EVENTING News


Puhinui 3DE after the Cross Country
Saturday, 10 December 2011


<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><strong>The cross-country course at
Puhinui provided plenty of drama on Saturday, with the scoreboard scrambled in
the elite level 3 star class, and only seven of the twelve starters completing
the course. </strong></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">The dressage leader, Donna
Smith riding Sarah Varley’s inexperienced Just Chocolate, had an unfortunate
run-out in a tight combination of narrow fences, but finished well, dropping
down the order to fifth place, with the first four placings filled by the four
riders who had clear jumping rounds.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">South Islander Christen
Hayde, fresh from victory in the National One-day Event at Richfields a
fortnight ago, rode a stunning round on Tandarra Sweet As, inside the time
allowed, to take the lead on their fifth placed dressage score of 56.2
penalties. Hayde has been North Island based for over a year now, quietly
gaining experience, and said of her TB mare by Drums of Time, “She was awesome
today.”</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">New Zealand World Equestrian
Games team rider Jock Paget, recently returned from his first season based in
Britain, holds second place with Frances Stead’s Clifton Airtight, having added
10.8 time penalties to his second placed dressage score of 53.4 for a two day
total of 64.2.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">But the big mover is Brent
Jury, from Canterbury, who was also inside the time with his big striding
thoroughbred, aptly named SE Big, who is a close third on 66.4 penalties. Jury
withdrew the horse before the cross-country at Richfields, feeling he was not
ready to run after a late preparation due to a lay-off, and paid the price with
an over exuberant dressage performance at Puhinui which left them eleventh
overnight.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Annabel Wigley, also from
Canterbury, was thrilled with her clear round on the inexperienced NRM Enzo,
pulling up from tenth after the dressage to lie fourth, having added 8 time penalties
to a dressage score of 62.6 for a two day total of 70.6.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">The hard luck story of the
day belongs to Simon Gordon, who was third and fourth overnight with his two
horses, Fletch..com and Simply Mitch, and had a fall from each of them, which
is instant elimination.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Titch Massey’s course was a
true 3 star test, and rode beautifully for riders with an experienced and
honest horse. At the end of the day, this is what the sport needs if we are to
keep on producing internationally successful combinations.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Sunday’s showjumping will be
tense, as always, with only the leader having a fence in hand, but all must
pass the veterinary inspection first, which can be the most nerve-wracking part
of the entire event.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">RESULTS:</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Community Trust CCI3*:
Christen Hayde, Tandarra Sweet As, 56.2, 1; Jock Paget, Clifton Airtight, 64.2,
2; Brent Jury, SE Big, 66.4, 3; Annabel Wigley, NRM Enzo, 70.6, 4.<br></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Eventing Auckland CCI2*:
Donna Smith, Balmoral Sensation, 51.3, 1; Juliet Wood, Bold Trader, 54.1, 2;
D.Smith, Henton Executive, 56.8, 3; Ricmeister, Katharine Gillaly, 57.8, 4=;
Katie Rankin, Time Too Tango Too, 57.8, 4=.<br></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Veterinary Associates CCI1*:
Clarke Johnstone, Call Me Al, 49.4, 1; D.Smith, Balmoral Tall Jan, 51.9, 2:
Janine Hayde, Destination, 52.3, 3; Campbell Draper, Mr Mancini, 54.8, 4;
Amanda Pottinger, Achilles II, 55.6, 5; Sophie Anderson, Dr Who, 57.5, 6.<br></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Horse &amp; Pony CCN Pre-
novice: Dannie Lodder, Waitangi Hotmail, 32.6, 1; Corey Wood, Pick Up Line,
34.1, 2; Megan Finlayson, Fair Call, 35.7, 3; Petra Eatson, Brotherhood, 35.9,
4=; Clarke Johnstone, Vincent, 35.9, 4=.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p>&nbsp;<br><em>- Diana Dobson</em></o:p></p>