Equestrian: Levin rider stakes national claim

Abigail Long, of Levin, riding Enzo shows the class that won them the three-star CIC and the NZ Young Rider title at Hunua at the weekend. PHOTO/www.takethemoment.co.nz

Former Oceania team member Abigail Long and mount Enzo won the New Zealand Young Rider Eventing Championship at Hunua at the weekend.

Leading home the field in a strong two-star class, which included several senior three-star riders, Long, of Levin, rocketed to the top of the Mitavite Young Rider Series to stake a claim to be included in this year's national equivalent team.

Long moved up from eighth place after the dressage to lie second overnight after a clear showjumping round. She took the lead after jumping clear and inside the time over Tich Massey's challenging crosscountry course.

This is the biggest win of Long's career although she was a well-performed junior rider with BMW Advokaat while a pupil at Nga Tawa School, near Marton.

Young riders also filled second and third place in the Troy Wheeler Contracting-sponsored class, with Talent ID squad member Renee Faulkner and Rubinstar HH second, and Jeffrey Amon on My Silver Lining third.

All three finished on their dressage scores, having added no jumping or time penalties in either jumping phases.

The junior rider championship went to Kate Herdson riding Eon, improving from second after the dressage and showjumping phases in the one-star class to take the title with a clear crosscountry round incurring 3.6 time penalties.

The win moves her into second place in the PGG Wrightson Junior Rider series, behind South Islander Lucy Turner and Carbon.

Alindi Jordaan was second on the experienced Eskimo Joe, improving from eighth place after the dressage with no further penalties added from either jumping phase.

Beth Wilson, on Alto et Audax, Fenella Carter, on Absolou, and Amalia Rowley on Mexico II were the other Junior Riders to place in this class.