The Jumping and Show Hunter Awards were awarded as we closed out the annual Jumping conference on Saturday afternoon, and some worthy recipients were recognised for their hard work over the season.
It was fantastic to see numerous Officials, volunteers and shows nominated across the board, but there can only be one winner!
Ashleigh Forde from the Northern Hawkes Bay wins the Show Hunter Show of the Year, Show Hunter Official of the Year, and the Show Hunter Volunteer of the Year.
The Northern Hawkes Bay team nearly had to buy extra luggage allowance to get their haul of trophies home:
- The Bayley’s National Young Horse Show took home the “Jumping Show of the Year” with many positive comments coming through about the near perfect ground conditions, super courses, great organisation and atmosphere.
- The Air Napier Show Hunter Championships were the convincing winners of the “Show Hunter Show of the Year”, with many calling it ‘Epic and phenomenal’, with great footing and atmosphere. Many were extremely appreciative of the committee for putting together such a high calibre show at very short notice.
- Ashleigh Forde’s efforts for leading her committee to running such a fantastic show, as well as running successful shows at the Hawkes Bay A&P, and the National Young Horse Show saw her win the “Show Hunter Official of the Year”, and the “Show Hunter Volunteer of the Year”.
Ash Hart and Shannon James collect the Jumping Show of the Year Award, for the Bayley’s National Young Horse Show (Northern Hawkes Bay). Photo Credit to Out the Gait Creative Ltd.
Special acknowledgment goes to the Auckland Committee, who were the runners up in the Jumping Show of the Year category with their Christmas Cracker Show. Bryce Dickson and Cathy Forde were the runners up for Show Hunter Official of the Year, and Karyn Blake for the Show Hunter Volunteer of the Year. Auckland Show Hunter and the NZ National Championships Show Hunter were the joint runners up for the Show Hunter Show of the Year.
Kaye Williams (Gisborne) won the Official of the Year. Credit: KAMPIC / Sarah Lord
Dedicated, knowledgeable, helpful, supportive, friendly, approachable and respectful were just some of the comments used to describe our Jumping Official of the Year, of which the worthy winner was Kaye Williams. The friendly, calm and helpful Adaleen Griffith was the runner up.
Caroline Coop (Gisborne) accepts the Official of the year Award on behalf of Kaye Williams. Photo Credit to Out the Gait Creative Ltd.
Angela Nobilo (Waitemata) is the Jumping Volunteer of the Year. Photo Credit to Out the Gait Creative Ltd.
While many saw that all volunteers are worthy of this award, it was Angela Nobilo’s hard work, mainly centered around Woodhill Sands and Waitemata, that saw her pick up the Jumping Volunteer of the Year.
Edward Bullock won the Rider Contributor of the Year.
Edward Bullock is a well known face on the circuit, usually found either jumping his horses, or building courses. Often sacrificing his riding to be able to build courses for other riders along with his approachable and friendly nature does not go unnoticed, and made him the run away winner for the Rider Contributor of the Year. Abby Fawcett’s roles as a rider, Waikato committee member, and Show Hunter Executive saw her as the runner up for this award.
Paula Mussen (Auckland) accepts the Rider Contributor of the Year on behalf of Edward Bullock. Photo Credit to Out the Gait Creative Ltd.
Congratulations to all of our winners, and to everyone that was nominated, it’s safe to say that our sport would not exist without any of you!
1 July 2026
The Jumping Team