NSW Versus New Zealand Young Rider Competition: Full Results + Photos

By: Tim Dreverman

James Arkins riding Southern Distinction

Jack Maunder aboard Double J Bradshaw

Presentation time, New Zealand have their ribbons wrong red first blue second?

Jack Maunder riding the faultless horse Scottish Lad

NSW Team during the presentation

DAY 1

Four young riders, team caption Clint Beresford, James Arkins, Jack Maunder and Sarah McMillan and myself jumped on a plane on Thursday from Sydney airport bound for Wellington, New Zealand. 

We landed and after a few hours in customs and all our saddle cloths being re-cleaned again we were on our way to Hawkes Bay on the east coast of New Zealand.

The show is being held at the Horse of the Year venue in Hastings, it's being run in conjunction with the National Young Horse show. Although a far smaller occasion than the event in March, it is wonderful to see the New Zealand young horse series. Similar to Australia, New Zealand has some very classy young horses and a great system to encourage producing world class rides.

We waited around and then after some last minute changes, we were given just 5 minutes to ride the horses prior to walking the course. The competition works that there are 8 horses, we draw one group on day one, then we swap for day 2 and on the final day, we get to pick horse for horse. Each day they all jump 2 rounds, if there is still an equality of faults then each team nominate 1 rider to jump off against the clock.

Flying totally blind we selected each of our 4 riders a horse and they did an amazing job. Clint was first out riding a hot horse called Pathfinder II with an unlucky 1 rail down to start us off on 4 faults. Sarah came out on El Molino, a horse that hasn’t been to a show in 6 weeks, a bit fresh, Sarah completed another 4 fault round. Jack rode in position 3 for the NSW team on a lovely horse called Double J Bradshaw and also had just one down. Our anchor man James drew a massive clydie cross whose claim to fame is he goes hunting, jumping clear to fence 10, poor Southern Distinction simply ran out of steam to have 2 down. NSW finished on a score of 12.

New Zealand had just 3 riders complete the course with one rider falling off at fence 5, 2 faults in front on a total of 10.

Round 2 started way too quickly for our horses, all were still blowing pretty hard, Clint again first out had 8 faults, Sarah clean but 1 time, Jack a great clear and James just 4 faults. NSW finishing on a total of 17 faults for the two rounds, a strong effort for very little preparation.

Again New Zealand had just 3 riders complete the course, showing a little better knowledge of the horses they had 3 clear rounds, picking up 3 points for the win and 2 bonus points for having 3 horses and riders jumping clear rounds.

After day 1 New Zealand lead NSW 5 points to 2. Looking for a strong team ride today, NSW will have to put it all on the line to hedge a strong come back. After a few social drinks with the other team we’re ready for day 2!

DAY 2

After an enjoyable evening out in Napier last night we had a bit of later start today. Our fitness and Snap Chat legend Jack Maunder enjoyed a run on the beach before we all headed in to Hastings for day 2 of the National Young Horse show.

Again we watched some very flash, well-bred young horses compete. It is interesting to see how they structure their young horse events, run over 3 days each horse carries it’s faults from the previous day, may be an idea to steal and run in Australia?

Again today we were the last class and ended up not starting till just before 6pm, our 4 riders Clint, Sarah, James and Jack all only had 10 minutes to ride completely new steeds. The luck of the class has certainly been with are friends here in New Zealand, but needless to say our team are doing us proud.

Clint was first out and with a relatively green horse, Avichi AF, and got caught on a tricky line from fences 4 to a double at 5. It was quick and he fell off giving NSW a no score. Sarah came out and rode well for just 4 faults on DT Stevie Nicks. James had a tough gig being given the horse who couldn’t complete a round yesterday, he rode in fine form to have 2 unlucky rails to give for a total of 8. Jack held strong in the number 4 spot riding a text book clear round. NSW sat on a total of 12 after round 1 while NZ were on a nice 8 score.

Round 2 came very quickly and over the same track, Clint learnt from his first round to put a score of 4 on the board. Sarah was once again unlucky to have fence 1 down on her horse. As for James he rode like a superstar, really getting Mr Maunga firing for a 4 fault round and Jack and Scottish Lad were again faultless.  NSW finished on 8 in round 2 for a total of 20.

New Zealand rattled about 20 rails but again managed to have 3 riders clean finishing after 2 rounds on a total of 8 points. They now hold a commanding lead on 8 points while we in the NSW team are on 4 points. It’s tough from here for NSW, not mathematically impossible (but almost) for us to win, the team are however in a good frame of mind and looking for a strong performance tomorrow.

DAY 3

Day 3 has been run said won and done here in New Zealand for our 4 young riders.

The day started on the wrong foot when team manager, me, lost the coin toss. That gave New Zealand the opportunity to select the first horse. They selected the amazing horse Scottish Lad, nominated by Melody Matheson, this 2 Star eventer and 1.3m horse never had a rail. 3 riders 6 rounds and without fault, a lovely horse and we were certainly sad to miss him!

Our team selected Pathfinder II with Jack on board, Avichi AF with James, Mr Munga with Sarah and today's anchor man Clint on El Molino. Round one started strong, Jack put a great 1 fault round on the board, James unlucky to have 1 down for a total of 4, Sarah also had 4 faults and Clint a faultless clear round. NSW 5 New Zealand 4.

Round 2 kicked into gear to see Jack clear, James on 8, Sarah 4 and Clint on a clear giving NSW a total of 9. The Kiwi team showed their strength with all 4 riders jumping clear once again. At the end of day three New Zealand had 4 faults ahead of our 9 faults. With the scoring system as such New Zealand defeated NSW 12 points to 6.

Sadly the score card didn’t reflect the way our team rode. The way they worked together and functioned as a team was a credit to all 4 of them. They all deserve to be given a huge pat on the back for the way they have been here in New Zealand. As the team manger it has been a pleasure to be acossiated with them and I’m proud to call myself a New South Welshman!

While patting people on the back, the New Zealand team of Luke Dee, Melody Matheson, Jessie Linton and Logan Massie were wonderful hosts and we’ve formed some great new friendships. They rode extremely well and I feel they handled the team borrowed horse system very well. I’ll look forward to hopefully hosting them back in Australia after the Christmas break.

A massive thank you to all the organisers of the show for having us here it has been a wonderful experience and one I’m sure we’ll all remember for years to come.

Thanks also to Jumping NSW for your support in aiding the team to come and ride in New Zealand.

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