Northern Hawkes Bay put on a spectacular show at the Bayleys Hawkes Bay National Young Horse Jumping Championships. The grounds looked incredible, and the footing was fantastic which resulted in four days of thrilling competition. Competitors flocked from all over to enjoy the Hawkes Bay sun and showcase their young horses as well as the opportunity to pick up other series points. Marcus Rose did a wonderful job of course designing in ring one, and we were lucky enough to have Michael Haese over from Australia to build in ring two, and Becky Ormsby in ring three.
Laura Inkster certainly made her trip down worthwhile when she rode off with the Property Brokers Grand Prix, locally supported by Blast Off Syndicate owners of JESKO, title. Riding Rodrigo MVNZ, Laura was first to go in the jump off and threw down the gauntlet with a clear round in a quick time. Julie Davey aboard LT Holst Freda gave it their best shot, and while they were just a smidgen quicker, one rail on the floor saw them take home second place. Sarah West also joined the others in the jump off, electing to retire Six Sixty SP and finishing in third place.
Laura Inkster wins the Property Brokers Grand Prix on Rodrigo MVNZ. Photo Credit to Cornege Media
“I am so pleased to take the win on Rodrigo MVNZ, we love making the trip down to the National Young Horse Show. Big thank you to the organising committee, sponsors, and I also couldn’t do it without the team I have around me.”
The FMG Young Rider, locally supported by the Riders Shop, proved to be a tough class, with only half the starters completing. Penny Borthwick had a clear jumping round on Nikama MVNZ and despite picking up a handful of time faults, she took home the win.
Cindy Kershaw rode Kiwi Vision to victory in The Brave Pants Company Pro Am, locally supported by Oaklane Stables. The class saw two double clears with Cindy finishing comfortably ahead of Drew Carson riding Java NZPH. Michelle Wakeling and BMW Chaccolilli also made it into the jump off where their four fault round saw them pick up the third place ribbon.
Three made it into the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider jump off, and all three produced a double clear. It was Hannah McConnell who rode through the finish flags in the quickest time, riding Caviar, she stopped the clock in 36.21. Hannah Roil had a fantastic show, after finishing in second place in the National Seven Year Old Breeding Championship riding Grassendale Xtreme, they also took home second place in the Young Rider. Lottie Bull rounded out the podium in the saddle of Self Portrait.
Local man Josh Adamson rode a cracking double clear in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider, locally supported by Performance Hoofcare, finishing the course in 36.90 and all clear aboard Her Silver Lining. Jessica Giles went head to head with Josh in the jump off, and gave him a run for his money, but could not better his time. In the saddle of Cole SPH, Jessica stopped the clock in 37.18 for second place.
Josh Adamson wins the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider on Her Silver Lining. Photo Credit to Cornege Media.
John MacLennan rode the Zabeel gelding, Glensheil Denny for the only double clear in the TiES Futurity Jumping Series to take out the class.
Kylie McCambridge jumped the only double clear on Waitangi TikTok to win the Tony Webb Memorial 1.40m, and Fraser Tombleson rode The Boss (Lincoln MVNZ x Mea I/Ngahiwi One Eye, bred by Warwick Tombleson) round the Gelding/Stallion 1.30m to take home the win with the only clear. Stephanie Anderson won the Mare 1.30m class, finishing with two time faults on the starry LT Holst Elsie K (Kannan x LT Holst Elsbeth/Cascadello), just edging out Jake Lambert who picked up three time faults on Takapoto Saffron (Check In x Claire/ Chasseur I, bred by Takapoto Equestrian) for second place.
Down in the beautiful Show Hunter ring, competitors enjoyed some lovely courses built by Ashleigh Forde. Lucy Fell certainly went away from the show laughing, as after her brilliant second place in the National Five Year Old Jumping Championship, she rode away with the win in the National Five Year Old Show Hunter Championship aboard her homebred, Away Laughing (Eden du Rouet x Enja MVNZ/Cassini II).
Lucy Fell wins the National Five Year Old Show Hunter Championship on Away Laughing. Photo Credit to Jaimee Whittaker.
Candice Fox had a fantastic show on Atticus et Audax (LC Telepathy x Skyhi Sabine/Komet Von C, bred by Imogen Neale), they performed well in the National Six Year Old Jumping Championship, and then took out the National Six Year Old Show Hunter Championship, sponsored by Pike Racing.
You would have been able to see Georgie Coop’s smile from the moon, as she was crowned the winner in both the National Four Year Old Show Hunter Championship, sponsored by Canter for Cancer, and the National Seven Year Old Show Hunter Championship, sponsored by the Wilson Family. Her winning mounts were four year old Murdoch (Blitz x Bell/Chester), and seven year old Zola (Blitz x Ursula/Bismarck) and both were bred by Diesel and Caroline Coop.
Suzanne Scores a Win in Southland
Southland hosted their Festival Show, that was covered in sunshine and Christmas cheer as competitors rocked their very best festive outfits.
Suzanne Black would have been thrilled with Glenbrooke Rockin Roses (Euro Sport Diamant B x Glenbrooke Roses/Euro Sport Heartbreaker, bred by Tanya Davie) when they jumped a lovely clear round to seal the win in the NZPH Seven Year Old Breeding Series.
Suzanne Black won the NZPH Seven year Old Breeding Series on Glenbrooke Rockin Roses. Pictured here in the 1.20m. Photo Credit to Elise Ford Photography.
Two battled it out in The Brave Pants Company Pro Am, where both jumped double clear, and the times were extremely tight. It was a win for Harriet Gardner who rode Endeavour T through the finish flags in 37.45, Jane Hunt and Rabbit were not far behind as they stopped the clock in 37.66.
Three four faulters went into the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider jump off, with the win going the way of Maygen Gubb who guided PL Fox d’Amour around for the only clear. Amy Brenssell came in second place riding Calypso Xtreme and Charlotte Davie in third aboard Glenbrooke Final Rose.
Margaret Ridley produced the sole double clear in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider to take home the win on Rockfort. Kirsty Ogilvie rode Raise A Glass around the shortened course in a quicker time, but four faults kept them out of the winners spot.
Casey Gubb jumped double clear in the East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Breeding Series to take home the win on PL Peter Parker (Classico TN x Lirio/Unknown, bred by Hayley Shaw), and in the TiES Futurity class, Talia Allison jumped the only clear on the Raise The Flag mare, Mustang Belle Amour for first place.
For full results go to:
16 December 2025
The Jumping Team