Competitors from the CNC1* take their horses to check out the view after the first horse inspection at Puhinui
If you had looked down from one of the many planes landing at Auckland airport this afternoon you would have seen two runways in action very close to the one you were about to land on. Auckland’s airport is only a couple of kilometres away from the Puhinui Reserve, home of the Puhinui International Horse Trials, but the descending planes are surprisingly quiet. In fact the main noise you hear at the Puhinui Reserve is the sound of the waves from the Manukau Harbour; this really is quite an idyllic venue that provides a great backdrop for horses and riders, be they galloping along on the cross country or on the runway for today’s first horse inspection.
The actual trot up went pretty smoothly with very few being held but it was a tense moment for Charlotte Grayling. Charlotte and Giddyup were sent to the holding box during the trot up for the Honda New Zealand CCI3* Young Rider class but came back, minus two front shoes, to pass on re-presenting
The relief for Charlotte, daughter of Olympic eventing rider Matthew Grayling, was clear as she hugged the owner of the 11 year old bay gelding Giddyup, Warwick Douglas.
“I rode Giddyup this morning and he was fine” said Charlotte “Then about an hour before the trot up, it seemed something was wrong. I was so worried about him and it’s my last year in the Young Rider class so I felt so disappointed for Warwick. But thankfully, he was much better as soon as we took the front shoes off him”
A hug from owner Warwick Douglas (also riding in the CCI1*) as Charlotte Grayling and Giddyup get the nod from the Ground Jury
Although dad Matthew, who won the Puhinui CCI3* in 2013, isn’t riding here this year both of his daughters are competing in the CCI2* Young Rider class. Charlotte’s younger sister Victoria, who turns 20 tomorrow, is also riding in the class on the 12 year old gelding NRM Valiance
The official Best Dressed prize winners won’t be announced until Sunday – they make it tough here! The riders have to present at both horse inspections to be eligible for the prizes (including a magnum of champagne we hear) provided by Horse & Pony Magazine so there is an added incentive to complete the event for those who are shortlisted and then chosen by public vote.
So, here’s our unofficial Best Dressed for today (and, being lazy, it’s unlikely we’ll be at the second horse inspection to report!). In no particular order, here are the ones we particularly liked;
Dannie Lodder – Dannie has a great set of pins and shows them off to good advantage; last year it was shorts (which reappeared in the Tip and Strip) – this year, a colourful short dress. Dannie was one of the few to be sporting some bright colour with most of the girls opting for black and white as a theme
Giles Gormack, having his first crack at a CCI3*, really looked the part in a suit and jaunty Panama, reminiscent of the outfit of another Kiwi, John Twomey, who won the Best Dressed in Adelaide
Lauren Alexander and Classic Indigo CCI1*
Kate Disley and Arctic Cielo CC1*
Danielle Wheeler and One Cool Dude CCI2*
Virginia Thompson and Man of Honour CCI1*
Nick Brooks and Versace C CCI2*
We also filmed some snippets of video from each class with some excellent commentary provided by Monica Johns. Every horse inspection should have a Monica we think!
