Dreams Come True for Eventer of Year
Sunday, 9 March 2025
As a youngster, Charlotte Penny dreamt of the day she would win a title at the Defender Horse of the Year Show . . . well, that day has come and the 22-year-old from Karaka is the newly crowned Eventer of the Year.
“It is a really big deal to me (to win) and means a lot to me,” she says.
The eventing brought the curtain down on an incredible week of equestrian that saw the best of the best compete across 16 disciplines at Heretaunga Hastings.
Yesterday Julie Davey (Hastings) and LT Holst Freda won the Olympic Cup as Showjumper of the Year, and earlier today Wendi Williamson (Waimauku) and Don Vita MH won their second consecutive Dressage Horse of the Year title underlining their status as the best onshore based Kiwi combo.
The environmental geologist and her 13-year-old won the Harrison Lane FEI Grand Prix with 71.022%, the Harrison Lane Grand Prix Special on 72.341% and the Harrison Grand Prix Musical Freestyle with 74.78% to take the title.
But much of today was about eventing where combinations across three international levels were challenged by course designer Chris Ross.
Charlotte Penny and Festival led the dressage on 30.4, falling frustratingly just short of a personal best, added nothing in the showjumping and just 5.2 time in the Chris Ross designed cross country to finish on 35.6. Her nearest competition was runner-up Donna Edwards-Smith (Waerenga) aboard MSE Mendoza on 50.6 with Bridie Quigley (Auckland) and Oranoa Greyson third on 61.9.
Winning the 4* Eventer of the Year crown also earned her the Sir Mark Todd Trophy.
Charlotte felt a little frustrated to have fallen just short of a dressage PB. “We were on track but both walk pirouettes didn’t go well and we were late behind in a change. I really wanted to get a sub 30!”
Seven of the original 10 starters completed all three tests, and Charlotte’s 5.2 time penalties was the best effort on the cross country. “The ground (for the cross country) did make it feel a lot harder out there. It did slow you down and with the added atmosphere and twists and turns it always feels hectic.”
As last to go in the 4* class, Charlotte says she had no interest in what had gone on before her. “I feel it can put doubt in my mind so I go out with a solid plan and stick to it as much as I can. It keeps me calm and focused. It you listen to outside noise it mucks with your focus. My plan was to go as fast as I could but take time where we needed to nail the combinations. Last year I got too frazzled with everything and tried to rush the important bits.”
She felt she had gone as fast as she could. “Given the conditions you can only push it so much.”
Charlotte is contemplating another Australian campaign to the Melbourne 4* in June.
The combo won the national three day Taupo earlier this year and previously won a CCI3*-L in Australia. Her next big step will be to move to the UK in April 2026 to experience as many world class tracks as she can with an eye to making future World Champs and Olympic teams.
The Defender CCI3*-S went the way of Tessa Bradcock (Piopio) aboard Ceremony with Aussie raider Amy Gotts-Wheeler riding off with the inaugural Defender CCI2*-S title.
Defender CCI2*-S: Amy Gotts-Wheeler (Australia) Sharvalley Wild Thing 28.3 pp 1, Donna Edwards-Smith (Waerenga) DSE Duke of Seville 32.1 pp 2, Mia Cadwallader (Auckland) Mirrabella Molly 33.6 pp 3.
Dressage Horse of the Year: Wendi Williamson (Waimauku) Don Vito MH 1, Gaylene Lennard (Te Aroha) Jax Johnson 2, James Blackwood (Masterton) Aphrodite 3.
