The final of the Takapoto Estate Showjumping Pony Tour was held this afternoon in weather conditions that could scarcely be more conducive to quality jumping. Twenty-seven combinations were entered for the final and what a spectacle they put on for the large crowd who had assembled to watch.

With a seeded draw, we had to wait until the 10th combination, Keira Page and Redcliffs Colour Me In, to see the first clear round. After this, another five clears were recorded with the fastest being by Dan Harkerss and the 15-year-old pinto gelding Cocamo, in 67.36 seconds.

Keira Page and Redcliffs Colour Me In

Dan Harkerss and Cocamo

This set up a very interesting six combination jump-off.

Jumping in the same order that they jumped in the first round, Keira Page and Redcliffs Colour Me In were the first out. They set a benchmark for the rest of the field with a clear round in 43.5 seconds.

Peita Milne and BG Lennox were next, but two rails meant that today was not going to be their day.

Harriet Stock and EB Esperanza were next to go and did a wonderful job. They went clear in 41.03 seconds to take the lead and set a challenge for the last three combinations.

Harriet Stock and EB Esperanza

Fastest clear in the first round Dan Harkerss and Cocamo were next, but they were unable to emulate their performance and three rails meant that they would not feature on the podium.

The fifth to go in the jump off was Brooke Hawthorne and Easy As, however a rail meant that they could not win. Last in the jump off was Tyla Hackett, riding her 14-year-old mare The Dreamer. Both Hackett and her horse would have been dreaming of victory as they flew around the course, clearing every fence in sight. Completing a fast, clear round in just 41.55 seconds, Hackett and The Dreamer went excruciatingly close to victory, taking 2nd place, just 0.52 seconds behind the winner. The only other double clear, Keira Page and Redcliffs Colour Me In, were awarded 3rd.

Tyla Hackett and The Dreamer

Final placings in the Pony Final were: