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CLASSY ROUND TAKES JUNIOR TITLE
Back to Article SearchSkewy was anything but skewy as he carried his 18-year-old rider to victory in the Fiber Fresh Feeds Junior Rider of the Year.
Nakeysha Lammers (Hikurangi) was one of just seven combinations from the original 29 starters to come back for the jump-off.
Our first was Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) on Yandoo Lady Gold who had eight faults in 37.17 seconds. Then came Lammers who had the first fence down.
“When that rail fell I just got that sunken feeling in my stomach,” she said. “But I knew I just had to keep going and pushing it because you never know what is going to happen.”
They did just that, finishing with the four faults in 37.12. Next out was Maddy Marshall (Auckland) and Chances R had 15 faults, and were followed by Kayla James (Christchurch) and Scenario had just four, stopping the clock in 39.22.
Lucy Bull (Taupo) and Westhay Grace picked up 12 faults, while Kimberley Bird (Taranaki) and Wenrose Vertigo had eight in 37.59. Lily Tootill (Karaka) and Miss Cassinei MS looked to be the danger girl, but a rail put paid to a win for her and she finished with four faults in 39.63.
It was a long wait for Lammers, who is in just her second season with 13-year-old Skewy, and third in the Junior Rider. Last season she won the Junior Rider series, but hasn't chased it as hard this year.
“There were a lot of good riders in that class . . . it could have gone to anyone on the day,” she said.
Lammers is trained by John Cottle, and fittingly, she won the Super Moth Trophy as the Junior Rider Champ.
She felt the Gerrit Beker-designed course had some technical lines, but rode nicely.
“Skewy is a bit of a special boy, so I have been picking and choosing where I start him this season. He's such a character – cheeky, kind and always tries his hardest. I am pretty happy with this win!”
Last year she and Skewy won the Intermediate Rider of the Year, but this is her first title in the Premier Arena.
There are four Lammers girls, and three of them competed at HOY. Sharnaye (16) and Arrows Flight were sixth in the Stirrups Equestrian Speed Pony of the Year, with Natalia (12) and Airborne Magic were seventh in the Perlas New Season Potatoes Child Rider of the Year, 13 years and Under Championship.
The family spend a lot of time on the road, but try and give the horses a rest every third weekend. Lammers is taking a gap year after high school, but plans to study vet nursing at university next year.
The season is now over for the horses, but Lammers plans to work with her young horses over the winter months.
Results -
Fiber Fresh Feeds Junior Rider of the Year Championship: Nakeysha Lammers (Hikurangi) Skewy 1, Kayla James (Christchurch) Scenario 2, Lily Tootill (Karaka) Miss Cassinei MS 3, Emily Haywood-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Yandoo Lady Gold 4, Kimberly Bird (Taranaki) Wenrose Vertigo 5, Lucy Bull (Taupo) Westway Grace 6.
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