Olivia Woodward & Whittaker II – Copyright Photo KAMPIC/Kerry Marshall

 

Sport Horse Junior High Points Series

 

Show hunter has more than delivered for Sport Horse Junior High Points Series winner Olivia Woodward.

The Palmerston North 21-year-old has practiced the discipline since she was a youngster and introduced Whittaker II to it as a “quiet and nice” place to educate the seven-year-old. It did that and more, delivering her first-ever series win.

“This means so much,” she says. “This is just our second season and to be this consistent means a lot.”

They definitely chased the series and racked up plenty of kilometres, including a big mission to Woodhill Sands. “I was so nervous there, especially having gone all that way.”

But the Awapuni Racecourse marketing assistant needn’t have worried. It was Woodhill where they had their best win of the season.

“I’ve had Whittaker for a year-and-a-half now. He was fairly green when I got him and has taken a while to mature but show hunter has been a great grounding for him.”

Olivia, who is trained by Chloe Hansen, now has her sights set on the amateur showjumping series. This season they’ve showjumped up to 1.2m so she’s confident the horse is most definitely ready for it.

The grand final was won by Hollie Falloon (Masterton) aboard Merran Hain’s Untouchable, with Olivia finishing in sixth place but still heading home the series field by six points ahead of Lauren Mitchell (Kumeu) aboard Craighaven Black Heart.

 

Sport Horse Junior High Points Series: Olivia Woodward ( Palmerston North) Whittaker II 65 points 1, Lauren Mitchell (Kumeu) Craighaven Black Heart 59 2, Aliya Berry (Tamahere) Pintado Bravo 53 3, Lauren Mitchell (Kumeu) Marokopa CJ 49 4, Sophie Townsend (Darfield) Carabawn Comet 38 5, Bella Taane (Ohoka) Struck by Lightning 30 6.

 

Sport Horse Junior High Points Series Grand Final (co-sponsored by PGG Wrightson): Hollie Falloon (Masterton) Untouchable 1, Aliya Berry (Tamahere) Pintado Bravo 2, Lauren Mitchell (Kumeu) Marokopa CJ 3, Mea Hall (Pauatahanui) Eireann All Heart 4, Olivia Nation (Wellington) Lanius GNZ 5, Olivia Woodward (Palmerston North) Whittaker II 6.

 

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

 

Diana Dobson – 17 April 2023