NEW LEADER OF BELL TEA SUPER LEAGUE
Simon Gordon and Fletch.com were rewarded for their consistency after placing second in the CIC3* class at the Kihikihi Horse Trials over the weekend, following their win in the title class at the Horse of the Year, moving from third place in the Bell Tea Super League to take the lead, ahead of Ashleigh McKinstry and Pioneer Makokomiko, who did not add to their points total after parting company on the cross-country.
Donna Smith on Tim and Sarah Varley’s Just Chocolate and Bryce Newman on Fay McSweeney’s Bates Trademark, neither of whom started at Kihikihi, hold third and fourth place, while Dannie Lodder, who had the biggest win of her career on Petra Eatson’s Moochi, have moved into fifth place a mere 0.5 of a point behind Newman. Monica Oakley and Fontain, fifth at Kihikihi, drop one place to sixth in the series, while Smith moves into seventh with Balmoral Tangolooma.
The next event in the Super League is the CIC3* (short format) at the South Island Three-day Event in Christchurch on 18-21 April, followed by the Advanced class at Woodhill Sands (Helensville) on 27-28 April. The NZ Trans-Tasman team will be entitled to earn Bell Tea Super League points at the Sydney CCI3* (long format), worth double points, that same weekend, which will create much interest.
The team named today is Gordon with Fletch.com, Newman with Bates Trademark, Smith with either Just Chocolate or Balmoral Tangolooma, and Melbourne based Joe Waldron with Springvale All Black. Smith plans to take both horses, one at her own expense. Dannie Lodder has been named non-travelling reserve with Moochi, but plans to go anyway at her own expense. She and Smith on her second horse will compete as individuals, and will also be eligible to earn Super League points.
BELL TEA SUPER LEAGUE
Standings after Kihikihi Horse Trials:
Simon Gordon (Karaka), Fletch.com, 214 pts
Ashleigh McKinstry (Taumaranui), Pioneer Makokomiko, 205.5 pts
Donna Smith (Te Kauwhata), Just Chocolate, 188 pts
Bryce Newman (Bulls), Bates Trademark, 101.5 pts
Dannie Lodder (Auckland), Moochi, 101 pts
Monica Oakley (Waipukurau), Fontain, 93 pts
Donna Smith, Balmoral Tangolooms, 85.5 pts
