Amanda Burton has been aiming for the Ridden Standardbred of the Year title for some time; she’s won the in-hand title before, and she’s finished runner-up in the ridden section, but now she’s nailed the big one on her lovely 10-year-old, Change of Pace.
“It’s been a long time coming,” she says. “It’s an amazing feeling, especially as I didn’t think it would happen this year.”
Amanda and Change of Pace also won the Ridden SB Open 158cm and under class, while the 158cm+ class was won by Katrina Gosney on Meads Quaff, who also took out the Ridden SB Best Paced, and Ridden SB Best Mannered.
Shannon Armour and Macklemore made the trip all the way from Invercargill and were rewarded with reserve champion; they’d earlier won the Ridden Best Presented class, and the Best Rider class.
Natasha Bol and Dancing Jonty kicked off the standardbred section, winning the in-hand Best Presented class.
The In-hand Standardbred of the Year title went to the handsome Nucleus VC, for Mandy Hamilton.
Other results:
In-hand Standardbred Filly/Mare: Nikki Spedding, Suvison
In-hand Standardbred Colt/Gelding/Stallion: Brad Hamilton, Eagles Nest
In-hand Best Paced Standardbred: Nikki Spedding, Suvision
Novice Ridden Standardbred: Mandy Loughlin, Black Russian
Big sideways
Canterbury mechanic Frances Buckley won the Side-saddle Horse of the Year title with Dark Trojan. Jenny Pearce and her homebred Trakehner gelding True Steel were runners-up, with Jacinda Barendregt third on Clydesdale/TB cross Kingcroft Maximus.
Fiona Honeyman kicked off the side-saddle section with a win in the Concours d’Elegance (turnout) on Ruby Tuesday.
The Junior combination class win went to Kasey McKenna and Champions Pride.
