TOP WOMEN SHOW RIDERS

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32233, 27 February 1970, Page 2

TOP WOMEN SHOW RIDERS

A woman rider is leading in aggregate points in the New Zealand Horse Society’s South Island circuit of jumping shows, which finishes at Rangiora during the week-end. Miss Beverley Gasson, of Tauranga, and her horse, Kaper, have won or have been placed in ail the 'events they have entered jin the four shows held so far. Miss Gasson gives all the credit to her 11-year-old chestnut, which she says is “the ugliest horse in the team.” “He has a roach back, a big white face and is commonly known as ‘Baldy,’ but he looks after me,” Miss Gasson said yesterday. “I just have to sit there and steer him and ho does the work.” Since Miss Gasson bought : the thoroughbred former steeplechaser three years ago, ‘the combination has won an enviable list of awards, including the speed event in the : Table A section at the Auckland Show last year. Miss Gas son was placed second on Kaper in the contest for the best woman rider of the year,

. at the Gisborne show in 1968 ; The horse's racing name i was Pedro. But Miss Gasson changed it when she bought < i the gelding from Mr B. Toki I ' and coined a new name by i using the initial letters of! the names of the four Toki i children—Koria, Amenia, < i Pauline, Ernest .and Randall 1 Before Kaper she owned I and rode the well-known i North Island show jumper, 1 I Gigolo, now retired. She had ; many Wins on Gigolo also, including the champion jumper trophy at the Royal Show in Auckland in 1967. “Byt Kaper is, undoubtedly, the best jumper I’ve had,” she said. At home in Tauranga, Miss Gasson keeps house for her father, a retired farmer. “I spend 90 per cent of my time working horses—housekeeping is not one of my virtues.” HIGH JUMPER Another outstanding rider on the present South Island circuit is Miss Pam Sampson, of Auckland, whose horse, Rock of. Alarm, won the puissance (high jump) at the recent Baiclutha show and set a South Island record of 6ft 6in. “Apart from that win, ‘Rocky’ has only had minor placings. It is his first season as an A grade horse, in F.E.I.

jumping shows,” Miss Sampson said yesterday. In round-the-ring jumping events, however, “Rocky” has had 56 firsts in the 1969-70 show season, ridden by Miss Sampson. This rider and horse also won the “mini-circuit” championship for the Auckland area of the N.Z. Horse Society earlier this year, as well as the puissance at the Easter Show in Auckland last year.

Miss Sampson is in partnership with another girl on the lease of 100 acres of land at Beachlands, Auckland. Here they work racehorses and graze dry stock. Rock of Alarm, a 12-year-old dark bay gelding, was formerly owned by Dr McGregor Grant of Auckland and did some racing. The photograph shows Miss Gasson (left) with Miss Sampson.