WHAKATĀNE teams placed second and third at recent Bay of Plenty Area Schools Showjumping.

The event, held at Racecourse Park at Te Teko and run by the Whakatāne/Edgecumbe Pony Club, was one by a composite team of Western Bay schools.

The event attracted entries from 17 schools in the Bay of Plenty and a team from Gisborne.

A total of 64 horses made up 16 teams for the competition.  

There were four jumping heights, starting at 70 centimetres through to 1 metre.  

Each height had three rounds of showjumping.

Points were given out for placings from first to 10th in each round and at the end of the competition the teams’ points were added and the highest points won.

Organisers said feedback from competitors and schools was great, with everyone happy the event was back being disrupted by Covid.

First place went to John Paul College Gold, Katikati Gold, and Te Kura, a composite team of Blake Needham on Distinction MVNZ MSNZ (John Paul College), Bailey Smith-Holley on Tillburys Stitched Up (Katikati), Hayley Howarth on Ashton Blue Bell (Katikati) and Stevie Todd on Bella Pure Ballerina (Te Kura).

Whakatāne Gold was second, comprising Lily Isaac on Glenarden Sky High, Abby Hindmarch on Mr Zebedee, Sophia Hall on Saltire Solar Flare and Daisy Hindmarch on Huey.

Whakatāne Black, comprising Zaria Carter on Benrose Silver Shadow, Ella Woodley on D Max, Aleriya Domino on Miss Mighty and Liv Brownlee on Renard en Chausettes were third.