History-maker Laurie Inducted Into the Hall of Fame   20 Mar 2015

History-maker Laurie Inducted Into the Hall of Fame

Katie Laurie may just be the only person who didn't know she was being inducted into the PlusFour Horse of the Year Hall of Fame in Hastings tonight.

The champion showjumper from Mystery Creek was floored when she was called to the stage before a sell-out 300-strong crowd – her mother Vicki McVean had told her that dad, Jeff McVean, was being inducted.

But for anyone who follows the sport, it was only a matter of time before she joined the 13 others honoured at the gala dinner since 2010.

She won her first major HOY title in 1999 when she took the Pony of the Year on Skylight, and since then has won a further 28 titles across all the majors, including the Young Rider, Norwood Gold Cup, Speed Horse of the Year, Lady Rider and of course, the Olympic Cup an incredible five times.

Laurie acknowledged her parents, husband Jackson, HOY director Kevin Hansen, her team and her sponsors, including Dunstan who had been with her for more than 20 years.

“There is no better feeling than riding in that (premier) arena on Sunday when the crowd is massive . . . it makes you perform the best you can,” she said.

“It is a massive team effort for us,” said Laurie. “I was lucky – I got a good start thanks to my sister having such good friends. It has been a good ride . . . hopefully it can continue.”

Next week Laurie heads to Las Vegas to represent New Zealand at the Longines FEI World Cup final.

The David Ross Memorial was presented to Hawke's Bay Sound Systems' Gordon Hannon, Pat Brady and Hugh and Alison Greenwood, who also had no idea they were being honoured.

Show director Kevin Hansen paid tribute to both the late David Ross and the sound crew.

“We miss David deeply,” he said. “He was a great asset to our sport, and tonight's winners are also very special. They have been part of the show for 17 years and we truly missed them when they retired.”

Earlier in the evening world class eventer Jock Paget was interviewed by Hawke's Bay radio journalist Ross Holden, giving the crowd an insight to his life with horses, including the shock of finding out his horse Clifton Promise had tested positive for a banned substance, and the long road back.

“Through all this I had to use my brain in a different way,” said Paget. “I had to research and learn a lot, because this was so important to me. It took my focus away from horses, and nothing had done that before.”

But it all helped, and just before the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Paget was found to be cleared of any wrong doing.

Now he's back on his mission to achieve the Grand Slam of eventing.

Hall of Fame organisers Kurt Sandtmann and Greg Howie of Etiquette Events were congratulated by master of ceremonies Stuart McLeod, for taking the gala evening to a whole new level.

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Hansens Honoured for HOY Work

The 2015 Farmlands Horse of the Year Show is the last for organisers Kevin and Sue Hansen, and the stalwart couple were honoured at tonight's gala dinner.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule and his deputy Cynthia Bowers, who is also chair of the Horse of the Year board, both thanked the couple for their work.

“I am very pleased to be here to celebrate this absolutely wonderful show and recognised the contribution that Kevin and Sue Hansen have made to it,” said Bowers.

The shaky start to the week with Cyclone Pam had been a tough way to launch show week, but Bowers had heard nothing but praise from people about the way everything had been handled.

“Kevin, Sue and (their son) Andrew are leaving the show in a really good place,” she said. “They are leaving us with something we can build on for the future.”

Yule thanked the Hansens on behalf of the Hastings and wider Hawke's Bay communities.

“Without the Hansen family, this HOY in Hastings wouldn't exist,” he said. “I can't think of another individual or family who would be prepared to mortgage their house to support this event, as you did a number of years ago.”

The couple received a standing ovation as they came to the stage.

“This is all about family,” said Kevin Hansen. “I have a habit of making whirl winds, and Sue just goes away and sorts it out. She has been my rock.”

He also paid tribute to his brothers Chris and Warwick and their wives Helen and Juliet, his father Osie and sons Andrew and Stuart.

“We leave here with fond memories, facing exciting opportunities we haven't faced for years. We leave here with few regrets. This show is about people – not even horses and riders – and those who have helped us.

“I hope HOY will go forth and be better and better.”

Hansen earlier thanked the sponsors of the show, describing them as the heart and soul of the event.

“But the real heartbeat are the volunteers,” he said. “Event-Pro is very proud and privileged to have brought the Horse of the Year Show to Hawke's Bay for the past 18 years.”

In reality, he and his team had been working on the show for close on 19 years as they worked to bring it to the bay.

“We are very proud of what has been accomplished for equestrian in New Zealand,” he said.

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