Horse of the Year title back to Hawkes Bay 21.3.04
Magic win in Pony of the Year 21.3.04
Final international to Cottle 21.3.04
Young Rider Final to Anna Trent 20.3.04
Musical Freestyle winner 20.3.04
NZUSA wins team jumping 20.3.04
Cameron wins Bomac Grand Prix 19.3.04
McFarlane wins Internationals contest 19.3.04
Scrubfire wins Pony Grand Prix 19.3.04
Dealer takes NZ Speed Championship 19.3.04
Hain again Lady Rider of the Year 18.3.04
Saba Sam Shield 18.3.04
7-Year-Old Showjumper Final 18.3.04
Injury no obstacle to big HOY win 17.3.04
Meech 7th in Germany 15.3.04
Kiwis home for HOY show 9.3.04
Scholarship for Louisa Hill
Obituary - Lockie Richards
Horse loan warning
Horse of the Year title goes to Hawkes Bay -- (Mar 22) The signature event of the Horse of the Year Show came down to two riders with clear rounds to jump off against the clock. They could hardly be more different: Simon Wilson, a 35-year-old Waipukurau farmer, versus 'diamond birthday girl' Merran Hain, a Gisborne beef stud breeder who celebrated her 60th birthday at the beginning of the week.
Riding the Sculptured Arch thoroughbred Vita Power Swinger, Simon was first to jump. They went clear with a very accurate performance over a huge course. Merran and Tregonning went for it. They jumped flawlessly and at speed, galloping into the last fence - just as they did to win the competition last year - but this time the absolutely last rail tumbled, to the huge disappointment of the crowd, which then regained its enthusiasm to congratulate local hero Simon Wilson - the first Hawke's Bay rider to win the Horse of the Year title since the show returned to Hastings in 1998.
The imposing fences and very light cups were a real challenge. German course designer Frank Rothenberger's courses looked deceptively straightforward but required pinpoint accuracy, especially the combinations.
Eleven horses jumped before Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) and Nicoli Fife's Charlton Javelin presented the supportive crowd with the first clear round. Only six clears in the first round meant the four-faulters also went through to the next round.
Five jumped clear, including double clears from Wilson and Hain, leaving seven tied for third.
Horse of the Year 2004 was a resounding success on all levels. Some of the favourites reinforced their reputations by winning; some outsiders delighted themselves and their supporters by rising to the occasion. Competitors and spectators alike appreciated the opportunity to see noted overseas riders in show jumping and dressage demonstrate their skills on local horses.
RESULTS: Simon Wilson (Waipukurau), Vita Power Swinger, 1; Merran Hain (Gisborne), Tregonning, 2; third equal were: Anna Trent (Kaukapkapa) JK Looks Good; Susie Haywood (Methven), Notting Hill; Doug Isaacson (Dannevirke), It's About Time; John Cottle (Clevedon), Telegraph; Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke), Primo Ventura; Robert Steele (Hawera), Gospel.
Magic win in Pony of the Year -- (Mar 22) Masterton 14-year-old Emma Williams rode like a veteran to have the only triple clear round in the Dunstan Pony Grand Prix on the final day of the Horse of the Year show.
Ponies with nine faults and fewer went through the second round of the Dunstan Pony of the Year. That meant that Dunstan Pony Grand Prix series winner Can Can and Jeffrey Schofield were still in with a chance, after dropping one rail in the first round.
Unfortunately for the Auckland pair, although six of the seven four-faulters jumped clear, four of the first round clears completed a double clear. Jumping off against the clock were Lucy Olphert (Tauranga) on Glenwood Spring Fair, Emma Williams (Masterton) and Magic, Claudia Hay (Mosgiel) on Repias Super Blonde and Emma Power (Little River) on The Shepherd.
A very different course invited speed but needed caution, and Lucy and Glenwood Spring Fair, leading off the jump off, took two rails with what turned out to be the fastest time; 38.28.
Watching and learning, Emma Williams took Magic at a more sedate pace, keeping all the rails up, recording no faults and a time of 40.28. Emma said she wasn't sure her 18-year-old pony would jump clear in all three rounds, but she was jumping really well, so Emma decided to keep steady into fences but got quickly between. A wise decision: it was the only clear round in the jump off. Claudia Hay and her showy palomino took two rails and Emma Power, a last minute rider for Hayley Parrot's The Shepherd, had three.
RESULTS: Magic - Emma Williams (Masterton), 1; Repias Super Blonde - Claudia Hay (Mosgiel), 2; Glenwood Spring Fair - Lucy Olphert (Tauranga), 3; The Shepherd - Emma Power (Little River), 4;
Six ponies were equal fifth: Wild Thing - Tessa Williams (Matawai); Dancing Bear - Penny Parker (Tolaga Bay); Free Falcon - Kate Fisher (McKenzie's Pass); Repias Rosie - Chloe Akers (Palmerston North); Can Can - Jeffery Schofield (Auckland); Scrubfire - Lucy Olphert (Tauranga).
Final international to Cottle -- (Mar 22) The Mitavite Invitational was the final chance to see the overseas showjumpers in action, and it was by far the best of their three appearances. Riding as individuals, rather than in teams, the visiting riders were competing head to head with the people who had lent them horses, and there were 21 clear rounds over a fairly straightforward 1.30m course.
The third round, against the clock, was a different story. The jump off course encouraged some very chancy turns to save time, and the distance between the penultimate fence and the last was the full length of the arena, encouraging riders to gallop to the final wall.
Most checked just before, but as more and more went clear, riders started galloping ... in Guy Thomas's case right into it. Katie Hallem's big grey wasn't expecting a fence to come up at full gallop and only saw it at the last moment - too late to jump cleanly. Their time was 1.5 seconds faster than anyone else's, but the four faults took them out of contention.
In the end honours were evenly divided between locals and visitors. John Cottle (Clevedon) and Air Force One took the competition with 33.16 seconds, Anna Trent (Kaukapakapa) riding John Cottle's Miss Brunei was second on 33.26.
US-based New Zealander Duncan McFarlane, riding Graeme Hart's (Hastings) Kiwi Cash was third at 33.61. Simon Harrison (Wanganui) and Magic Moments was fourth, ahead of Australian David Dobson, on Sue Thompson's (Hastings) The Glacier, and British rider James Billington on Fiona Stares'(Cambridge) Whitford Point.
RESULTS: John Cottle (Clevedon), Air Force One, 1; Anna Trent (Kaukapakapa), Miss Brunei, 2; Duncan McFarlane (US), Kiwi Cash, 3; Simon Harrison (Wanganui), Magic Moments, 4; David Dobson (Australia), The Glacier, 5; James Billington (England), Whitford Point, 6.
Anna Trent on Miss Brunei.
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Young Rider Final to Anna Trent -- (Mar 21) The Toyota Young Rider series is contested all season, from September through to the Horse of the Year show in March. The most prestigious title for show jumping riders under the age of 21, the top-scoring 12 riders in the competition competed in the final.
They faced a big track: maximum fence height was 1.40m - just below Grand Prix height. All of them rode horses, not ponies, and a fairly open course gave the young riders every chance, but only seven of the 22 jumped clear in the first round. The final had two jump offs, with the five top-ranking riders on the leaderboard making it through to the second round.
Outsiders William Willis (Papakura) and Comfortably Numb and Hayley Fraser (Waikanae) on Icyred both dropped a rail and were out of the competition, along with Katie McVean, a past winner of the title, riding the 7-Year-Old Showjumper series winner Wild South. They took a rail in the second round, destroying her chances of a final run at this year's Young Rider title.
Alysha Hutton from Pleasant Point, leading the series after campaigning through the North Island for the season, had a double clear on her Grand Prix horse Goodness Gracious.
Current holder of the Young Rider of the Year title, Lisa Coupe (Kaukapkapa) on Bush Magic, and local hope, 18 year old Bridget de Barre (Waiwhare) on Kiwi Trick, joined her with double clears.
Anna Trent (Helensville) had a life at the Toyota fence, but she and the clever John Cottle-owned Miss Brunei still managed a double clear.
Alysha Hutton on Goodness Gracious, 3rd in Toyota Young Rider competition.
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Alysha Hutton, riding for the Young Rider title as well as this class, had to do better than Lisa Coupe to keep her lead. She dropped a rail and had a conservative time of 38.48, and then had to wait for Lisa to see which of them took the title. Lisa and Bush Magic made a smart time of 31.79 but dropped three rails.
However, it was down to the last rail to decide the Horse of the Year Young Rider competition. Bridget de Barre delighted the crowd with a double clear and a time of 35.08, and the crowd held its breath as Anna Trent and the Australian mare Miss Brunei jumped spectacularly clear in 33.02seconds, to take the Big Red Trophy.
RESULTS: Toyota Young Rider of the Year: Anna Trent (Helensville), Miss Brunei, 1; Bridget de Barre (Waiwhare), Kiwi Trick, 2; Alysha Hutton (Pleasant Point), Goodness Gracious, 3; Lisa Coupe (Kaukapakapa), Bush Magic, 4; Katie McVean (Matangi), Wild South, 5= with William Willis (Papakura), Comfortably Numb, 5=.
NZ Speed Pony of the Year: Sophie Bell, Vicki Wilson (Whangarei), 1; Oneta Champagne, Matthew Dickey (Taranaki), 2; Glenwood Spring Fair, Lucy Olphert (Tauranga), 3; Mighty Maximus, Gabrielle Harvey (Feilding), 4; Scrubfire, Lucy Olphert (Tauranga), 5; Hori, Tessa Williams (Matawai), 6.
Musical Freestyle winner
Debbie Barke and Mzungu with sponsor Lesley Buckleigh of Astina Watches. Debbie won the Astina Musical Freestyle event and the overall Medium points championship.
NZUSA wins team jumping -- (Mar 21) Team showjumping is an unusual spectacle in New Zealand, but the Horse of the Year Show had teams from France,
Peter Breakwell, US based NZ Olympic team candidate in the international teams event, won by the NZ-USA team of Peter, Duncan McFarlane and Guy Thomas.
Daniel Meech in the international teams event.
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Germany, Italy, Europe (a combination of Spanish, Portuguese and German riders), Australia and two New Zealand teams - NZUS featuring US-based riders Guy Thomas, Peter Breakwell and Duncan McFarlane, and NZ Euro; Grant Wilson, Daniel Meech and Katie McVean, who departs for Europe shortly in her campaign to qualify for the Athens Olympics.
Riding borrowed horses, which they tried out in competition yesterday, the visitors were more in tune with their mounts, although some still had trouble. New Zealand horses are not accustomed to the kind of control European riders exert, but most partnerships had reached some sort of accommodation.
French rider Jacques Bonnet delighted the crowd - and appeared to enjoy himself - riding a determinedly bucking Exposed. Stephen Nickalls's horse jumped beautifully for double clear rounds, but put in huge bucks between just about every fence.
The standout team was NZUSA; Guy Thomas, riding Katie Hallem's big grey Flintoff, Peter Breakwell on Trevor Pearse's Katakan and Duncan McFarlane, riding Graeme Hart's Kiwi Cash all jumped double clear rounds, the only team to do so.
In the first round of the competition teams could drop their worst score, and there were some forgettable rounds - Katie McVean and Catriona Williams' Bees Knees had eight fences down for 32 faults, Germany's Ralf Runge, today riding Olivia Gibson's Catapult took out six - and there were only seven clear rounds. In the second round all scores counted. There were 12 clears, leaving NZUSA unchallenged with zero faults, and France and Australia equal with 12 faults, France taking second place with a faster time. Italy was 4th with 16, NZEuro fifth with 21 faults, and Germany, Europe and Great Britain all finished with 28 faults, their final placings decided on time.
RESULTS: NZUSA - Guy Thomas (Flintoff), Peter Breakwell (Katakan), and Duncan McFarlane, (Kiwi Cash), 1; France - Jacques Bonnet (Exposed), Ludovic Leygue (He Knows), Olivier Jouanneteau (Sam I Am LS), 2; Australia - Billy Ramont (Heroic), Melissa Froesch (Rethink), David Dobson (The Glacier), 3.
Cameron wins Bomac Grand Prix -- (Mar 20) A technical course of very large fences left Cambridge rider Catherine Cameron alone with the single clear round to win the Bomac Grand Prix in Hastings yesterday, the feature show jumping event of the third day of the five-day Horse of the Year Show. Not only did riders have to be absolutely accurate in presenting their horses to the fences, they had to do it within a very tight maximum time. Only a handful of horses managed the course without time faults.
Second in the competition was Doug Isaacson (Dannevirke), who jumped clear with his little grey stallion It's About Time but incurred two time faults. John Cottle (Clevedon), riding another grey stallion, Telegraph, was third equal with Catherine Cameron's other ride in the event, Charlton Javelin. Both had one fence down for four faults. Fifth equal with a fence and a single time fault were Wairoa's Molly Savill on NRM Kiwi Brave and Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) on Vita Power Swinger.
RESULTS: Catherine Cameron (Cambridge), Belltower, 1; Doug Isaacson (Dannevirke), It's About time, 2; John Cottle(Clevedon), Telegraph, 3= with Catherine Cameron (Cambridge), Charlton Javelin; Simon Wilson (Waipukurau), Vita Power Swinger, 5= with Molly Savill (Wairoa), NRM Kiwi Brave.
McFarlane wins Internationals contest US-based New Zealand rider Duncan McFarlane won the first event for visiting international show jumpers at the 2004 Horse of the Year Show. For the overseas riders it was a chance to try out the horses they will be riding in Saturday's International Day Nations Cup-format event.
Riders who lent horses to the visitors had the right to enter yesterday's class as well, and they filled the next four places. Sixth place went to Australian team captain David Dobson, riding Sue Thompson's The Glacier.
Duncan McFarlane had a fine partnership on Graeme Hart's Kiwi Cash, putting up a double clear round and a smart time of 33.41. Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) riding Tracy Rian's handsome stallion Salute the Stars, was second. One of this country's most experienced horsemen, John Cottle (Clevedon) rode his talented Ice Man II into third, followed by Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) on Imperial Sam and Tracy Kovacs (Rangiora) and Croftlea Merrydance.
Some of the European riders had a little trouble with their borrowed horses, who weren't accustomed to their forceful style of riding, but all managed to complete the course. That experience should have them well-prepared to represent their countries in Saturday's competition, which features teams from Germany, Italy, Belgium, Great Britain, France, Australia, Iberia (a combination of Spanish, Portuguese and German riders). There are two New Zealand teams, one of Europe-based riders and the other two US-based riders and Katie McVean from Cambridge.
Scrubfire wins Pony Grand Prix -- (Mar 20) Just over 50 ponies lined up in the first round of Friday's big pony showjumping competition; only 12 jumping clear within the time.
German course builder Frank Rothenberger's jump off course demanded risk if riders wanted to make a good time. The long distances between fences tempted them to gallop before checking and turning into each fence, with a final line of a big oxer and a double to catch out the unwary. Four combinations faulted, and of the six double clears there was a six second spread in times - a big margin for a grand prix jump off.
Tauranga rider Lucy Olphert won the competition on Scrubfire and was 4th with Glenwood Spring Fair. Scrubfire is currently fourth in the Pony Grand Prix series and Glenwood Spring Fair is second. Both chestnuts ponies are exceptionally agile and a joy to watch.
Second was Fairlie rider Kate Fisher, riding Free Falcon, only one second behind Lucy and Scrubfire. This is Kate's second trip to the Horse of the Year show and her last show in the pony - Kate will be 17 next week - but she will keep him for barrel racing in the South Island rodeo circuit. Kate has had Free Falcon all his life - she watched him being born. They were 3rd in the national Championships this season, behind Jeffrey Schofield and Lucy Olphert, and Kate's ambition for the rest of the HOY is to finish ahead of Lucy. In his other career, as a barrel racer, Free Falcon has raced for two seasons and picks up prizemoney at every rodeo.
Third in the Pony Grand Prix was Chloe Akers (Palmerston North) and Repias Rosie. Penny Parker and Dancing Bear, first to run in the jumpoff, ended fifth, with Emma Williams (Masterton) and Magic sixth.
RESULTS: Pony Grand Prix: Lucy Olphert (Tauranga), Scrubfire, 1; Kate Fisher (Fairlie), Free Falcon, 2; Chloe Akers (Palmerston North), Repias Rosie, 3; Lucy Olphert (Tauranga), Glenwood Spring Fair, 4; Penny Parker (Gisborne), Dancing Bear, 5; Emma Williams (Masterton), Magic, 6.
Dealer takes NZ Speed Championship -- (Mar 20) Increasing speed, increasing risk and increasing excitement - 31 horses in the NZ Speed Championships steamed through a course designed to encourage speed but demand control and accuracy. The most difficult combination to take at speed proved to be a double consisting of upright rails and an oxer. Horses that managed that often failed on the next element; upright rails set between and at right angles to the double.
Knocking down a rail incurred a four second penalty, and ten horses jumped before master horseman Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) guided his old campaigner Duty Free to the first clear round. Their time of 52.44 seconds held the lead through to the third-last combination, Taranaki's Tasha Northcott and My Hendrix, who jumped clear in 49.96. However, honours went to the final rider, Anna Stephen from Martinborough, riding Dealer, who fairly tore up the course with extravagant and athletic jumping to produce the winning time of 48.54 seconds.
Third were Katie McVean (Matangi) and Dunstan Mu Mu on 51.22, leaving Maurice Beatson fourth with Duty Free and fifth with Ambidextrous.
RESULTS: Mitavite NZ Speed Championships: Anna Stephen (Martinborough), Dealer, 1; Tasha Northcott (Taranaki), My Hendrix, 2; Katie McVean (Matangi), Dunstan Mu Mu, 3; Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke), Duty Free, 4; Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke), Ambidextrous, 5.
Hain again Lady Rider of the Year -- (Mar 19) Timeless Gisborne rider Merran Hain won the Lady Rider of the Year for the second successive year on Tregonning - her fourth Lady Rider title, stretching back to the 1968 Horse of the Year Show.
Merran Hain and Tregonning. |
Only six riders from a field of 36 made it through to the second round, in a technical course built by German course designer Frank Rothenberger.
Celebrating her 60th birthday on Tuesday, Merran was up against two 17-year-olds in the jump-off - Katie McVean and South Island Grand Prix series winner Alysha Hutton, as well as 21-year-old Taranaki rider Lydia Quay and Methven farmer Susie Haywood.
Katie McVean (Matangi) and Dunstan Hairy McLairy ripped through the jump-off course with a stunning time of 40.93 seconds, but collected three rails in the process. Merran and Tregonning wasted no time but left every fence standing, to record a double clear and a time of 44.94.
Try as they might the remaining riders could not match that time, with Alysha Hutton and Goodness Gracious having the only other double clear.
Merran and her great horse did a lap of honour to the tune of Happy Birthday, probably to her great chagrin. A popular and hardworking member of the showjumping fraternity, Merran is not impressed by everyone's interest in her age.
The pair will defend their Horse of the Year title on Sunday afternoon.
RESULTS: Lady Rider of the Year: Merran Hain (Gisborne), Tregonning, 1; Alysha Hutton (Pleasant Point), Goodness Gracious, 2; Anna Trent (Kaukapakapa), Miss Brunei, 3; Lydia Quay (Oakura), Eagar To Sgor, 4; Katie McVean (Matangi), Dunstan Hairy McLairy, 5; Susie Haywood (Methven), Notting Hill, 6.
Saba Sam Shield -- (Mar 19) The Gisborne Girls team brought the Saba Sam Shield back to Gisborne, after losing it to Bay of Plenty last year.
The competition is named for Graeme Hansen's versatile thoroughbred Showjumper Saba Sam, who went to the Tokyo Olympics in 1964.
As soon as he came back from the Olympics, Graeme Hansen argued for a Team Showjumping competition, to give riders a taste of the type of competition they would face at future Olympics.
He organised the Saba Sam Shield, to be competed for by area teams of young riders, at the Horse of the Year Show, and it has been a fiercely competed-for trophy ever since.
Yesterday's competition attracted 17 three-member teams of the best-performed young riders this season. The winning Gisborne Girls team was Tessa Williams, riding Hori and Wild Thing, and Penny Parker on Dancing Bear. The team is trained by Merran Hain.
Second was Central Districts A - Gabrielle Harvey on Mighty Maximus, Chloe Akers and Repias Rosie and Mark Duncan on Cheblinkers.
Wellington/Horowhenua was third, with Carla Hayes on bush Boy, Lucy Abraham on Gentian blue and Branden Lammas on Peter Pan.
RESULTS: Gisborne Girls, 1; Central Districts A, 2; Wellington/Horowhenua, 3; Taranaki Black, 4.
7-Year-Old Showjumper Final -- (Mar 19) A fall cost Clevedon rider Andrew Cottle and Air Force One the Cushionride 7-Year-Old Showjumper series in Hastings on Thursday.
Ashley Hart and Kiwi Currency. |
Holding second place in the September - March series, Cottle was 21 points behind Katie McVean (Matangi) and Wild South. McVean retired in the first round of today's competition, after taking several rails.
One of only four clear rounds, Cottle and Air Force One needed the win to head McVean and take the series. Unfortunately Air Force One slipped on the turn into the penultimate fence, and the fall eliminated them from the final and kept them to second place in the series.
Ashley Hart (Hastings) and Kiwi Currency were the first combination to jump off and set a good pace for the following riders, with a double clear and a time of 33.49. Then followed Cottle and Air Force One, the fall relegating them to fourth place.
Katie McVean on Wild South won the 7 Year-old Series title, contested over the season. |
William Willis (Auckland) and Comfortably Numb jumped cautiously for another clear round and a time of 36.72. It all came down to the final rider, Julie Hart on Victoria II, but they took an early rail, ending in third place.
Ashley Hart has been competing the Fernhill Stud-bred Kiwi Currency in age group showjumping since the horse was four.
RESULTS: Cushionride 7-Year-Old Showjumper: Ashley Hart (Hastings), Kiwi Currency, 1; William Willis (Karaka), Comfortably Numb, 2; Julie Hart (Hastings), Victoria II, 3; Andrew Cottle (Clevedon), Air Force One, 4.
Injury no obstacle to big HOY win -- (Mar 18) Riding with a
broken hand after an accident earlier in the day, Hastings rider Sue Thompson took out the
Sue Thompson and Air Hill The Rajah.
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Horse of the Year Show's first-day feature show jumping event in Hastings on Wednesday afternoon.
The Hastings rider has won most of the Horse of the Year show jumping titles over the years, but this was her first win in the Norwood Gold Cup.
Held in steady rain, only six clear rounds from the 25 starters led to an exciting jumpoff. The first two horses had fences down, but Doug Isaacson (Dannevirke) and It's About Time and then Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) on Belltower were clear with increasingly fast times. Sue Thompson and Paul and Carol Nelson's Air Hill The Rajah cut corners for a fast and deadly accurate round and galloped into the last combination - a double that had caught out several riders and put paid to final jumpoff competitor Jason Ellmers' chances. Sue Thompson and the big chestnut clocked 45.83 seconds, followed by Catherine Cameron and Belltower on 45.88 and Doug Isaacson and It's About Time on 48.03. Jason Ellmers (Pongaroa) and Casual came in fourth with the brilliant time of 41.69 seconds but four faults.
The first day of the five-day Horse of the Year Show was wet but warm. Ground conditions are excellent. Recent heavy rain further south in February missed the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds, but softened the ground - a real benefit for Hawke's Bay's usual summer-dry conditions.
The biggest equestrian event in New Zealand, the Horse of the Year Show has attracted 2000 horses in 13 different disciplines. This year the HOY also has riders from a multitude of overseas countries, from Australia to Norway. The international competitors will represent their countries in showjumping, mounted games, polocrosse, showing, show hunter equitation and carriage driving.
The HOY premier arena - one of 24 at the show - had just three showjumping events on the first day. Kim Zander, formerly of Wellington and now living in Otane, riding I'm Holly won the ASB Horse 1.30m in a jump off. Chris Harris, Christchurch, and In Rhythm were second equal with Matangi's Katie McVean riding her big chestnut Chester. Hawera rider Robert Steele was fourth on Walnut Brown.
The second event, the 7-Year-Old Showjumper qualifier, was won by Ashley Hart's (Hastings) Kiwi Currency, with his wife Julie second with Calypso. Catherine Cameron and Kahurangi Tardak finished third ahead of Katie McVean and series leader Wild South.
Meech 7th in Germany -- (Mar 16) On the eve of his return to his hometown, Hastings, for the Horse of the Year Show this week, Olympic shortlisted show jumper Daniel Meech has had a good result at a major European show in Dortmund, Germany. Riding his No 1 horse, Diagonal, Meech placed 7th in the first major class of the show, a 1.50m championship. He was in good company, with a first clear round and one rail down in the jump-off, just behind such top competitors as Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, the winner, Dutch Olympic team gold medallist, Piet Raymakers, second, and another German gold medallist, Soren von Ronne, fourth.
Meech was lying 89th on the world show jumping rider rankings at the end of February, the highest position held to date by a New Zealander and a tremendous achievement for the Hastings-born rider who is now based in Germany.
Also over the weekend, in Palm Springs, California, three other Kiwi riders on the Olympic shortlist also had a good weekend, Guy Thomas sixth equal with one rail down apiece on NZ Madison and Simply Sydney in the $US150,000 Indio Grand Prix. Hawkes Bay-born Peter Breakwell and former Aucklander Duncan McFarlane were also in the running with 8 and 12 penalties respectively on their top horses, All Star and Ezy.
The Horse of the Year Show starts on Wednesday and continues through until Sunday this week, with a full programme of show jumping, dressage, showing and other equestrian events, culminating in Sunday's Bell Tea Horse of the Year event.
Kiwis home for HOY show -- (Mar 9) Daniel Meech returns to his home town of Hastings next month as the highest ranked New Zealand show jumping rider in the world.
The 30 year-old (pictured at right) not only achieved his goal for 2003 to break the top 100 barrier, but in February this year, he had moved up the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) leaderboard to 89th position. It is a tremendous achievement, consistent performances bringing Meech up from 636th place in January 2003.
When he first went to Europe, Meech spent three years at the stable of former German Olympic star, and one of the most influential men in the sport, Paul Schockemohle. From that base he gained valuable experience nationally and internationally, including winning the Munich Grand Prix in top company. He now rides for a private stable in Gronau, Germany. He competed at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 on Future Vision, which was syndicated for him by New Zealand supporters.
Meech has enjoyed tremendous success on his current ride, a bay Westphalian stallion Diagonal, owned by Frau Claudia Klaas, winning over 70,000 Euros (NZ$150,000) in 2003 alone. It was Diagonal he rode in the Olympic qualifier, but he has also had good wins and places in international classes on his other rides, Polymiro and Indecis de Six Censes, travelling all over Europe and also to Spruce Meadows in Canada.
Meech and four other overseas-based top contenders for the country's first Olympic show jumping team since 1988, will compete at the Horse of the Year Show, March 17-21, at Hastings Showgrounds.
Also coming home are the other three riders who, with Meech, qualified New Zealand for Athens in Germany last June, Peter Breakwell, also originally from Hawkes Bay, Guy Thomas and Grant Wilson, together with Duncan McFarlane. With home-based teenage star, Katie McVean, these riders will make up two New Zealand teams for an international challenge, on borrowed horses, on the Saturday of the show.
Breakwell, 46, rode as an individual at the Sydney Olympics, and rode All Star at the Aachen Olympic qualifier in June. The horse was then put up for sale, but subsequently returned to Breakwell's California barn and he will be hoping to repeat last year's several top ten grand prix placings in the run-up to Athens on both All Star, which he regards as the best horse he has ridden in a long career, and Anna Karenina, his second ride.
Thomas, 26, is the son of two leading riders in their own right. Graham Thomas rode to the top level here in the early 70s, before going to California to further his career and where he became a top show hunter and show jumping rider and trainer, as well as importing New Zealand sport horses for the US market. His wife, Lu, became a New Zealand citizen several years ago and has carried the silver fern at international shows in North America. Young Thomas came through the junior rings successfully and in open company has enjoyed particular success with his Kiwi bred Clydesdale-TB mare, NZ Madison, his ride at Aachen. The combination won last year's $US35,000 San Jose Grand Prix, with Thomas's second horse, Simply Sydney, second. The family owns a farm close to Cambridge, home for part of the year.
Wilson's home is in the Waikato, but he has been in Belgium for almost twelve years, carving out a niche in the very competitive sport in Europe. Wilson, 29, runs his own professional stable and has been particularly successful training young stallions through to top level, with two of the horses he trained in recent years going on to win and place in the prestigious Aachen Grand Prix in Germany. Wilson currently has the ride on three Grand Prix stallions. Radieux, a son of one of Europe's best known stallions Heartbreaker which Wilson also trained, was his ride in the team last year in Aachen. In January he gained a new ride in Luciano, who has competed internationally for Holland and is already qualified for the Olympics after a good performance at the Madrid Grand Prix last year under his previous Dutch jockey. His third ride, Lets Go, is another reliable performer that rounds out Wilson's stable.
Duncan McFarlane, 44, pursued his sporting dreams to the USA 25 years ago, having jumped to advanced level here from an Auckland base. In the States, he built a solid reputation as both a show jumper and show hunter rider, with top level performances in many major competitions, including qualifying for the World Cup Final on Eezy. Highlights of his 2003 season were wins in the Indio Grand Prix and the $75,000 Del Mar Grand Prix on his other ride Ezrah.
New Zealand World Cup series winner Sally Steiner (Tauranga) was taking her horse, Well Wisher, to Europe at the end of February to prepare for the European season, during which Olympic team manager, Jeff McVean, plans to test the team hopefuls at a series of Nations Cup events in the run-up to Athens. His daughter Katie (Matangi) heads back to her top horse, Dolly, in Britain after Horse of the Year Show, while the other members of the squad, currently in Europe, are Grant Cashmore (UK), Richard Gardner (Germany) and Sydney Olympic rider, Bruce Goodin (Sweden).
Scholarship for Louisa Hill -- (Mar 26) Dressage rider Louisa Hill is the first recipient of the Charisma Trust Scholarship.
The Charisma Trust Scholarship was set up to support talented and committed riders who are deemed to have the potential to represent New Zealand at Olympic and World Equestrian Games level. Sir Ron Trotter, the Chairman of the Trust, says: "Louisa certainly fits that bill and is currently the leading contender for a place in the Olympic Equestrian team in dressage."
Louisa is absolutely delighted to receive this scholarship. "This means so much to me" she said yesterday. "I am extremely honoured to be the first recipient. It means that I can now go to Sydney early and get a better preparation for my next competition." Louisa leaves for Sydney to compete in an international tournament in early April as part of her bid to be selected for the Olympics team.
Louisa has trained four horses to the highest level of dressage (Grand Prix), and has represented New Zealand 15 times in her career. On her Hanoverian mare Gabana, Louisa won the 2002 PSI FEI Challenge, and the 2003 and 2004 New Zealand Grand Prix Horse of the Year titles. She also won the 2003 PSI final in Germany on a borrowed horse.
It was Louisa's performance in front of an international judge at the Olympic Qualifier in Auckland that has earned NZ the necessary Certificate of Capability for this year's Olympics. The announcement of the dressage team to represent New Zealand at the Olympics is expected in early May.
The Charisma Trust has emerged from a history of success in both the Olympic Games and the World Equestrian Games. Charisma, who has often been dubbed "the world's greatest horse", died in 2003. His achievements included two Olympic gold medals and numerous successes in British equestrian events. Charisma was also legendary for his personality.
The fundraising efforts for equestrian sports have also had to be very intense to support what is a costly sport at international level. New Zealand has a large base of equestrian enthusiasts, with over 80,000 people being actively involved each year. Fundraising efforts included the Charisma Club in 1990 and the Charisma Gold Tour, when Charisma toured throughout New Zealand to meet his many fans. The fundraising continued with the Ready Teddy Go for Gold campaign for the Sydney Olympics. Funds raised were vested in 'The Charisma Trust', which has given financial support to all disciplines of equestrian sport for more than 10 years. The scholarship awarded to Louisa is worth $5000.
Fundraising for the Athens Olympics is currently underway, and a new national campaign across the three Olympic equestrian disciplines is about to be launched.
Obituary - Lockie Richards -- (Mar 4) by Linda Brown Dressage coach Lockie Richards died last month at his home in Reikorangi on the Kapiti Coast after a long illness. He was aged 67.
Lockie's equestrian career started out riding horses on the beach and breaking in horses for Winifred Lysner in Gisborne, who recognised Lockie's potential. He rode in Pony Club Champs for Gisborne Area in 1958 after which he headed for England and taught at the famous riding schools Silver Hound, Porlock Vale and the Fulmer School of Equitation where he passed all British
Horse Society (BHS) exams to become a Fellow of the British Horse Society (FBHS) in 1963 (the only Kiwi and youngest at the time).
In 1964 Lockie went to America to teach at Potomac Horse Center - the biggest residential school in the States. He rode and trained Royal Imperial to be National Champion Event horse, who was then donated to the USA 3 Day Team. Lockie trained 5 riders to selection on that 3DE Team.
In 1969 he competed and trained two Advanced Level Event Horses, Star Task and Hull, to win Event Rider of the Year in the US and competed at the US National Dressage Finals. Also that year he started training with Franz Rochowansky (ex Spanish Riding School) at the American Dressage Institute.
In 1970 he visited New Zealand and did some teaching for the first time since gaining his overseas qualifications. In 1970-72 Lockie was resident Instructor for the American Dressage Institute and was selected to train at Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
From 1975 to 1979 Lockie was the National Instructor for the New Zealand Horse Society at Wills National Equestrian Centre in Taupo. During that time Paul Harris with Exile travelled to the Sydney Royal and qualified for nomination for the Montreal Olympic games. He was turned down by the NZ Olympic selection committee on the grounds of not having had sufficient overseas experience. So that was that. Lockie however refused to accept defeat on behalf of eventing; nor would some of the horse trials committee, nor would chairman Boy Caro.
These plugged on regardless with, as their goal, the Kentucky World Championships in 1978. Council finally gave its permission for them to go with Lockie as trainer, Peter Herrick as Manager, and team members Carol Harrison with Topic, Joanne Bridgeman with Bandolier, Nicoli Fife with Never Dwell, Mary Hamilton with Arronshar and Vladivostock and Mark Todd with Top Hunter. But they had to pass a severe veterinary test in NZ and guess what. Only one passed. So they all went anyway with the mixed blessing of the society. They were all youngsters and against the rest of the world they performed astonishingly well. In their lead up competition at Chesterland two-day selection Trials Mark Todd and Top Hunter finished in 3rd place ahead of
all but one of the USA Team. Come the grand final, Carol Harrison and Topic finished 6th the top lady rider of the World.
In 1983 he made a documentary video at Equus, Spanish Riding School and Lexington 3 Day. This was shown on the Discovery Channel in Australia and US many times.
1984 saw a move to Waikanae where he bought land in Reikorangi to set up the Ngatiawa Stud breeding Sport horses. He spent the next 9 years freelance teaching in USA with occasional trips to NZ. In 1986 Lockie trained the NZ 3 Day Team for Gawler World Champs. In 1993 he moved back to NZ.
In Lockie's own words "My success teaching and training is hopefully because I care about my
students and have some students that have been with me for 30 years."
More on Lockie Richards
Meech 7th in Germany -- (Mar 16) On the eve of his return to his hometown, Hastings, for the Horse of the Year Show this week, Olympic shortlisted show jumper Daniel Meech has had a good result at a major European show in Dortmund, Germany. Riding his No 1 horse, Diagonal, Meech placed 7th in the first major class of the show, a 1.50m championship. He was in good company, with a first clear round and one rail down in the jump-off, just behind such top competitors as Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, the winner, Dutch Olympic team gold medallist, Piet Raymakers, second, and another German gold medallist, Soren von Ronne, fourth.
Meech was lying 89th on the world show jumping rider rankings at the end of February, the highest position held to date by a New Zealander and a tremendous achievement for the Hastings-born rider who is now based in Germany.
Also over the weekend, in Palm Springs, California, three other Kiwi riders on the Olympic shortlist also had a good weekend, Guy Thomas sixth equal with one rail down apiece on NZ Madison and Simply Sydney in the $US150,000 Indio Grand Prix. Hawkes Bay-born Peter Breakwell and former Aucklander Duncan McFarlane were also in the running with 8 and 12 penalties respectively on their top horses, All Star and Ezy.
The Horse of the Year Show starts on Wednesday and continues through until Sunday this week, with a full programme of show jumping, dressage, showing and other equestrian events, culminating in Sunday's Bell Tea Horse of the Year event.
Horse loan warning -- (Mar 9) The British Horse Society (BHS) strongly advises horse owners, and those contemplating having a horse on loan or by lease, never to do so without a written agreement. Loaning or leasing a horse often appears to be an attractive solution, both for the owner who may not have enough time to look after the horse but does not want to sell it, and for those looking for a horse without the capital required for initial purchase.
However, such arrangements can be rife with potential problems. Frequently the arrangement is by word of mouth only, and when something goes wrong it can be the animal that ultimately suffers. The BHS advocates that in all cases there should be a written agreement signed by both parties. Although not essential it is advisable to have the agreement written by a solicitor, or at the least viewed by one, with the responsibilities of both parties clearly defined, and be fair and reasonable.
Under no circumstances should a horse be put on loan or out to lease if it is suffering any kind of illness or lameness. As with selling a horse it should be sound and fit for the purpose for which it is being loaned or leased. Horse owners considering loaning or leasing their horse need to think through carefully their reasons for doing so and make the decision based on what is best for the horse. It may be that the animal is incurably unsound or elderly and the owner can no longer afford to keep it in which case it may be advisable to discuss with the vet whether humane destruction would be the best option.
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