What: Young Rider Trans-Tasman Teams’ Challenge
Where: Larsen Sawmilling 34th Equestrian Championships, Showgrounds Park, Gisborne
When: January 24-26
The Young Rider Trans-Tasman Teams’ Challenge is shaping up to be another close tussle at the annual Larsen Sawmilling Equestrian Championships, which starts at Showgrounds Park in Gisborne on Friday.
The Kiwis have reigned supreme in the last two meetings of the hotly contested biennial battle, but with both countries naming strong teams, it is anyone’s to win.
Adding to the challenge is that the 1.2m competition – which comprises two rounds a day over three days – requires riders to swap between two pools of borrowed mounts.
The New Zealand team are returning riders Emma Gillies (Ōamaru) and Johanna Wylaars (Christchurch), and debutants Penny Borthwick (Wairarapa) and Tara Gower (Waikato), with Samantha-Lee Wakeling (Waitematā) reserve.
Chef d’equipe Oliver Edgecombe is backing his team.
“I think we have a really good team,” he said. “They are all proven riders. It’s a great opportunity for Penny and Tara to have a go in a teams’ environment alongside two reasonably experienced riders for this type of event.”
Team riding puts riders under a different type of pressure with different expectations, Edgecombe said.
“The Aussies are always hugely competitive so we’re expecting a good competition.”
Equestrian Australia high performance jumping manager Coco Miles agreed.
“The experience these young riders receive as a result of this opportunity is immeasurable,” Miles said. “They’re not only representing their country and learning about being on a team, they’re also making new friends across the Tasman and experiencing how the sport is run internationally.
“They’re all very excited to once again be travelling to Gisborne for the event.”
Riding for Australia are Australian junior champion Hannah Doolan (New South Wales), Tilley Fair (Victoria), debutant Tanner Robinson (Victoria) and Cody Tincknell (Queensland), who competed in Gisborne for the team last year. Olivia Price and Sienna Holdsworth-Rose are the reserves and the team chef d’equipe is Airlie Robinson.
Designing the courses for the popular three-day show is International Federation for Equestrian Sports Level 3-qualified Peter Holmes, of Canada, who last weekend delighted riders and spectators alike at the Archibald and Shorter North Shore FEI World Cup Festival held at the Woodhill Sands Equestrian Events Centre near Helensville.
“It is so good to have Peter designing the courses at Gisborne,” Edgecombe said. “He is a very experienced international which is great for us all. Great courses produce great jumping.”
It’s Holmes’ first visit to Gisborne and he is looking forward to it, bringing with him wife Danielle and children Brooklyn and Nick. They are regular visitors to New Zealand and have fallen in love with the country.
Holmes designs courses at some of the biggest shows in North America, Europe and Australia.
Caroline Coop, the chair of Gisborne Area ESNZ which is organising the champs, said it would be a treat to have him at the event.
“We’re looking forward to an excellent show,” she said. “We love hosting the Trans-Tasman and are very proud that it continues to return to Gisborne.”
Entries for the show are looking good and organisers have introduced a new accumulator class on Saturday at 5pm, the winner earning $1000.
“This is open to a wide range of riders so we are expecting it to be very popular,” Coop said.
The two feature showjumping events – the Horse Grand Prix and Pony Grand Prix – are on Sunday.
Edgecombe will be defending the horse GP, which he won on Takapoto Tinka last year.
Entry is free at Showgrounds Park with jumping and show hunter classes kicking off at 9am on Friday, 8.30am on Saturday and 8am on Sunday.
