A dramatic cross-country day at the New Zealand Young Rider and Junior Rider Championships at Pukemarama, the McKelvie family property near Tangimoana in the Manawatu, over the weekend, resulted in changes not only to the scoreboard for the event but also the year long series tables.
By contrast, the Norwood Farm Machinery CIC3* class, although equally dramatic, had little effect on the ESNZ Eventing Super League. Of eight starters, only two completed, with Sarah Dalziell, Masterton, winning on Benrose Super Star, ahead of Katharine Van Tuyl, Woodville, on Double J Sunshine.
The Young Rider Championship is run at 2* level, and was contested by twelve strong contenders, including the New Zealand squad for the Oceania Championships at the NRM National Three-day Event at Taupo on 15-17 May, as well as members of the Talent ID squad.
The title went to Sarah Young, Tokoroa, on SS Galaxy, who was second after the dressage, jumped clear in the showjumping, and went into the cross-country in the lead. The Waikato University student completed clear and inside the time to win the coveted Charisma Trophy for the first time, at the age of nineteen.
However they did not overtake the current series leader, Massey University student Abigail Long, Levin, on BMW Advokaat, who lay second going into the cross-country, but retired during that phase, the only combination not to complete. She had some consolation though in placing third on Enzo, formerly ridden by Annabel Wigley.
Tayla Mason, Waikanae, who rode three horses in this class, and was inside the time on all three, finished second on the home-bred Sonidor, which has propelled them into the series lead. She also finished fourth on Royalty, a showjumping rail costing them second place. Mason, also a Massey University student, is a former winner of the title on her third ride, Lucy With Diamonds.
The Junior Rider title, run at 1* level, went to Kari Wratten-Lowe, Tauranga, on Nip And Tuck, who completed on their dressage score. None of the top three combinations going into the cross-country completed, although eight of the twelve starters jumped clear across-country.
The win has changed the lead of the closely contested Alltech Junior Rider series, relegating South Islander Maria van Kuijk, who was not there, to second place on Antara Whiskey Mac, while Zoe Ander, Kaukapakapa, and Waitangi Slingshot, who placed second in the title class, have pulled up to third place in the series.
Series Results after penultimate event:
ESNZ Eventing Young Rider: Tayla Mason (Waikanae), Sonidor, 254 pts; Abigail Long (Levin), BMW Advokaat, 226 pts; Sarah Young (Tokoroa), SS Galaxy, 219 pts.
Alltech Junior Rider: Kari Wratten-Lowe (Tauranga), Nip and Tuck, 159 pts; Maria van Kuijk (Christchurch), Antara Whiskey Mac, 145 pts; Zoe Ander (Kaukapakapa), Waitangi Slingshot, 131 pts.
ESNZ Eventing Super League: Fraser King (Cambridge), Nadal KSNZ, 141 pts; Donna Smith (Te Kauwhata), Tangolooma, 105 pts; Abby Lawrence (Te Puke), Pseudonym, 102 pts; Emily Cammock (Christchurch), Dambala, 96 pts; Clarke Johnstone (Matangi), Balmoral Sensation, 96 pts; Diane Gilder (Matangi), Your Attorney, 96 pts.
