Simon Gordon and Fletch.com Photo: Libby Law/ESNZ
The CCI3* (Advanced) class at the NRM National Three-day Event at Taupo over the weekend was the final event in the year long Bell Tea Super League, with double points on offer, however the three top placings did not change despite none of these combinations being there.
The winner, Auckland accountant Simon Gordon with Fletch.com, could not be overtaken, so Gordon opted to rest his horse following the Trans-Tasman trip at the end of April. Young Rider Ashleigh McKinstry, Taumarunui, lying second with Pioneer Makokomiko, who is also resting after jarring up earlier this autumn, was unassailable in both the Super League and at the top of Massey University Young Rider series.
The battle was for third place, where Donna Smith, Te Kauwhata, and Just Chocolate could be caught by Bryce Newman, Bulls, and Bates Trademark if they won at Taupo. They went close, placing second behind none other than Smith on her younger horse Balmoral Tangolooma.
This resulted in Smith moving up from sixth to fourth place on Balmoral Tangolooma, demoting Newman and Bates Trademark to fifth, while Dannie Lodder, Papakura, and Moochi, who is also resting after making the trip to Sydney last month, dropped to sixth.
Final standings:
Simon Gordon, Karaka, Fletch.com, 240 pts, 1
Ashleigh McKinstry, Taumarunui, Pioneer Makokomiko, 205.5 pts, 2
Donna Smith, Te Kauwhata, Just Chocolate, 188 pts, 3
Smith, Balmoral Tangolooma, 181.5 pts, 4
Bryce Newman, Bulls, Bates Trademark, 175.5 pts, 5
Dannie Lodder, Papakura, Moochi, 101 pts, 6
Article by Virginia Caro
