<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">2012 NEW <st1:place w:st="on">ZEALAND</st1:place>
YOUNG & JUNIOR RIDER EVENTING CHAMPS</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><strong>20 year old Samantha Felton, formerly from
Kerikeri but currently based in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hamilton</st1:place></st1:city>,
rode Ricker Ridge Pico Boo to win the coveted Charisma Trophy for the New
Zealand Young Rider Eventing Championship at the Dunstan Bay of Plenty Horse
Trials at Rotorua over the weekend.</strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Felton was third after the dressage, but a
clear showjumping round elevated her to the overnight lead, and a clear
cross-country round inside the time ensured she retained top spot to take the
title ahead of Ashleigh McKinstry, Taumarunui, on Pioneer Makokomiko, who move
up from fifth after the dressage also incurring no further penalties.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Last year’s winner, Jessica Woods, Ohaupo,
who led after the dressage on Too Predictable, had a showjumping rail down, and
also incurred 1.6 cross-country time penalties, to finish third of the nine
starters, who competed over the Intermediate course, but acquitted themselves
well, all completing the event.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The Junior Rider Championship went to 16 year
old Sarah Young, Tokoroa, riding Oakley Vision, Clarke Johnstone’s former
international horse, who is now semi-retired but giving Young a great
introduction to the sport. She was also third on High’n’Dry, both horses
finishing with clean sheets, to move up from second and eighth respectively
after the dressage.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Zephania Steele filled second place with SS
Nonchalant, improving from seventh after the dressage, and Tayla Mason,
Waikanae, was fourth on Just Joop, moving up from ninth place after dressage. The
eighteen strong class was challenged by the Novice course, three failing to
finish, but nine jumped clear across country, seven of them inside the time
allowed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Results:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Dunstan NZ Young Rider Championship:
Samantha Felton, Ricker Ridge Pico Boo, 37.2, 1; Ashleigh McKinstry, Pioneer
Makokomiko, 40.6, 2; Jessica Woods, Too Predictable, 41.2, 3; Jolin Morel,
Croftlea OTT, 49.4, 4</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Dunstan NZ Junior Rider Championship: Sarah
Young, Oakley Vision, 34.3, 1; Zephania Steele, SS Nonchalant, 38.3, 2; Young,
High’n’Dry, 39.6, 3; Tayla Mason, Just Joop, 40.4, 4; Loran Mathis, Flintoff,
41.5, 5; Stephanie Vervoort, Waimanu Diva, 44.4, 6</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Virginia Caro</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
