Stuart Tinney and Pluto Mio held onto their dressage lead in the CCI3* after a clear round across the Mike Etherington-Smith designed course that saw several riders have problems. “It was certainly a true three star track this year,” said Mike E-S. “Last year because of the bad weather we had to compromise a little with the course but this year it was just as it should be. Certainly there were a few less experienced riders out there who had some problems but the good riders made it look easy and that’s really just what you would expect.”
CLICK HERE to hear what Stuart had to say about his day.
The first rider out on the CCI3* track was Craig Barrett (above) riding Julie and Keith Osborne’s Adelaide winning horse Sandhills Brillaire. This talented mare appeared to cruise round the course and even when the pair came to the last water complex, two fences from home, they still looked full of running and finished clear and under time. “I was delighted with her,” said a happy Craig who is now lying second going into show jumping day.
To hear what else Craig had to say CLICK HERE
The next few riders all had problems including Australian Team member Emma Scott. “I went for a swim,” said Emma. “He seemed to jump into the first water okay but then wobbled a bit and, although he was really good to jump the second element and stay on his feet, he really scrambled over it and I went swimming … oh well at least it was a hot day.”
First rider for New Zealand was Simon Gordon on Fletch.com (above) who finished clear with eight time penalties, despite taking the direct route at the second water. Quite a few of the lesser combinations opted for the long route at this complex.
“It will be a bit like taking a long lunch for those who choose to take the long route at the water,” Mike E-S had said before the start of the cross country “but for some it will be the best option.”
Natalie and her reflection
I love watching Natalie Blundell and Algebra go cross country because the little grey always looks like he has springs in his feet. Today the pair looked as good as ever and as they came keenly into the second water Algebra looked as if he could do the whole course all over again.
Take a look at Natalie through the water in this short video clip below.
Another New Zealand rider who looked really impressive was Joseph Waldron on Springvale All Black who went clear with only 1.6 time penalites. This performance moved him up from 20th after dressage to fifth – the best placed Kiwi rider at the end of cross country day.
The last three riders in the class certainly fell into the ‘experienced’ rider bracket and that experience showed as they all went clear. “He was a really good boy,” said Shane, who was still visibly sore on his foot having been trodden on a few weeks ago. Following Stuart’s clear round the last horse to go was New Zealand team member Bryce Newman (pictured below) who suffered a momentary lapse as they approached the second water. The pair galloped past the fence on the hill at which stage some kind onlookers pointed out his mistake and he turned back to jump the forgotten fence. Unfazed by the ‘moment’ Bates Trademark continued on his way, jumping the direct route through the water complex.
With four Australians in the top places, three of them team members, Australia leads the Trans Tasman by 60.6 penalties.
Tarraleah Park CCI2*
A nervous Emma Mason takes some time out before she goes cross country
Little altered in the CCI2* field after cross country day, with the top five dressage places remaining unchanged. Emma Mason admitted to feeling a little sick with nerves prior to starting cross country but was happy when it was all over.
“I thought it was quite a tough 2* track so I’m pleased that we managed to get home clear.” Out of the 14 strong field in the CCI2* ten riders went clear with nine of those under time.
Check out the photos from today's action by clicking HERE
For full results CLICK HERE
