from Equine Trader NZ (dated 22 Nov)

It was the battle of the blokes in the young rider classes at the two Taranaki shows at the weekend.

Cantabrian Brad Cunningham, who has travelled north to compete at next weekend's North Island Showjumping Championships, and Mathew Dickey (Oakura) shared an honour apiece at the one star Egmont A and P Show followed by the two star Taranaki Showjumping Group's Show.

Today (Sunday) at the one day Taranaki Show, bragging rights went to Cunningham aboard Cheltenham. Four went through to the jump-off, with Cunningham out first, laying the challenge by leaving everything in place in 43.63 seconds. Dickey and the very nippy Kiwi Guard were out next and paid for his speed with a rail at the last. Series leader Danielle Maurer (Auckland) and Blue Rinse opted for slow and steady so took second place, leaving Dickey in third.

But it was slightly different earlier in the weekend at the Egmont Show where once again Cunningham was first out in the jump-off and set a pace no-one thought was catchable....until Dickey and Kiwi Guard rode into the ring and snipped two seconds off his mate's time, giving him the win.

Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) and Cortaflex Right Royal made their trip worth while taking the horse grand prix classes at both shows.

In the Taranaki pony grand prix today (Sunday) just three of the 10 starting combinations went through to the jump-off, with Emily Fraser (Waipukurau) on Tony the Pony out first and taking a rail, next out was Morgan Percy (Masterton) on Surprise Illusion who opted for the steady clear. The last combination was Logan Massie (Dannevirke) and Kickin the Clouds who rode for the win but in the end had to settle for third behind the girls.