Sarah Young and Leo Degas lead at Kihikihi
It’s tight at the top of the 3* leaderboard, but Sarah Young just has her nose in front of the CIC3* class at the end of the dressage phase at the Kihikihi International Horse Trial today.
Young and 13-year-old Leo Degas produced a “polished” test to score 67.31% to sit on 49 penalty points in the Waipa Home of Champions 3* Forest Gate Trophy Championship, just ahead of Brent Jury (Rangiora) on SE Hedging and Dannie Lodder (Auckland) on Balmoral Henton who are tied in second equal on 50 penalty points.
“I am really happy,” said 21-year-old Young. “We have only just stepped up to 3*. I certainly didn’t think we would be leading as we are very inexperienced at this level.”
However, the horse is very consistent on the flat and, according to Young, never does anything wrong. It has taken them three years to really get their partnership happening, but it has all come together over the last year.
“The whole point of me coming here to do the 3* is because there is no pressure on us. I am just here to ride for me. I do love Kihikihi – it’s my favourite event and John Nicholson’s courses are the best in the country.”
Young says tomorrow’s track has a lot of testing combinations.
“It’s all fair and doable if I ride them accurately. I will have to be on my A game that is for sure but Leo is a very safe, good jumper who always gets me home safely. It will be a good test for us out there tomorrow.”
Right behind her though are Jury (above), who has made the long trek from Canterbury, and Lodder (below) – both of whom will love to get their hands on the one day national title.
It’s also extremely tight in the Trust Waikato CIC2* Waiteko Trophy Championship where 25-year-old Amanda Pottinger (Havelock North) and Just Kidding have the edge on equal second placed mates Nick Brooks (Cambridge) aboard For Fame and Rio Olympic combination Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) on Balmoral Sensation – just .2 of a penalty point separates the three.
Nick Brooks and For Fame
Interestingly, Brooks is the only one who is able to win the national title, as the others have previous results at a higher level. However anyone can win the class and Pottinger is rapt with her 10-year-old horse.
“He has been out with a foot abscess since the Horse of the Year Show last month – it’s not a major but it is annoying and inconvenient! He only got his shoes on a week ago in time for a quick 1* run in Taranaki,” she said.
The combination was fourth last year in the 3* class and the year before won the 2*.
“The plan was always to run him here in the 2* this year . . . we’ve had a few issues with the water, so it is a confidence-building period for him. No point putting him into the 3* on the biggest track in the country. He is too good a horse to push or rush back to top level.”
John Nicholson's course at Kihikihi is famous for its carvings and challenges
She too is looking forward to John Nicholson’s course tomorrow.
Lodder is leading the Wade Equine Coaches CIC1* Ferndale Salver Trophy Championship aboard Eye Spy, and sits on 38.7 penalty points – 2.2 clear of the second placed Johnstone on In Disguise.
Megan Finlayson and Greensleeves lead the Horselands CIC 1*
Kihikihi Eventing president Georgie Smith said the committee had pulled out all stops for the event – holding until Thursday morning before making the final call on whether it would go ahead, given all the rain.
“The dressage arenas had to be moved, but that was the only change,” said Smith. “The ground is incredible given how much rain we had and the course looks superb.”
The cross country runs all day tomorrow (Saturday), with the showjumping phase for all grades on Sunday.
Samantha Felton and Ricker Ride Sooty GNZ (above) are currently third in the Wade Equine Coaches CIC1* Ferndale Trophy Championship and, while Jock Paget is not competing, he is keeping an eye on things in his coaching capacity (below)
Article by Diana Dobson
Interim Results
Waipa Home of Champions CIC3* Forest Gate Trophy Championship: Sarah Young (Tokoroa) Leo Degas 49 penalty points 1, Brent Jury (Rangiora) SE Hedging and Dannie Lodder (Auckland) Balmoral Henton 50 =2, Ashleigh McKinstry (Owhango) Pioneer Brass Monkey 50.8 4, Andy Daines (Kumeu) Spring Panorama 52.7 5, Samantha Felton (Cambridge) Ricker Ridge Escada 53.6 6.
Trust Waikato CIC2* Waiteko Trophy Championship: Amanda Pottinger (Havelock North) Just Kidding 42 penalty points 1, Nick Brooks (Cambridge) For Fame and Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) Balmoral Sensation 42.2 =2, Madison Crowe (Hamilton) Waitangi Pinterest 44.5 4, Matthew Grayling (Taranaki) Javari JS and Jackson Bovill (Hamilton) Visionaire 45.2 =5, Donna Edwards-Smith (Te Kauwhata) DSE Cluny 48.9 7.
Wade Equine Coaches CIC1*Ferndale Salver Trophy Championship: Dannie Lodder (Auckland) Eye Spy 38.7 penalty points 1, Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) IN Disguise 40.9 2, Samantha Felton (Cambridge) Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ 42.4 3, Chanel Campbell (Auckland) Astek Guardsman 43 4, Kate Herdson (Auckland) Eon 43.5 5, Angela Lloyd (Hunua) Lyrical 43.8 6.
Horselands CIC1*: Megan Finlayson (Kerikeri) Greensleeves 40.2 penalty points 1, Judy Hatfull (Rotorua) Timely 47.2 2, Cherie Jacques (Otorohanga) Tobinator 47.6 3, Rosa Rieger (Papakura) Toa and Loran Mathis (Putaruru) Charlton Xplorer 48.7 =4, Abby Lawrence (Te Puke) Django 49.3 6.
JLT CNC105 Tait Trophy Championship: Jeffrey Amon (Murapara) RM Limbo 28.4 penalty points 1, Christine Jeffs (Matakana) Spellbound 30.5 2, Renee Faulkner (Papakura) The Drago Warrior 3, Virginia Thompson (Kaukapakapa) Waitangi Chrome 32.1 4, Ashleigh McKinstry (Owhango) Pioneer Canny Lad 32.3 5, Olivia Sutton (Pukekohe) Henton Authentic 32.6 6.
Vosper CNC105 Open A: Nick Stackpole (Manukau) Delta Duet 29.8 penalty points 1, Anna Mesman (Dairy Flat) Chester FW 30.8 2, Kassandra Chee (Tauranga) Presque Noir and Brittany Newman-Marrs (Auckland) Boot Scoot N Boogie 32.3 =3, Anna Nelson (Aria) Cricket 32.5 5, Melissa Armit (Cambridge) Barrington 32.8 6.
Vosper CNC105 Open B: Jeffrey Amon (Murupara) 20.8 penalty points 1, Donna Edwards-Smith (Te Kauwhata) DSE Presley 25 2, Eden Doull (Pukekohe) Noble Value 27 3, Paula Henderson (Tauranga) Renegades Nigh Rider 28.2 4, Ingrid Herdson (Auckland) Mr Tambourine Man and Sarah Bleakley (Whangarei) El Novio 28.5 =5, Joanne Bridgeman (Cambridge) Miss Poppet 30 7.
