Taranaki mum Tanya Hansen notched the only double clear of the Harrison Lane Pro Am Rider of the Year to win the very hotly contested class aboard her beloved Ngahiwi Specter.

Sixteen started the class with six combinations going clear and welcomed back for the second round over the Roger Laplanche designed course. Just five opted to start, with Tanya in pole position as last to go. Ahead of her Samantha Megchelse aboard Rata Mill Eclipse and Shanae McKay on ME Joy Ride II had each bagged four faults over the lovely flowing course.

“I thought I had taken a rail. I had no idea I had won the class,” said Tanya.

Her title today was her first at LRHOY. She has a long history at the show, starting first on ponies before taking 10 years off and only returning eight years ago. “It is extremely special to win today,” she said. “It means the world to me to win on a horse I have had from the start and done everything on.”

She got Harvey, as he’s known at home, as a two-year-old. “He can’t swallow properly and I was told to put him down but I had just fallen for him. I usually do sell horses but I could never part with Harvey. He is my best friend and I do love him. If I have a bad day at work, he brightens my day.”

The gelding is also kind and gentle around her young children and always keeps his doting owner laughing.

Shanae and ME Joy Ride II were second, with Samantha aboard Rata Mill Eclipse third.

Full results can be found at www.evoevents.co.nz