Katharine Van Tuyl, Woodville, riding Double J Sunshine (above), took the early lead in the ESNZ Eventing Super League following their win in the Total Industrial Solutions CIC3* class at Taupo over the weekend.
Third after the dressage and showjumping on Saturday, despite having a rail down and 2 time penalties, they produced the fastest cross-country round on Sunday, adding 10 time penalties to their overnight score of 59.5 penalties for a final score of 69.5.
Talent Development Squad member Samantha Felton, Matangi, who was fourth on Ricker Ridge Escada after the dressage, produced the only clean sheet in the showjumping to hold second place overnight with 58.4 penalties. They added 18.4 cross-country time penalties for a total of 76.8 penalties, but retained second place.
The overnight leader, and runner-up in the series last year, Diane Gilder, Matangi, on Your Attorney, had two refusals on the cross-country to drop out of contention. They were second after the dressage and showjumped clear but with 4 time penalties.
Amanda Pottinger, Waipukurau, who led after the dressage with Just Kidding, had a showjumping round to forget, and then missed the second last fence on the cross-country, entailing elimination.
The next event in the series is at the National Eventing Championships at Arran Station, the Silver Fern Farms property at Takapau, in Central Hawkes Bay, over Labour weekend, where extra points will be earned.
ESNZ Eventing Super League standings
Katharine Van Tuyl (Woodville), Double J Sunshine, 42 pts; Samantha Felton (Matangi), Ricker Ridge Escada, 36 pts; Dannie Lodder (Papakura), Tomahawk II, 6 pts; Andrew Daines (Auckland), Spring Panorama, 6 pts.
Virginia Caro
