Best of the Best on Show at Mystery Creek (NZ)

By: Diana Dobson/ESNZ

New Zealand’s top riders and a world-class course designer are heading to the Waikato for the weekend’s annual APL World Cup Show.  

In a real coup for event organisers Showjumping Waikato, Germany’s Frank Rothenberger, who has designed courses at Olympics, world champs, world cup finals and other top events, will be tasked with challenging the nation’s best at the three day show which starts on Friday at the Mystery Creek Events Centre.

Organisers are expecting entries to top 500, and include Olympians Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) and Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke), who are both former winners of the Ultramox FEI World Cup New Zealand series, as well as the very in-form Bridget Hansen who has won her last three grand prix starts, and has an early lead in the world cup series.

New to the Kiwi showjumping scene is Brit-turned-American Helen McNaught-McFarlane, who with her husband Duncan McFarlane, moved to Taupo this year. Both are top-flight competitors, having competed successfully through to world cup level in the United States.

Also entered at the show are the very popular and talented Wilson sisters from Hikurangi, who are renown not just for their riding ability but also their quest to raise awareness about the Kaimanawa horses.

While show-goers have a chance to see the very best in New Zealand compete, there is also plenty to entertain all. Friday’sDunstan Power and Speed class is always a heart-stopper.

Saturday’s Grand Prix Gala Evening’s APL Grand Prix Classic is followed by the Waikato Hospice Rainbow Place Celebrity Ride and Drive class – featuring world leading rowers Eric Murray and Hamish Bond as well as top jockey Lance O’Sullivan, among others.

The evening events are the perfect chance to see up close the athleticism and talent of New Zealand’s showjumping stars.

The world cup round on Sunday will see Beatson, Laurie, Hansen and McNaught-McFarlane go head to head with former series final winner Bernard Denton (Feilding), series victor Sally Steiner (Tauranga) and sisters Vicki and Amanda Wilson (Hikurangi).

The series is run over six shows, with the best three results to count for each rider. The series winner has the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the world final in Las Vegas in April.

Organisers are not bashful about hosting the show at “arguably the best event centre in the country”.

While much of the action is in the arenas, there are also indoor trade stands and plenty of food on offer.

The action gets under way each day at 8am, with evening events on both Friday and Saturday from 5.30pm and entry is free. The general public at the Saturday night Grand Prix Gala Evening, have the chance to win a $500 Pak ‘n’ Save grocery voucher. That will be drawn after the grand prix but before the celebrity entertainment.

Find out more on our Showjumping Waikato facebook page.

WHAT: Showjumping Waikato’s annual APL World Cup Show

WHERE: Mystery Creek Events Centre

WHEN: November 14-16