The Tōmoana Showgrounds were buzzing with excitement this weekend as they hosted the Air Napier 2026 Show Hunter Championships. Competitors flocked from the upper North and the deep South to take to the competition field and battle it out for the prestigious Series titles that were up for offer.
The grounds looked a picture, with white picket fencing and trade stands surrounding the arenas, it really gave a championship feel. The show offered something for everyone, ranging from Cat A to Rising Stars to Open classes, not forgetting the Air Napier Derby that saw the sidelines filled with spectators that were enthralled with the competition that unfolded before them.
Abby Fawcett and Hillman Hunter, winners of the NRM Open National Series Final class and Series Title. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
The NRM Open National Series went right down to the wire, with Abby Fawcett and Georgia Allison both sitting on equal points, the series winner would be decided by whoever placed the highest. Abby, riding Hillman Hunter was the victor in both the class and the series, just edging out Georgia and Sandow Jacob who placed second in the class and the series. Zaria Johnston picked up third place in the class on Alaska Xtreme, but it was Emily Twort on Cameo KSNZ who finished third in the series.
Georgia Allison and Sandow Jacob won both the Seahorse Supplements Equitation National Series and the Summit Grains & Saddlery Amateur National Series. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Georgia’s long trip up from the South Island certainly paid dividends as she also took out both the class and Series title in the Seahorse Supplements Open Equitation and the Summit Grains and Saddlery Amateur, riding Sandow Jacob.
Emily Twort rode Cameo KSNZ to second place in the Amateur on Series final day which also saw her finish in second place in the series. Abby Fawcett rounded out the series podium on Hillman Hunter. Emily also placed second in the Open Equitation class and was third in the series. Antonio Matangi was second in the series.
Needless to say, Georgia was thrilled with the efforts of her little superstar, Sandow Jacob:
“We’ve had a fantastic season! It’s such a good feeling coming into a show like this with the best teammate, it was tight at the top of the leaderboards so it really did come down to the final round. I’m just so proud of Jacob for how he’s performed for me this season, the Amateur Series was the last one on our list that he hadn’t won so was epic to finally tick that off! I love the Equitation Series and feel very privileged to have won the series in its first year as a combined Junior/Amateur class now – double the competition so it’s been cool to still have been so consistent. Jacob really tried for me on finals day and to win the final classes was just the icing on the cake of such a good season.
We as riders are incredibly lucky that the committee took on the challenge of running us a series final and in doing so blew all expectations out of the park. The grounds were fantastic, the show ran beautifully and I think everyone loved it! It was wonderful to see a few South Islanders make the long trip up and riders from all over the North Island travel to support this show. I feel like I say this on behalf of riders when I say I hope this does become a regular fixture on the calendar for years to come”.
Georgia Allison and Sandow Jacob finished their season in great style. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Lauren Mitchell could ride a stress free round in the LeaderBrand Junior class, as she had already done enough throughout the season to win the title, but she cemented her series win by taking out the series final class on Craighaven Black Heart. Maygen Gubb and PL Sizzle n Sass placed second in the series and Lauren came in third on Marokopa CJ.
Lauren Mitchell and Craighaven Black Heart, winners of the Leader Brand Junior National Series class and Series Title. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Zoe Morris and Fordland’s Moonmist won the Vero Insurance Cat A Series Final class. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Jaimee Whittaker
Zoe Morris had a good win in the Vero Insurance Cat A class, on Fordlands Moonmist, which lifted them to fifth place in the series. A special moment for one of our lovely Star Spotters, Harriet McAree, who placed second in the class with Afallons Royal Salute, and finished up seventh on the series leaderboard. Pippa Petro completed the class in sixth place on Waima Gin to see her keep the lead and take out the series. Chloe Dickson and Charis Mister Ralph were second in the series, and Lucy Moorland riding Westfield Maximus were third.
Pippa Petro and Waima Gin won the Vero Insurance Cat A National Series Title. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Lucy Lloyd went into the Grains & Gains Cat B Series final on top of the leaderboard, but the points were tight at the top, and the title was anyone’s to have. However, Lucy kept her cool and rode Hesasuperstar to the top of the class to ensure the title was hers. Kyla Rameka just missed out on points in the final class, but finished in second place in the series on Adlou Aramis. Pippa Petro’s third place on Thin Lizzie saw them also finish in third place in the series.
Lucy Lloyd and Hesasuperstar won both the Grains & Gains Cat B Series Final class and Series Title. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Paige Wakelin-Noble also went into the series final as the series leader, but the points were close, and Charlie Stone was in reach of the title. Paige rode Westfield Pluto with nerves of steel, and took the win to secure her place on top of the series leaderboard. Charlie Stone and Tawa finished in second place in the series, and Aggie Shearer with Bizzie McGuire in third.
Paige Wakelin-Noble and Westfield won The Brave Pants Cat C National Series Final class and Series Title. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Aggie Shearer won the Equissage NZ Pony Equitation Series Final Class riding Bizzie McGuire, with ribbons presented by Sophie Scott. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
In the Equissage NZ Pony Equitation, Aggie Shearer took out the class on Bizzie McGuire to finish in second on the series. Charlie Stone on Tawa placed second in the class to keep their lead in the series. Paige Wakelin-Noble and Westfield Pluto were third in the series.
Equissage NZ also very generously donated a Pony Equissage Edge Pad for auction, with every dollar raised going back into ESNZ Show Hunter to support our riders, horses and the future of our sport. Trudi Duncan had the winning bid, congratulations Trudi!
Charlie Stone riding Tawa. Winner of the Equissage NZ Pony Equitation National Series. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Jaimee Whittaker
Javana Johnston, winner of the BOP and Waikato Show Hunter Groups 12 & Under Equitation National Series. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Jaimee Whittaker
Javana Johnston was declared the series winner before the final show, and it was Isabella Duncan who won the BOP & Waikato Show Hunter Groups 12 and under Equitation class which lifted her to fourth place in the series. Zoe Morris picked up a third place in the class which saw her finish in second place in the series, and Claudia Studholme rounded out the series podium.
Isabella Duncan and Onetai Cover Girl won the Air Napier Super Derby. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
That was just the start of Isabella’s good fortunes, as she went on to win the Air Napier Super Derby on Onetai Cover Girl. Thirty combinations, a mixture of horses and ponies, came forward to take on the Derby challenge, something that was a new experience for equines and riders alike. Every rider put down a great challenge and gave the course their all, with each one being cheered on by the hundreds of spectators that surrounded the arena, but it was Isabella’s near perfect round that saw her take out the class, and it was wonderful to have the Air Napier crew on site to present her with the $1000 cheque for first place. Sarah Jocelyn placed second on Curioso, and Georgia Allison was third on Sandow Jacob.
Isabella Duncan and Onetai Cover Girl being presented the winners cheque by the Air Napier team, the very generous sponsors. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Claudia Hurley was the worthy winner, by some distance, of the NZTR TiES Show Hunter Accumulator Series, with her lovely thoroughbred, Bluetooth.
Claudia Hurley & Bluetooth won the NZTR TiES Show Hunter Accumulator Series. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
A special prize was on offer for the best performed Thoroughbred over all classes, kindly sponsored by NZTR. Brentwood Bravo, ridden by Vanna Johnston, was the out and out winner, picking up some good placings across the show to finish on 28 points. Bluetooth finished in second place for Claudia Hurley on a score of eleven points, and Falcon’s Reason in third with Ashleigh Bellve in the saddle on five points.
Vanna Johnston and Brentwood Bravo won the NZTR Best Performed Thoroughbred. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
The Series Awards evening was well attended, and the spectators were treated to a Q&A session from World Cup rider, Sophie Scott, who started her career in the Show Hunter ring, and a true stalwart of our sport, Merran Hain, who has won almost every title over a whole range of disciplines, which really set the tone for the evening. A fantastic selection of food trucks were available, keeping everyone well fed before the Series Awards were presented and the night was danced away with DJ Magic Ike!
Ike Baker leads the Q&A session with Merran Hain and Sophie Scott. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
All in all, it was a wonderful show that was well received by all that attended, with all credit going to Ashleigh Forde and her Northern Hawkes Bay Show Hunter team.
Ashleigh is extremely grateful to all those that came together to run this event:
“A huge thanks to the committee, they all did such a lot of hard work in a short period of time, as well as all the volunteers that came forward to run the gates etc. And also thank you to all the competitors who came from far and wide, even in trying conditions with the ferry, fuel and weather. I am so proud of what we achieved, it all came together and turned out to be bigger and better than any of us thought it could be, so a big thank you to the Show Hunter Executives and Jumping Board for trusting us to put something on. Thank you to all the trade stands who approached us and supported the event, it seems that everyone wanted an event like this. Thanks also go out to Merran (Hain) and Sophie (Scott), we are very grateful to them for accepting at such short notice. They really made the evening special.
We didn’t expect the amount of support we got from the whole equestrian community, so thank you to you all for helping us pull it together”.
Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
For full results go to www.evoevents.co.nz
30 March 2026
The Jumping Team