Thousands soak up fantastic atmosphere
Pristine weather and a capacity crowd set the scene for the best atmosphere event organisers have seen for the Horse of the Year 2012 finale.
One of the biggest sporting events in the Southern Hemisphere, more than 2600 horses, 1900 riders in 28 arenas were watched by 75,000 spectators during the week-long equestrian spectacle at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds in Hastings.
Show director Kevin Hansen said the atmosphere at yesterday's main event, the Bell Tea Olympic Cup, was the best he had witnessed at an equestrian event.
"It was absolutely incredible, it had the crowd absolutely on the edge of their seats," he said.
"When Katie McVean came around for the final run, the whole crowd was absolutely silent. It was the best atmosphere I have ever heard of at an equestrian event."
More than 400 staff worked at the annual event that brings around $12 million revenue to the region.
"It's a huge undertaking," Mr Hansen said. "The whole committee and myself are very proud to bring Horse of the Year to Hawke's Bay again and are proud that it seems to be successful ... if we can keep the enthusiasm around it we'll keep it forever."
The week was action-packed full of sporting events and social functions for athletes and spectators from throughout the country and across the Tasman, and continues to grow each year.
Results:
Showjumping, Olympic Cup: Katie
McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan
Daffodil 1, Brook Dobbin (Australia)
Advisor 2, Evie Buller (Australia)
Yalambi's Landor 3, Maurice Beatson
(Dannevirke) My Gollywog 4, Daniel
Meech (Taupo) Carlotta (owned by
the Burnett-Grant family) and Paula
Hamood (Australia) Nero GHP =5.
NZ Speed Horse of the Year:
Megan Stacey (Te Puke) Shimmer
Man 1, Megan Webb (Hunterville)
Abernaki Chief 2, Katie McVean
(Mystery Creek) Dunstan Zasjany D
3, Anna Stephen (Martinborough)
Constantine 4, Vicki Wil
son (Kerikeri) Showtym
Girl 5, Amanda Wilson
(Whangarei) Showtym
Viking 6.
Seven Year Old of the
Year: Katie McVean
(Mystery Creek) Dun
stan Kiwi Iron Mark
(owned by June
Berrington 1, Kim Best
(Otane) Giggles 2, Katie
McVean (Mystery
Creek) Dunstan Spring
field 3, Daniel Meech
(Taupo) Branson MVNZ
(owned by Garry Hogg)
4, Phillip Steiner (Tau
ranga) Annandale
Renaissance NZPH 5,
Oliver Edgecombe
(Waipukurau) Cortaflex
Burttorio 6.
Eventing, CIC***:
Annabel Wigley (Amber
ley) NRM Frog Rock 1,
Donna Smith (Te
Kauwhata) Henton
Executive 2, Abby Law
rence (Te Puke) Pseudo
nym 3, Donna Smith (Te
Kauwhata) Balmoral
Sensation 4, Juliet Wood
(Whangarei) Bold
Trader 5, Annabel
Wigley (Amberley) NRM
Enzo 6.
Trans Tasman Squad:
Simon Gordon (Auck
land), Fletch.com and
Simply Mitch; Christen
Hayde (Pukekohe),
Tandarra Sweet As;
Brent Jury (Rangiora),
SE Big; Abby Lawrence
(Te Puke), Pseudonym;
Donna Smith (Te
Kauwhata), Henton
Executive; Joe Waldron
(Australia), Springvale
All Black; Annabel
Wigley (Amberley),
NRM Enzo and NRM
Frog Rock.
Dressage, Horse of
the Year: Louisa Hill
(Clevedon), Bates
Antonello 1, Nicky Pope
(Whitford), Fabarchie 2,
Hannah Appleton (Nel
son) Fiber Fresh Zactac
Graceful 3, Bill Noble
(Hamilton), Airthrey
Highlander 4, Kieryn
Walton (Taumaranui)
Saraceni 5, Christine
Weal (Te Awamutu),
Spielzeit 6.
ends
