New Zealand has headed off nine other nations to take the NRM Mounted Games World Team Championship at the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings today (Saturday).
The team – Dee Cherrington (Northland/United Kingdom), Steven Hooker (Waikato/Germany), Julie Borland (Waikato), Amie Bentall (Hastings) and Nancy Te Whata (Northland) – led from the start and were convincing winners of the final before another packed grandstand.
Borland now becomes the oldest world champion, at 37.
Announcer Sean Bource (France) had nothing but praise for the hosts and winners.
It is the second time New Zealand has won the title – the last was in Australia in 2008 on borrowed ponies.
Defending champs France had to settle for fifth.
In the Bell Tea CIC3* eventing, Aucklander Simon Gordon and Fletch.com, the only combination to showjump clear and inside the time on Friday, had the biggest win of their career. They moved their way steadily through the field in each phase, going into the cross country today in third place.
John Nicholson’s cross-country course at the Hawke's Bay Equestrian Park provided high drama. There were plenty of thrills and a few spills, but no injuries other than pride.
There were tears all round when pint-sized Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) guided the perennial Millbrook (owned by Lilly Tootill and Cindy Mitchener) to victory in the Farmlands Pony Grand Prix.
It is the seventh year in a row the 19-year-old grey has featured in the top six of the prestigious class, and the third time she has won it.
Ringside to see their victory was Tootill and Millbrook's previous owner Andrea Crothers, who won the title in 2006.
Burnett-Grant, who is not long back from representing New Zealand in Mexico where she finished fifth at the FEI Children's Challenge World Final, was over the moon.
She had three horses in the class, going clear in the first round on Millbrook and Kabo Silver.
It was thanks to a wild card entry to the Pony of the Year qualifier that Millbrook was even in the class.
“I have been dreaming of winning the Pony of the Year since I was eight,” said Burnett-Grant, who is trained by Jeff McVean and has only been competing on Millbrook for three months.
“I still can't believe it,” she said. “I couldn't ask for any more from her.”
In the show hunter, teacher Chloe Akers (Opiki) won her fourth Show Hunter Horse of the Year crown aboard Cortaflex Kiwi Motto.
In the dressage, Penny Castle (Manawatu) and Spiro Magnus headed off some determined competition to take the level 6/7 Dressage Horse of the Year crown.
The six day Horse of the Year Show culminates with the JB Olympic Cup tomorrow (Sunday), when a record-sized field battle for a slice of the $200,000 prize purse.
Also competing tomorrow is Sir Mark Todd in the BetaVet New Zealand Speed Championship.
It's been a huge show so far, with record crowds turning out to celebrate the best of equestrian, from both sides of the Tasman.
Results -
Showjumping, Farmlands Pony of the Year: Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Millbrook (owned by Lilly Tootill and Cindy Mitchener) 1, Emily Fraser (Takapau) Tiger Tale LS 2, Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) Hopeful Illusion 3, Jay Phillips (Waikato) Guess Once More 4, Emily Fraser (Takapau) Tony the Pony 5, Molly Buist-Brown (Christchurch) Miss Mae West 6.
Eventing, CIC3* Eventer of the Year: Simon Gordon (Auckland) Fletch.com
NRM World Mounted Games World Team Championship A final: New Zealand 130, England 121, Australia 94.5, Wales 91.5, France 90, USA 84, Switzerland 53. B final: Germany 49, Denmark 47, Norway 46.
Show hunter, Show Hunter Horse of the Year: Chloe Akers (Opiki) Cortaflex Kiwi Motto.
Amateur Show Hunter of the Year: Sarah Milne (Waikato) Eon.
Junior Show Hunter of the Year: Stephanie Joustra (Muriwai) Disney.
Dressage, CDIY FEI Young Rider of the Year: Catherine Tobin (Wellington) Riverndell Romeo 66.553% 1.
Level 6/7 Musical Freestyle Horse of the Year: Penny Castle (Manawatu) Magnus Spero 69.028%.
Level 6/7 Dressage Horse of the Year: Penny Castle (Manawatu) Magnus Spero.
CDI*** FEI Grand Prix Horse of the Year: Vanessa Way (Taranaki) NRM KH Arvan 66.957%.
Level 5 Dressage Horse of the Year: Vanessa Way (Taranaki) NRM KH Allandro.
Level 4 Dressage Horse of the Year: Anna McIntyre (Bay of Plenty) Cavort.
Level 3 Dressage Horse of the Year: Laura Mead (Waikato) Don Phillipo.
Level 2 Dressage Horse of the Year: Rochelle Speirs (Central Districts) Vollrath Latimer.
Level 1 Dressage Horse of the Year: Wendi Williamson (Waitemata) Cortaflex Don Amour MH.
Level 1 Dressage Pony of the Year: Kayleigh Ryan (Waikato) Storm Magic.
Level 2 Dressage Pony of the Year: Mihi Shepherd (Northland) Kozee.
Level 3 Dressage Pony of the Year: Kayleigh Ryan (Waikato) Primo Magneto.
