21-year-old Renee Faulkner will be having her first 4* start in Adelaide
An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on cross country at the
Mitsubishi Motors Australian International 3 Day Event - find out more here
Despite 2018 being a Championship year, in which the numbers of competitors are traditionally down due to top level horses from Australia being jetted back and forth, this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Australian International 3 Day Event has attracted its largest numbers of competitors in a decade
If all goes well for everyone in the next few days, 90 riders will be taking part in the unique event run in the heart of Adelaide, South Australia. There are 24 riders in the CCI4*, 16 in the CIC3* and 50 in the CCI2*, which incorporates the Young Rider Championship. Of these, eight are crossing the Tasman from New Zealand to compete in the CCI4* and CCI2*
New Zealand Eventing has a stated policy of using experience at Australian events as a valuable ‘stepping stone’ to competing in the UK for its less seasoned riders and it is paying off. While the 2017 CCI4* winner, New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone is definitely in the ‘seasoned campaigner’ category, his win in Adelaide was an important part of his preparation for the World Equestrian Games. Clarke’s campaign was cut short when his horse Balmoral Sensation was injured in the lead-up to WEG but two other Kiwi participants at Adelaide last year made the UK their next goal.
Ginny Thompson, who finished eighth in Adelaide in 2017 on board Star Nouveau, and Andy Daines, who was 10th on Spring Panorama, are both currently living and competing in the UK and Europe. Ginny, based with Blyth Tait, has competed at both Badminton and Burghley in 2018 whilst Andy, based with William Fox-Pitt, has competed at Badminton and Les Etoiles de Pau CCI4* events this year
At the Mitsubishi Motors Australian International 3 Day Event next week, six Kiwi riders will compete in the CCI4* and they are all female. It will be the first ever experience at this level for three of them, Amanda (Muzi) Pottinger, Jessica Woods and Renee Faulkner, while Emily Cammock, Donna Edwards-Smith and Bundy Philpott all have prior 4* experience
Donna Edwards-Smith and DSE Tangolooma
Donna Edwards-Smith is leaving the gorgeous palomino Mr Hokey Pokey back in New Zealand after his heart-winning performance and seventh place finish here last year but she is bringing DSE Tangolooma and DSE Cluny. The 14-year-old bay gelding DSE Tangolooma has competed in the 4* here twice before, finishing 16th in 2013 and 13th in 2017, and he has had a bit of a roller coaster year with a win and second place in the CIC3* at Puhinui and Kihkikhi but retiring on cross country at Taupo in May
The chestnut gelding DSE Cluny is coming off a win in the CCI3* at Christchurch in October where Emily Cammock and Shaw Lee finished third, despite picking up 20 penalties on cross country. This will be the first 4* start for the 14-year-old Shaw Lee but Emily has had experience at this level, competing at Badminton in 2008 on Southern Ben and at Kentucky in 2015. Sadly her horse Dambala was put down following injury at Kentucky and we’re hoping that Emily has a great run at her first 4* since then
Emily Cammock and Shaw Lee at Puhinui International 2017
Shaw Lee came close to winning the CCI3* at Puhinui last year with one rail costing him the win, which was taken by another Adelaide-bound combination, Bundy Philpott and Tresca NZPH. It’s been a while since 35-year-old Bundy competed in Adelaide with her last result in 2003 when she finished 15th on Scot Free. Since then she has competed twice at Badminton (2006 and 2007) and at Burghley in 2007, all on Fig Jam who is now the ‘paddock companion’ for Tresca NZPH. This is the first 4* for the 12-year-old bay gelding Tresca NZPH who is destined to remain with Bundy forever as ‘he would never pass a vet check!’ Luckily he does pass horse inspections at 3 Day Events …..
These three experienced ladies will be able to provide advice for the three Kiwi 4* rookies joining them on the journey to South Australia, although one of the debutants will have a very experienced mum on hand
Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding at 2018 NZ Horse of the Year
27-year-old Amanda (Muzi) Pottinger is the daughter of Olympic team bronze medallist Tinks Pottinger, a lady with plenty of her own 4* experience to pass on, including fourth placings at Burghley in 1987 and Badminton in 1988. Muzi may not have competed in the UK like her mother (yet) but she has worked there with Pippa Funnell and spent time with her mum’s Olympic team mate, Sir Mark Todd.
Muzi will be riding the 12-year-old bay gelding Just Kidding who, at just 15.2h, could be the smallest horse in this year’s 4* field but he proved that size doesn’t matter when he won the CCI3* at Taupo in May, making Amanda the current New Zealand National Champion.
21-year-old Renee Faulkner and her 13-year-old grey warmblood gelding Rubinstar HH are both having their first 4* start in Adelaide but it isn’t their first trip over the Tasman. They were part of the New Zealand Oceania Young Rider team at Melbourne International in 2016 but had to withdraw after the dressage and sit the rest of the competition on the sidelines. No doubt Renee is hoping to enjoy some Australian cross country action this time, especially as this combination has a good record in this phase - they have picked up cross country jumping penalties just once in their international eventing career since 2014
Jess Woods and Just De Manzana
The other 4* first timers, Jess Woods and Just De Manzana, have also paid a flying visit to Melbourne to finish fifth at the Melbourne International 3 Day Event in June. The 13-year-old mare by the Australian stallion Just De Pomme was originally purchased from Victoria’s Simon Tainsh and since then Jess has produced consistently good form in New Zealand, winning the CIC3* South Island Championships at Christchurch in April and taking third place in the CCI3* at Taupo. If this pair can produce another personal best in the dressage, as she did at Melbourne, scoring 28.5, they could well be challenging for the lead
But more of that to come when we look at some of our hot favourites ……….
