Matthew Grayling, New Plymouth, has had his share of the spoils at Arran Station Horse Trials over the years, but it was his teenage daughter Charlotte who took top honours at Takapau this year, winning the Red Snap’r Advanced class on NRM Ru Star, ahead of her father’s contemporary Bryce Newman, Bulls, on Bates Trademark.
With Bell Tea Super League points on offer, it was a keenly contested competition, but the younger generation made their mark from the outset. Last year’s winners, Jessica Woods, Ohaupo, and Too Predictable, led after the dressage on a score of 36.8, and were the only combination to have a clean sheet showjumping, so held the overnight lead.
However a glanced-off at the narrow exit from the water complex put them out of contention after the cross-country, leaving the door open for Tessa Jacks and Crackerjack Candy who lay second overnight having added two showjumping time penalties to a dressage score of 44.3, but 14.8 cross-country time penalties dropped them down the order.
Grayling and Ru Star were third overnight, having had a showjumping rail down, but they scorched around the cross-country to finish with 1.6 time penalties and an overall score of 48.3 penalties. Newman and Trademark, who were second after the dressage on 39.6, but had two showjumping rails down to drop to fourth overnight, had 4 cross-country time penalties to finish second overall on 51.6.
Waipukurau’s Monica Oakley and Fontain were the only ones to go inside the time on the cross-country, but two showjumping rails down left them with a big margin to make up, and they finished third with a total of 52.3 penalties. However it has moved her to within a point of the top of Bell Tea Super League after the second leg of the series.
BELL TEA EVENTING SUPER LEAGUE
Standings after two events:
Ashleigh McKinstry (Owhango), Pioneer Makokomiko, 48 pts, 1; Monica Oakley (Waipukurau), Fontain, 47 pts, 2; Charlotte Grayling (New Plymouth), NRM Ru Star, 36 pts, 3; Bryce Newman (Bulls), Bates Trademark, 31 pts, 4=, Chloe Davidson (Papakura), Eskimo Joe, 31 pts, 4=; Dannie Lodder (Papakura), Moochi, 26 pts, 6.
- Virginia Caro
