Last year's winner Matthew Grayling riding NRM Lowenberg Photo courtesy Barbara Thomson Photography
Central & Southern Hawkes Bay Eventing will be staging the second leg of the ESNZ Eventing Super League at the Arran Station Spring Horse Trials, on the Silver Fern Farms property at Takapau, on Saturday and Sunday of Labour weekend. The Red Snap’r 3* class has attracted twelve competitors chasing Super League points in the year long series, including last year’s winner, Matthew Grayling on NRM Lowenburg.
A huge entry of 240 horses and riders from as far afield as North Auckland will contest ten classes catering for all levels from the 3* class through to a pre-training class for under 18 year old riders, which is well supported by local pony clubbers. The event is an opportunity for these young riders, as well as the general public, to see top eventing here in Central Hawkes Bay.
International competitors of the calibre of Clarke Johnstone, team bronze medalist at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, former Olympian Heelan Tompkins, and evergreen internationals Matthew Grayling and Bryce Newman, will all be riding horses at different levels. Members of the Talent Development Squad, the internationals of the future, will be measuring themselves against these seasoned campaigners.
Local rider Monica Oakley has Fontain in the 3* and her two younger horses, Vanroy and LAX in the 2*, while Wairarapa rider Amanda Pottinger, a member of the Talent Development Squad, has a horse in the Farmlands 1* class as well as the 2* and 3* classes, so she will be grateful for the assistance of her mother, former Olympian Tinks Pottinger.
Bryce Newman will be guiding his son, Jack, in the Bel Group Young Rider 1* class, while Matthew Grayling’s daughter Phillipa contests the under 18 years 95cm class. Emphasising the family involvement in this sport, event secretary Pheasant Riordan and her daughter Madeleine will both be competing, as will Wanstead’s Bron Twigg and two of her boys, Isaac and Joseph.
Hamish Cameron is the cross-country course designer for the 1*, 2*, and 3* classes, with Wendy Lansdown, mentored by John Holmes from Hastings, designing the 80cm, 95cm, and 105cm courses. New fences were built during the winter by Taupo’s Robbie McLean, with help from chairman Stuart Ewen, Nick Lansdown and Craig Dunderdale, so there will be fresh challenges for competitors at all levels.
The dressage takes place on Saturday, and the cross-country on Sunday, with the show jumping, designed by Murray Graham, taking place on both days. The lower levels will jump on Saturday and the top classes on Sunday morning. There is excellent parking with good viewing of the cross-country, but please note dogs are not permitted on Arran Station. Hot food and drink will be available on the grounds.
Article by Virginia Caro
