The promised rain came down during for the CCI classes this afternoon at Puhinui, providing an additional challenge for the CCI3* riders who headed out as the last class of the day. The rain may have been light and misty but it certainly made the course slippery and prompted advice to riders to take it carefully on course
However it is always encouraging when the first rider makes it round without problems and last year’s winner Ginny Thompson did just that on Star Nouveau. There was a big round of applause for the combination that had not only jumped clear but also come home well under time, which put them into the lead of the Honda NZ CCI3* on a score of 61 when it turned out to be the only double clear round of the day
Ginny Thompson
Ginny Thompson and Star Nouveau
Sarah Dalziell-Clout didn’t have quite so much luck when Benrose Super Star skidded to a halt at the first element of the water complex in the Honda Dream Arena, depositing Sarah at the base of the jump. She wasn’t the only one to come unstuck at this influential complex with several other riders also encountering problems here including the overnight leader Amanda Pottinger
It must have been very disappointing for Amanda, who was so hoping for a qualifying round here, when Just Kidding stopped twice at 16A, the Honda roll top into the water but Amanda did the right thing and opted to retire.
The next rider through was 19 year old Renee Faulkner on Rubinstar HH who rode the water complex well despite having to take some interesting lines. Rubinstar jumped in big over the at 16A and came face to face with the bank that the CCN95 class had jumped off earlier in the day – unfazed Renee bounced onto it and off again back into the water. From there she was back on track for the B & C element with just a little time to add to finish the day in fifth place
Second after the dressage, Diane Gilder’s Your Attorney also got a little confused at the complex when Diana lost her steering momentarily. They jumped 16B out of sequence by mistake and almost headed out of the arena but returned for a second, more successful attempt (although jumping the same fence twice in the overall process). Unfortunately, as they headed out on the track, Your Attorney slipped on the corner and became entangled in the roping, causing him to fall and finishing their day
Donna Edward-Smith’s Mr Hokey Pokey (above) may have picked up 22 time penalties, dropping them to fourth place but he is still a hero in Donna’s eyes. The pair scrambled through the water complex but the small palomino gelding just kept going with his ears pricked as if to say ‘hang on in there mum’ and Donna did just that
Flying in to the water ........... then Abby gathers her thoughts on the bank before setting off again
Like Renee Faulkner, Abby Lawrence and Song also found themselves on the top of the CCN bank
“I didn’t get a great spot to the grey roll top into the water” admits Abby “But Song just very nicely popped up the bank, stopped and waited for me to get organised. Then on we went!”
Abby and Song still finished the day in third place with the second fastest time and Abby also sits in equal first place in the iSpy Horses CCI2* on Charlton Armani, making for a good day at the office!
Sam Felton and Ricker Ridge Escada
Sam Felton and Ricker Ridge Escada were a little slower than Abby and Song but their fourth place in the dressage served them well to move them into second overall with just one rail between Sam and her friend Ginny. Sam’s recent trip to Australia didn’t go completely to plan with this horse but it seems that their luck may be turning
Watch Sam and Ricker Ridge Escada through the water in the video below
The water complex was certainly the most influential on course today, contributing to four of the six eliminations/withdrawals and we asked Clarke Johnstone, who won here in 2014 when the water complex was set up the same way, for his thoughts
“It is exactly the same as two years ago” said Clarke “You need to really set up as you come into the arena for the first element to ensure getting the strides to the B element in the water. Then you need to set up to jump the 16A on an angle into the water and be on a straight line to the B element out. A lot of riders are always taught to jump straight into the water but at this level you need to be playing with that”
