Angela Lloyd and her thoroughbred mare Song took top honours in the Honda CNC3* class at the Puhinui Horse Trials in Auckland over the weekend. The National One-day event title holders were third of the seven starters after the dressage on Saturday in the first Eventing Super League of the autumn season, and despite having three showjumping rails down, retained third spot going into Sunday’s cross-country.
They jumped clear with 16.4 time penalties on the demanding cross-country track, which had been aerated to improve the hard going, and it was good enough to win after four of the starters withdrew to save their horses for the upcoming NRM Horse of the Year Show Eventing. Puhinui specialist Kelsey Rothery and The Felon, who were third in the CCI3* (long format) at the same venue in December, took second place.
Donna Smith led after the dressage on her National Three-day Event winner Balmoral Tangolooma, but then withdrew, as did Simon Gordon and Fletch.com, the current Eventer of the Year. Joe Waldron and Springvale All Black, second after the dressage, had one showjumping rail down but held the lead, with Shelley Ross and Coleraine Coaltown moving into second place with two rails down.
However both then withdrew, giving Lloyd the opportunity to claim the win, and move from third equal in the Super League to lie second in the year long series, which culminates at the National Three-day Event at Taupo in May. The next event in the Super League is the CIC3* at the NRM Horse of the Year Show on 21-23 March.
EVENTING SUPER LEAGUE
Standings after seven events:
Dannie Lodder, Auckland, Moochi, 143 pts; Angela Lloyd, Auckland, Song, 115 pts; Matthew Grayling, New Plymouth, Henton Executive, 92 pts; Bryce Newman, Bulls, Bates Trademark, 69 pts; Tessa Jacks, Hamilton, Cracker Jack Candy, 69 pts; Kelsey Rothery, Cambridge, The Felon, 53 pts.
- Virginia Caro
