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Madison Crowe with Lucius GNZ who will be competing in the CNC105
The planes were flying overhead on their final descent into the nearby Auckland airport as the riders and their helpers were plaiting, polishing and preparing to strut their stuff on a different kind of runway at the Puhinui International 3 Day Event
One of these was 21 year old Madison Crowe. Madison is in her last year as a Young Rider and, having already won the New Zealand One Day Event Young Rider title she would love to top off her year with the Three Day Event Young Rider championship being held as part of this event.
“It’s been a really good year” said Madison “We won the ODE Young Rider championship in February then were chosen for the New Zealand team at the Oceania Young Rider competition at Melbourne International Horse Trials in June which was an awesome experience. Hopefully we can do well here as I turned 21 this year so it’s pretty much the end of my Young Rider career at this event”
Her CCI2* horse Brogan, a 13 year old Australian off the track thoroughbred, looked full of running at the first horse inspection and certainly ready to run cross country
Britain's Nick Gauntlett and El Grado
There were few dramas for the riders presenting their horses to the Ground Jury at the first inspection in the mild afternoon sun. Clarke Johnstone’s Balmoral Sensation wanted to have some fun on the runway so had to present twice due to his exuberance – as Clarke said yesterday, he’s certainly feeling well.
Great Britain’s Nick Gauntlett was welcomed as the only international rider (actually, as shown in the video below Fraser King was first welcomed as Nick Gauntlett) although there are quite a few riders based permanently overseas who will be putting in an appearance here. Jonelle and Tim Price, who came straight from the airport to the event, aren’t competing at the event but Blyth Tait, Annabel Wigley, Juliet Wood and Alice Montgomery have all sourced some good horses.
Annabel Wigley has two horses in the Honda NZ CCI3*, her own NRM Enzo and Sam Taylor’s Leo Degas who was ridden here last year by Clarke Johnstone. Leo Degas was bred by Julie Fraser, who also bred Blyth’s ride in the CCI2*, Leo Distinction, a horse that Blyth is hoping to take back to the UK if all goes well. We caught up with Blyth for an interview about this horse, his lucky groom Fiona Fraser and his first ride at Puhinui in many years (coming up soon)
Of course the most important part of any horse inspection is - who won our votes in the best dressed? The conservatively but impeccably dressed Nick Gauntlett won our award for the best dressed male but another Nick, Nick Brooks (who was our favourite last year), also looked great and his horse Versace C had four white socks that positively gleamed in the sun. A special mention too for Cam Robertson’s tartan cap and Fraser King’s army uniform – we do love a man in uniform, especially accompanied by a gorgeous horse
Fraser King shows an impressive moment of suspension as he presents Nadal KSNZ in the CCI3*
For our ladies fashion award, Amanda Pottinger’s outfit was simple but smart, Dannie Lodder’s electric blue shorts and Hayley Pickmore’s peppermint green jacket teamed with white jeans brought a touch of summer while Kate Disley and Gillian Meacham went for peach colours in their skirt and jacket. However it was the very appropriately named Chanel Campbell who really caught the eye with a beautifully styled cream top with touches, of course, of black - love the hairstyle too Chanel.
Chanel Campbell and Kingston Time - CCI2*
