Clarke Johnstone receives the the Forest Gate Trophy from Duncan Holden Jnr in 2015 Photo courtesy Barbara Thomson Photography
Central & Southern Hawkes Bay Eventing will run the 2016 New Zealand National Eventing Championships, for a second successive year, at Arran Station, the Takapau property of Silver Fern Farms, on 29th & 30th October. This is the sixtieth running of this prestigious event, which moves around the country, first contested in 1957.
Prior to last year it had not been hosted in the area since 1982, when it took place on Larry White’s property, Sherwood, at Ashley Clinton, near Takapau. On that occasion, the two White sisters from Otane, Tinks and Ginny, quinellaed the top title, ahead of a guy from the Waikato called Mark Todd.
Tinks, now Pottinger, was subsequently in the same Olympic team as Mark at Seoul in 1998, when he won his second individual gold on Charisma, and the team were bronze medallists. Tinks’ daughter Amanda, from Havelock North, is now competing at top level, and is a favourite to win the title at Arran Station this year.
Sherwood was subsequently sold and converted to dairying. In the meantime the Hawkes Bay Farmers Meat Company granted permission for the Central & Southern Hawkes Bay eventing group to build a cross-country course on the freezing works farm at Takapau, known as Arran Station, and in 1985 the first fledgling event was held there.
Now owned by Silver Fern Farms, the property has changed hands several times, bought first by Richmonds and then PPCS, but all were supportive of the local eventing group. The venue has developed over the decades into one of the top courses in the country, finally being invited to stage the national championships last year.
The winner of the top title is awarded the Forest Gate Trophy, presented in honour of Duncan Holden, a founder of the NZ Horse Society (now Equestrian Sports NZ), who farmed at Ongaonga on his property Forest Gate. His grandson, Duncan Jnr, now runs the property, and presented the trophy, the oldest in the ESNZ cabinet, to last year’s winner.
There are some illustrious names on the trophy, including Mark Todd on Charisma in 1983. Sally Clark won on Sky Command in 1987, and they won individual silver at Atlanta in 1996. Australian Andrew Hoy won on the NZ bred Kiwi in 1991, and like Sir Mark, he is still competing internationally, both based in Britain. Vaughn Jefferis won with Bounce in 1993 before becoming World Champions in 1994.
Clarke Johnstone and Balmoral Sensation in Rio
Last year’s winners, Clarke Johnstone on Balmoral Sensation, went on to place third at the Adelaide Horse Trials, qualifying for Olympic contention in the process. After a brief break back in New Zealand when they won the Eventer of the Year title at the Farmlands Horse of the Year Show, they flew to England and placed fifth at the Badminton Horse Trials, staking a claim for inclusion in the NZ team to Rio.
They were subsequently named in the team, the only NZ based rider amongst the British based squad, and proceeded to deliver the best performance of the entire team, placing 6th ahead of Sir Mark in 7th. This is a big boost for the sport in New Zealand, but sadly they will not be defending their title at Arran Station, as “Ritchie” will still be in quarantine.
However Clarke will have a team of other horses at the event, including last year’s two star winner, Kate Wood’s Wolf Whistle II, so spectators will be able to watch this talented rider producing his next echelon, and if they are lucky, might even be able to score a quick selfie! He has agreed to find time to attend the fan zone and sign autographs, so everyone will be able to catch him there.
Article by Virginia Caro
