NEW Zealand’s top equestrian combinations are heading to Gisborne this weekend for the Larsen Sawmilling North Island Showjumping Championships.

Over 450 combinations will take part in showjumping and show hunter competitions over three days at Showgrounds Park from 8.30am tomorrow.

It is the 21st year John Larsen has sponsored the event — one of the longest continuous equestrian sponsorship partnerships in New Zealand.

Spearheading the attack in the ring are former Olympians and world championship representatives Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) and Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge).

Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) has had to pull out after injuring her back in an incident involving one of her young horses.

Beatson, McIntosh, Simon Wilson (Waipukurau), Lisa Coupe (Hawke’s Bay), Julie Davey (Hastings), Paula Mussen (Pukekohe), Tess Williams (Gisborne) and Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) have entered the star class of the show — the horse grand prix on Sunday afternoon.

The pony grand prix has attracted 30 entries, while more than 60 have signed up for the 1.35m championship.

Another key event is the New Zealand Universities Showjumping Championship. The inaugural series gives students the chance to represent their university in a national event and they are also vying for places in the New Zealand team to compete at the World University Equestrian Championship at Aachen, Germany in August.

The Children’s FEI International Showjumping Competition will see 13 young guns compete over four rounds. Faults are accumulative and the winner then faces an agonising wait to see if he or she makes it to the world final at a yet-to-be disclosed location.

Show secretary Jenny Holden says overall entries are up on recent years.

There is an international flavour as well, with a team of nine New Caledonian riders competing.

Top course builder John Vallance is designing ring one. The Australian is an internationally-heralded designer who built the course at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2010 Asian Games. He has been a member of the course design team at four Olympics Games.

Vallance attended the Larsen Sawmilling champs last year but rain forced the cancellation of the World Cup round.

The show hunter courses are being designed by Gisborne’s Sandy Richmond, who is just back from a course with top Canadian designer Peter Holmes.

Hawke’s Bay’s Melody Matheson and her pony Co Cotton, who are featuring in the top 10 of the category C high points and pony rider equitation high points, are expected to feature in the show hunter classes.

Gisborne equestrienne extraordinaire Merran Hain and her horse Untouchable are in the top five of the open horse high points, are third on the amateur high points and lead the local series. It is almost inevitable they will go home with a fistful of ribbons.

All show hunter classes are in the indoor arena. Horse classes are being held all day tomorrow and Sunday morning. Ponies are on Saturday.

“It’s three very full days of full-on competition,” says Holden.