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Above, top NZ equestrian rider Katie Laurie shows her winning style at the Matakana Country Park.
Former NZ World Cup Series winner, Katie Laurie, of Hamilton, proved too strong for the field when she competed in the Matakana Magic Show Jumping event at the Matakana Country Park on Sunday November 22.
Laurie (nee McVean) took out both first and second place in the Matakana Magic Equissage and Bayleys Lifestyle Horse Grand Prix ahead of up-and-coming rider Emily Haywood-Morgan who was third. Vicki Wilson finished fourth, Jaime Campbell fifth and Natasha Brookes sixth. The riders were competing for a total prize pool of $3000.
The event, run by JT Sporthorses, featured two days of show jumping with a number of other classes including a pony grand prix, amateur rider and junior rider.
Organiser Jamie Campbell says the weather produced some testing ground conditions, which may have also had an impact on the lower than expected spectator turnout.
“But overall it was a successful event with good feedback from the riders,” she says.
“This is the second year it’s been held at the Country Park and it’s our intention to just keep improving it every year. It’s about getting showjumping into the community here.”
The day went hand-in-hand with fundraising for the Well Foundation, the official fundraising body for Waitemata District Health Board. A total of $4548 was raised, mainly through a charity auction, and Jamie is already planning a bigger fundraising push for next year’s event.
Matakana Magic was also the first event in a new accumulator prize, which has been introduced by iSpyHorses. The combination gaining the highest points over all three JT Sporthorses shows this season – Matakana, Albany and Karaka – will be the iSpyHorse Grand Slam Title winner and will receive $1000 in prize money.
Currently leading the field is Vicki Wilson on Showtym Highlight, followed by 12-year-old Olivia Dalton, daughter of yachtsman Grant Dalton, on Just Nuts.
