, Shaun Fannin (Hawke's Bay) Barrel 51 4,
Rebecca Porter (Hawke's Bay) 5.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Open pony 1.2m:</strong>
Rebekah van Teil (Pukekohe) Guthrie 1, Meg Lambert (Cambridge) Co Calico 2,
Melanie Weal (Te Puke) Hopeful Illusion 3, Rebecca Porter (Hawke's Bay)
Chobidong 4, Emily Fraser (Takapau) Tony the Pony 5.<br><br>- Diana Dobson<br>Media Liaison, Showjumping NZ </font></p>