Aucklander Simon Gordon and Fletch.com, the only combination to showjump clear and inside the time, improving from ninth place after the dressage at the Showgrounds on Friday, to hold third place overnight, had the biggest win of their career, taking the Bell Tea CIC3* Eventing title at the Horse of the Year Show.
John Nicholson’s cross-country course at the Hawkes Bay Equestrian Park provided high drama on Saturday. There were plenty of thrills and a few spills, but no injuries other than pride. Gordon produced one of eleven clear cross-country rounds with 4.8 time penalties to complete on 61.1 penalties.
The overnight leaders, Donna Smith, Te Kauwhata, and Balmoral Sensation, pulled up between the third and fourth fence as the horse was not listening to the rider, and he will be ridden in a different bit in future.
Second placed Emily Cammock, Christchurch, withdrew Dambala, who is returning after injury, before the cross-country as she was worried the hard ground, although it had been watered and aerated, could cause a recurrence of the problem.
Young rider Ashleigh McKinstry, Taumarunui, was second on Pioneer Makokomiko with 7.2 time penalties for a final score of 71 penalties, ahead of Bryce Newman, Bulls, on Bates Trademark who incurred 11.2 time penalties to finish on 77.4.
Donna Smith had some consolation with her younger horse Balmoral Tangolooma taking fourth place having added 10 time penalties for a final score of 81.7. The results will have the selectors scratching their heads as they seek to name the Trans-Tasman team to go to the Sydney CCI3* Three-day Event, 26-28 April.
Twelve of the eighteen starters completed, with two riders eliminated after falling at the second last fence, so the big crowd who filled every shady spot on the course were treated to an exciting spectacle, even though the two leaders were disappointingly withdrawn.
Another withdrawal before the cross-country was Waipukurau rider Monica Oakley, who had a disastrous showjumping round, her horse Fontain being badly affected by the atmospheric arena, Oakley saying, “He got stage fright, and there was no point in running him on the hard ground after that.”
McKinstry’s second place has elevated her to the top of the Bell Tea Super League, which means she now leads both the Massey University Young Rider Series, where she cannot be beaten, as well as the elite series, both of which culminate at the NRM Three-day Event at Taupo in May.
She is a member of the Trans-Tasman squad, and hoping for selection as she has ridden in the NZ Young Rider team which has beaten Australia on several occasions. 23 year old Gordon is also a former Trans-Tasman representative at both Young and Senior rider level, so is also in the frame for selection.
BELL TEA SUPER LEAGUE
Standings after HOY CIC3* Eventing:
Ashleigh McKinstry, Taumaranui, Pioneer Makokomiko, 205.5 pts;
Donna Smith, Te Kauwhata, Just Chocolate, 188 pts;
Simon Gordon, Auckland, Fletch.com, 167.5 pts;
Bryce Newman, Bulls, Bates Trademark, 101.5 pts;
Monica Oakley, Waipukurau, Fontain, 84 pts.
Report by Virginia Caro
