Donna Smith and Balmoral Sensation at Puhinui last year
In the Bell Tea CIC3* eventing at the New Zealand Horse of the Year show dressage leader Donna Smith (Te Kauwhata) and Balmoral Sensation held their top spot after the showjumping phase yesterday, with just the cross country to come today.
Despite a rail down in the showjumping and seven time penalties, Smith has an overnight score of 51.8 penalties. Lying second is Emily Cammock (Christchurch) aboard Dambala, who had two rails down and three time penalties for a total of 54.5 penalties.
The showjumping saw all but one competitor incur penalties. Simon Gordon (Auckland) produced the only clear round inside the time on Fletch.com, to pull up from ninth after the dressage to lie third overnight on his dressage score of 56.3 penalties. Donna Smith holds fourth place on Sarah Varley’s Just Chocolate, having jumped a clear round but with nine time penalties for an overnight score of 62.3.
Young rider Ashleigh McKinstry (Taumaranui) on her part Kaimanwa, Pioneer Makokomiko, moved up to fifth place after having a rail down and four time penalties, taking 63.8 penalties into the cross-country.
Designer John Nicholson (brother of eventer Andrew) has set a challenging cross country course at the Hawke's Bay Equestrian Park which is a Trans Tasman selection trial for the New Zealanders. They will be aiming to take back the title won by the Australian team of Shane Rose, Natalie Blundell, Katja Weimann and Christine Bates last year. The Trans Tasman challenge will be held as a part of the Sydney International Horse Trials from 26th - 28th April
She's usually behind the camera but can never resist a hug from Sir Toddy - the self-confessed Numero Uno fan, Libby Law
One of the highlights of this year’s HOY has been the attendance of Sir Mark Todd on a quick visit home. New knighted Sir Mark, whose investiture by the Queen will be at Buckingham Palace in May, is one of the most popular equestrian personalities in New Zealand (indeed around the world!) and his participation at the event has been a huge drawcard. On Friday night he received a standing ovation after his dressage display aboard New Zealand paralympian Rachel Stock's Bates Donnergrollen and on Sunday he will compete in the BetaVet New Zealand Speed Championship aboard Shakespeare NZPH. For those of you attending the event, make sure you visit the Equestrian Sports New Zealand tent at 10am on Sunday for autograph signings and photographs with Sir Toddy
Libby Law is at the HOY and will be bringing us a photographic summary (as only Libby can) after the weekend – the start of this year’s international eventing coverage brought to you by Libby and An Eventful Life from the top eventing competitions around the world
The HOY show is live streaming action from the event (sadly not the eventing) – for more information visit http://www.hoy.co.nz/hoy_2013/streaming
