This year’s top equestrians have been recognised at the ESNZ Hall of Fame Awards held tonight at the Chateau on the Park, in Christchurch. The awards were hosted by Board Chair Hannah Walton, and guests included Chief Executive of New Zealand Pony Club Lizzie Turnbull, and Chair of the Riding for the Disabled Jane Neale. The award winners and recipients are:
2026 ESNZ HORSE OF THE YEAR – NATIONAL
2026 ESNZ HORSE OF THE YEAR – NATIONAL Winner: Delights Crystal Prince ridden by Robbie James
Winner: Delights Crystal Prince (Endurance): ridden and owned by Robbie James. Delights Crystal Prince has had an outstanding season, winning multiple titles across the Endurance discipline. These include the North Islands 160k CEI3*, the South Island 160k CEI3* and the Canterbury CEI1* 100k and also winning Best Conditioned at those events. He is fast and consistently sound, an absolute must for an endurance horse, and not easy to keep up for a whole season.
2026 ESNZ HORSE OF THE YEAR – INTERNATIONAL
2026 ESNZ HORSE OF THE YEAR – INTERNATIONAL Winner: Gangster WW ridden by Luke Dee
Winner: Gangster WW (Jumping): ridden by Luke Dee, owners Fiona Hall and Luke Dee. Gangster WW has set the world on fire with multiple Grand Prix placings across Europe last season, including second place in the 5* 1.60m Grand Prix of Amsterdam in January 2026. Since being overseas in Europe, Luke and Gangster have competed against the best horses and riders in the world. Although they could be considered inexperienced at that level, they are standing tall next to the competitors they are facing week after week.
2026 ESNZ RIDER OF THE YEAR
2026 ESNZ RIDER OF THE YEAR Winner: Sophie Scott seen here on Normandy GHP. Photo Credit to Cornege Media
Winner: Sophie Scott (Jumping): Sophie Scott’s jumping results this season have been too many to capture fully. She has achieved five FEI World Cup Qualifier placings across the season, including multiple FEI World Cup Qualifier placings, two Premier League placings, several titles at Grand Prix level and also she took Australia by storm with multiple wins at Waratah and Tamworth. Sophie is the epitome of when hard work meets talent, an athlete at the top of her game not only in New Zealand, but also now in a much larger playing field overseas.
2026 ESNZ TEAM OF THE YEAR
ESNZ TEAM OF THE YEAR Winners: New Zealand Young Rider Test Series Team – Chef d’Equipe, Jaime Campbell Ward, Molly Moffatt (Lazarus GNZ), Sophia Blackbourn (LT Holst Zalato Blue), Emma Gillies (Benrose Black Jack), Liam Rutland (Adele), Catalina Rocco (Orietta MVNZ).
Winners: New Zealand Young Rider Test Series Team: Chef d’Equipe, Jaime Campbell Ward; Molly Moffatt (Lazarus GNZ), Sophia Blackbourn (LT Holst Zalato Blue), Emma Gillies (Benrose Black Jack), Liam Rutland (Adele), Catalina Rocco (Orietta MVNZ). The 2025 Trans-Tasman Young Rider Test Series delivered a landmark performance in Australia, winning all three legs of the Trans-Tasman Young Rider Test Series, to complete a clean sweep. This feat stands as one of the most dominant displays by a New Zealand Young Rider Team on Australian soil.
YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARDS
2026 DRESSAGE YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR
2026 DRESSAGE YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR Recipient: Billie Hughes
Recipient: Billie Hughes: Billie Hughes is highly successful as a competitor and a contributor to Dressage. The current North Island Elementary Zilco Musical Freestyle Series Championship on her self-trained pony, competing with distinction at the EWT Under 25 Championships and Bates National Championships, and winning the Auckland Manukau Dressage Group Autumn Series. As vice chair on the Dressage NZ Youth Council, Billie arranged for some of the world’s leading dressage riders – including Becky Moody from Great Britain – to send a video link with their top competition tips and a good luck message to all young dressage riders.
2026 JUMPING YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR
2026 JUMPING YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR Recipient: Sofia Williams Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Recipient: Sofia Williams: Sofia Williams has had a phenomenal season, taking the Grand Prix series with six wins, plus many other placings, in her first season competing at this level. It is no surprise that she was also nominated for Junior Sportswoman of the Year, by her local area. Competing against some of the best riders and horses in NZ, she showed younger riders watching her that dreams can come true.
2026 EVENTING YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR
2026 EVENTING YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR
Recipient: Carys McCrory . Copyright photo Take the Moment.
Recipient: Carys McCrory: Carys McCrory has delivered a fantastic performance record for the 2025-2026 Eventing season, placed 7th at the Adelaide CCI4*-S and was a member of the Senior Rider Oceania team. She also took out 2 x 2nd’s and a 1st at CCI4*-S events across the season in New Zealand, while also producing a small team of quality eventing horses. She is a fantastic role model for all Eventers – she is always approachable, positive and most importantly – displays the highest level of horse welfare and love for her horses.
2026 ESNZ GROOM OF THE YEAR
2026 ESNZ GROOM OF THE YEAR Winner: Kelly Clarke (Eventing)
Winner: Kelly Clarke (Eventing): Kelly Clarke is a role model for grooms and young riders. She manages a large team of horses for Donna Edwards Smith and the DSE Eventing team where she has been a loyal groom for almost 10 years. This year, she travelled to Adelaide to groom for the team and also shared her wealth of grooming experience to support an individual rider who was competing for the first time in Adelaide.
2026 PILMER PLATE
2026 PILMER PLATE Recipient: Susan (Sue) O’Brien
Recipient: Susan O’Brien (Eventing): Susan (Sue) O’Brien is the ultimate volunteer for our sport – selected as Steward for the Olympic and World Equestrian Games (2010) she has played many roles over more than 40 years. She has contributed to the success of equestrian sport within NZ over the years, including Secretary for Puhinui International Horse Trails. She is currently the NZ National Federation General Steward and sits on the ESNZ Technical Committee. Susan’s list of assignments on the FEI database is 16 pages long with 156 Officials assignments in total across the 4 disciplines! This is evidence of her astronomical service and dedication. Susan is highly respected across all disciplines by riders, fellow Officials and clearly the FEI, given she is often requested to support as the Steward director for the FEI Officials Seminars in NZ.
2026 ESNZ HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS
2026 HONORARY LIFE MEMBER Lynda Clark
Lynda Clark: Former Equestrian Sports New Zealand Board Chair Lynda Clark rode ponies since she could walk coming through the pleasure, Pony Club, trekking, small level eventing and hunting trials before discovering Dressage and Equestrian Sports NZ. It was while Waikato-based that she met the Morrinsville Te Aroha Dressage Group whose focus was to support those coming into the sport. Lynda Clark took up the appointment as Chair of the ESNZ board following a seven-year stint on the ESNZ Dressage Board, firstly as Training & Development Officer then as Dressage Board Chair. This role also included being vice president of ESNZ.
2026 HONORARY LIFE MEMBER Fiona Bentley Credit: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Fiona Bentley: Fiona Bentley has contributed to our sport for more than 30 years. An FEI Level 3 Judge since 2012, Fiona has completed 50 FEI assignments (mostly World Cups), 33 in the role of President of the Ground Jury. This is the most senior and accomplished Jumping Judge role in NZ. She is recognised nationally for her long‑standing service, professionalism, and dedication to ESNZ and Jumping. Beyond her judging duties, Fiona has made a significant impact as a mentor and supporter of developing officials. Her ongoing contribution continues to have a meaningful and lasting impact on Jumping and officiating in New Zealand.
2026 HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS Neville and Gai Edge
Neville and Gai Edge: Together, both Neville and Gai Edge have officiated for a combined 90 years as a Technical Delegate, Steward and Judge. Gai served as Secretary of Whangarei Pony Club before becoming District Commissioner, while Neville discovered and developed his passion and talent for course design. Together their commitment to learning and improving their knowledge of the sport quickly expanded beyond pony club involvement. Gai became a Showjumping Judge and FEI Steward, while Neville qualified as a National Course Designer in both Showjumping and Cross Country. Neville has remained heavily involved with equestrian activities at the Whangarei A & P Show since the late 1970s and was awarded the prestigious Blyth Tait Scholarship in 1996 — notably the only time the scholarship had been awarded to a non-riding nominee. Jointly they were awarded the Brian Maunsell Memorial Service to Sport Award in 2020 for their outstanding contribution to Northland sport.
2026 ESNZ HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
ESNZ HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE Sue Hobson
Sue Hobson has been involved in our sport for more than 48 years. She has embraced such a diverse range of roles at local, national and international level, that her connection to the sport has in turn reached every corner in both the discipline and ESNZ NSO framework. Significant achievements during her time include International Competitor and NZ representative at Grand Prix level in Australia, and 89 Official FEI assignments having judged internationally in Australia, Japan, Great Britain, USA, Austria and Malaysia. She has attended 18 international judge’s accreditation or transfer-up courses since 2012. She has also held positions of President of Dressage NZ, Dressage NZ Chair, Dressage NZ Judges Officer, FEI Dressage World Challenge Organising Committee, Dressage NZ Finance Officer, FEI Judge 4* Dressage Judge & FEI Young Horse Judge and NZ Judge Educator & Mentor. Sue has also been a sponsor for thirty-three years with husband Brian, through their company Hobson Horse Coaches, and they are one of the original sponsors of what is now the Super 5 League.
Towards the end of the year, New Zealand’s very best in dressage, eventing, jumping and endurance will compete against the world’s best. Most will travel from Europe, and one is set to fly from New Zealand with IRT a preferred carrier and also Equestrian Sports New Zealand’s Horse Welfare Partner. Accordingly, during the evening Equestrian Sports New Zealand along with Equus Auctions conducted the first stages of an online charity auction to raise funds to support the athletes and their horses to represent New Zealand on the global stage. For more information about the auction see: https://equusauctions.co.nz/product-category/fly-the-fern-fundraising-auction-2026