Entries for the sixtieth National Eventing Championships, hosted by Central & Southern Hawke's Bay Eventing at the Silver Fern Farms property, Arran Station, Takapau, this coming weekend, have closed with a record 273 entries across the six levels of competition.
The top class, the Red Snap'r CIC3* national title for the Forest Gate Trophy has 13 entries, some stepping up to elite level to challenge themselves against the more experienced riders, who will be keenly contesting not only the title, the trophy, and the glory, but also Super League points, as National titles earn extra points.
Last year's winner, Olympian Clarke Johnstone, is unable to defend his title, having injured himself in a fall at Hastings three weeks ago, at his first start since Rio, and while he had hoped to be at the event initially, his dislocated right shoulder was subsequently discovered to be broken as well as his left ankle, so he will not be there.
With Samantha Felton and Andy Daines, who won the first leg of the Super League at Taupo a fortnight ago, both in Australia to compete in the Adelaide CCI4* the weekend after Arran Station, the competition is wide open. Diane Gilder and Your Attorney, who hold second position in the League, will also be missing as she has a long standing commitment to RDA, for whom she works, that she cannot renege on.
Hawke's Bay rider Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding, the current National Three-day Event title holders, will be giving it their best shot, hoping to add to her trophy haul, while Donna Edwards-Smith, Te Kauwhata, and crowd favourite Mr Hokey Pokey will push her all the way, having led after the dressage at Taupo.