Ginny Thompsona and Star Nouveau at Melbourne International 3DE
Central & Southern Hawkes Bay Eventing’s spring horse trials on the Silver Fern Farms property Arran Station, Takapau, on 28/29 October, has attracted over 200 horses and riders from throughout the country, including the best performed Kiwi combination at last year’s Rio Olympics, Clarke Johnstone on Balmoral Sensation.
Johnstone, from Matangi, is one of thirteen contestants in the Red Snap’r CIC3* class, which is the second leg of the ESNZ Eventing Super League. Following an over exuberant dressage performance at the horse’s first start of the season, at Hastings at the end of last month, Johnstone elected not to contest the first Super League event at Taupo, preferring to restrict ‘Ritchie’ to dressage only that weekend.
Amanda Pottinger, Havelock North, led the dressage with Just Kidding at both Hastings and Taupo, but encountered problems at the water complex at Taupo, doubtless due to the ducking they had at the same fence at the NRM Three-day Event at Taupo last year. Pottinger will be hoping for better luck at Takapau.
Virginia Thompson, from Kaukapakapa, has entered her Oceania team horse Star Nouveau, on whom she won the Puhinui Three-day Event in both 2015 and 2016. Fellow team member Andy Daines, Kumeu, on Spring Panorama is also coming. These riders are preparing their horses for a tilt at the Australian International Three-day Event at Adelaide next month, the only 4* event in the southern hemisphere.
There are also a number of horses stepping up to 3* for the first time, as expected at the beginning of a new season, so it will be interesting to watch Kate Wood’s Wolf Whistle II, a winner of the National CIC2* at Arran Station previously, now in the hands of Clarke Johnstone.
Last season’s winner of the Pro-Am series, Madison Crowe on Waitangi Pinterest, who is mentored by Johnstone at Matangi, moves up to elite level, while Renee Faulkner, Papakura, and Rubinstar HH, members of the Oceania Young Rider team, are also contesting the top class.
The well performed Samantha Felton, Matangi, who is also heading to Adelaide with her top horse, has the inexperienced Ricker Ridge Rui entered, while former Young Rider champion Sarah Young, Tokoroa, rides Leo Degas. The seasoned campaigner Abby Lawrence, Te Puke, has two young horses stepping up, so it will be a fascinating competition.
The Oaklane Stables CIC2* class has a quality field of thirty-one entries, including Cantabrian Kirsty Sharapoff on her thoroughbred Shoot The Breeze. A former winner of the 2* class at the NRM Taupo Three-day Event, Sharapoff is seeking more mileage in the competitive scene of the North Island.
She will have moral support from fellow mainlanders Larissa Srhoy and Rockquest, who have previously spent time in the north to gain experience, and Lydia Truesdale on Allander Rocket. They will have to contend with former international Bryce Newman, Bulls, now training racehorses, with two promising young thoroughbreds, as well as Pottinger on her new ride, Holly Morrell’s well performed Pampero.
Oceania Young Rider team member Vicky Browne-Cole, based at Taupo with Jock Paget, will challenge these seniors on her lovely grey Eli, likewise last year’s Junior Rider champions Greer Caddigan, Hamilton, and Gymnastik Showdown. All classes will earn points in the year long eventing series, including the Equissage Pro-Am, PEL Amateur, and Mitavite Young Rider.
Dressage and showjumping take place on Saturday, with the Adelaide bound riders also demonstrating the 4* test late in the afternoon, and the popular cross-country on Sunday. Chris Ross, from Helensville, who designed the innovative track for last year’s National Championships at Arran Station, will be designing the cross-country courses for the three top levels, so spectators can expect plenty of exciting action.
Article by Virginia Caro
