Witheze takes out puissance

Wellington showjumper Adrian Bruce may have won the NZ Horse and Pony Magazine Puissance at the NZ 2011 Horse of the Year Show in Hastings on Saturday but Vicki Wilson won the hearts of the crowd.

The puissance – high jump for horses – is always exciting and the thousands packed in the grandstand at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds were treated to a spectacle as Wilson (Northland) opted to jump her liver chestnut Showtym Girl bareback.

Four started the class which sees competitors jump a warm-up fence before facing the wall. They started at 1.35m and quickly progressed to 1.8m when Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) and Wishing Warrior took out the top of the wall.

Bruce, Wilson and Tim Myers (Taranaki) and By Golly Olly all cleared it.

Wilson then retired and the wall was raised to 1.92m. Bruce and Witheze cleared it by a whisker by Bruce and Myers retired before facing the wall.

Results -

NZ Horse and Pony Puissance: Adrian Bruce (Wellington) Witheze 1.97m 1, Tim Myers (Taranaki) By Golly Olly 2, Vicki Wilson (Northland) Showtym Girl 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Wishing Warrior 4.