Larina Dolman and Kiwi Lansing – Winners of the Harrison Lane Pro-Amateur Rider Series Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall

 

Larina Dolman didn’t even have to start the Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider grand final to take the series for the third time on the trot aboard her super little horse Kiwi Lansing.

“It is such a competitive series I really didn’t think I would win it and every season it gets harder and harder to do so,” said the 24-year-old.

They chased the series, winning the South Island champs and placing second at both the North Islands and Nationals, heading home the series by 37 points ahead of their nearest competition. “When I first started doing pro-ams it wasn’t a very popular class but that has all changed in the last two years which is great.”

To help with the travel distances, Larina and her team based in Palmerston North for a few months. “A lot of the shows in the north were cancelled or postponed and it was easier to do the ones in the Manawatu.”

“Reggie has been such a good horse for me – he really would give anything a go for me but as he gets older I don’t like to push him as much. We stick to the pro-am because it is easier for him. Winning this series once is special, let alone three times.”

She tried him as a four-year-old and says he was the ugliest horse at the stud. “He could barely jump a cross pole back then but as a five-year-old he really found his feet,” she said. The two went on to do well in the five and six-year-old series, and then won the seven-year-old series.

She half-heartedly put him on the market for a while but says she’ll never part with him now. “I had done all I could with him but then he is my best friend – he won’t be sold now.”

It was an emotional Rose Alfeld (Leeston) who won the EquiMatch-sponsored final aboard Eye Catcher NZPH, in his last ever show. Rose and her big chestnut were the final combination of five to come back for the jump-off where their double clear round in 41.32 seconds edged out Claire Wilson (Waipukurau) aboard McMillan’s Chuck who crossed the flags in 42.21 seconds.

Sally Clark and Larina Dolman – Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall

Results –

Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series Grand Final (sponsored by EquiMatch): Rose Alfeld (Leeston) Eye Catcher NZPH 1, Claire Wilson (Waipukurau) McMillan’s Chuck 2, Deanna Horsburgh (Cambridge) Entourage NZPH 3, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Victoria’s Secret 4, Noni Morgan (Hastings) Starlight Discovery 5, Hannah Bodle (Morrinsville) Haupouri Galileo NZPH 6.

Harrison Lane Pro-Am Rider Series: Larina Dolman (Gisborne) 104 points 1, Molly Buist Brown (Christchurch) 67 2, Jess Land (Christchurch) 64 3, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) 55 4, Katie Meredith (Ohoka) and Mathew Dickey (Hamilton) 52 =5.

 

For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz

The Jumping Team – 30 April 2022