Matthew Grayling and NRM Lowenberg Photo courtesy Barbara Thomson Photography.
Matthew Grayling came from behind with NRM Lowenberg to win the Red Snap’r CNC 3* class for the second successive year, by an outstanding margin, at the Arran Station Horse Trials at Takapau over the weekend, moving to the top of the ESNZ Eventing Super League in the process.
Second after Saturday’s dressage with 34.2 penalties, they were one of only two combinations to produce clear show jumping rounds on Sunday morning, before treating the spectators to a stunning cross-country round, the fastest of the day, adding just 1.6 time penalties for a final score of 35.8 penalties.
Central Hawkes Bay local Monica Oakley was second on Fontain, pulling up from fifth after the dressage, where they scored 39 penalties. They had a show jumping rail down, and incurred 15.6 time penalties on the cross-country, to finish with 58.6 penalties, 22.8 penalties behind the winner.
Wairarapa youngster Francesca Silver, at her first 3* start, sprang a surprise with Case In Point, finishing third, despite being tenth after the dressage, where they scored 45 penalties, and having a rail down in the show jumping as well as 11 time penalties. However a positive ride across country for the second fastest time, incurring only 2 time penalties, gave her a final score of 62 penalties.
The dressage leader, Amanda Pottinger on Achilles II, who scored 33.5 penalties, had a show jumping rail down to drop to second, but a refusal on the cross-country saw them drop out of contention. There was a withdrawal before the show jumping, and a further two before the cross-country, with two eliminations, leaving seven of the original twelve starters to post final scores.
Grayling’s good dressage score earned bonus points in the Super League, putting him above the winner of the first leg at Taupo a fortnight ago, so he has made a great start to the year long series. The next event is the National One-day Championships at McLeans Island, Christchurch on 8/9 November.
ESNZ EVENTING SUPER LEAGUE
Standings after 2 events: Matthew Grayling, New Plymouth, NRM Lowenberg, 48 pts; Abby Lawrence, Te Puke, Pseudonym, 42 pts; Donna Smith, Te Kauwhata, Tangolooma, 42 pts; Monica Oakley, Waipukurau, Fontain, 36 pts; Angela Lloyd, Auckland, Song, 30 pts; Francesca Silver, Martinborough, Case In Point, 30 pts.
Article by Virginia Caro
