Abby Fawcett & Hillman Hunter at BOP Show Hunter North Island Champs – Photo by Spot On Photography

 

This season, the North Island Show Hunter Championships were held in conjunction with the Bay of Plenty Summer Show 2025.

For the first time Bay of Plenty Show  Hunter held their show at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre, Taupo, following the closing of the picturesque Riverdale Showgrounds in Rotorua. The weather was good, entries were up and competition in the hack ring was fierce, with many rounds scoring in the 80’s and the spoils well spread.

All North Island Championship classes were supported by super sponsors “Canter for Cancer”. The first of which, the 1m class, had 24 entries with 10 very strong rounds in the call-back. But the ever consistent Abby Fawcett and Hillman Hunter were all class delivering two flawless rounds to take the win. Michael Morton-Beetham on Bluebell RC was second and Ellie Deane with Flying Colours Mr Mav, third.

Abby’s successes continued, winning not only the Couper Cup (in honour of John Couper) on the second day, but the whole series (with her points from the Spring Show) as well as the ESNZ Amateur High Points class.

In the 1.10m Championship class, this combination was nosed out with a super effort by Emily Twort and her mare Cameo KSNZ, delivering yet another quality call-back round and Michael hot on their heels in third. Emily also took out the Couper Cup (first day), the Seahorse Supplements Adult Equitation and the NRM Open High Points Class, while Michael scored the Rotorua Adult Riding Club Open Hunter 1.10m and quinella’d the NRM Open High Points 1.15m class on the first day.

Junior combination Lauren Mitchell on Craighaven Black Heart won the North Island Equitation Championship, and both EquiMatch Junior High Points classes.

It was also great to see some new faces and young combinations (such as Rebecca Richard’s, 16, winner of the Junior Equitation class) filling the line-ups.

 

Skyla Bellingham & My Gemma Bear competing at BOP Show Hunter – Photo by Spot On Photography

 

The Cat C pony classes were dominated by Bridie King and her smart pony Grassendale Gin. This combination won the North Island 90cm Championship, with Olivia Richards (The Tontonator) second and Lily Funnel (Billie Jean) third. Bridie also won The Brave Pants Company Cat C High Points class (second day), Big on Writing and Championship Equitations and the Rotorua/BOP Hunt Club Cat C Handy Hunter.

One of the few times they were pushed from the winner’s spot was by My Buffalo Soldier ridden by Ashley Russell in The Brave Pants Company Cat C Pony High Points class.  Caitlyn Wilkin (Guns N Roses) and Kyra Purcell (Mikado Johnny Angel) also featured strongly in the Cat C presentations.

The Cat B pony results were more evenly shared. The North Island Cat B Championship was won by Ellie McDonald on Hidden Warrior, with Javana Johnston and Starlight Sahara  second, Poppy Illston and Snikkers third. Javana and Savanna Styles on Ruby Tunes won the Grains and Gains Cat B High Points Series classes, and along with Ellie, all picked up other wins and placings along the way.

Skyla Bellingham on My Gemma Bear really lead from the front in the Cat A Pony classes, taking out the North Island Championship, the Vero Insurance Cat A High Points (second day), and both BOP & Waikato Show Hunter Groups Under 12yrs Equitations. Tara McNair (Hollybank Wildwind) finished second in the Championship class and picked up other wins and placings throughout the weekend. Javana on her other pony Starlight Samara was third in the Championship.  Cruze Du Plessis on Mosaic Rapidash managed to get a nose in front by one point in the Vero Insurance Cat A High Points class on the first day, and was regularly seen in the line-ups.

A big thank you to experienced Judges, Marilyn Vincent and Joan Couper, the hard working BOP Committee and also to Course Designer Charelle Marshall who built nice courses all weekend, with enough questions to keep the riders thinking. A good show had by all.

 

For full results see www.evoevents.co.nz

 

The Jumping Team – 16 January 2025