National three-day event champions Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding enter the water complex at Taupo where they won the title in May this year. PHOTO/Barbara Thomson Photography
National three-day event champions Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding enter the water complex at Taupo where they won the title in May this year. PHOTO/Barbara Thomson Photography
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 forthe 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.
Virginia Thompson, Kaukapakapa, had planned to take Star Nouveau, on whom she won the Puhinui Three-day Event last December, to Adelaide, but a bruised foot interfered with his preparation, so she will be trying to make amends by winning the Forest Gate Trophy, first presented in 1957.
Former C&SHB Eventing chairman Campbell Draper, now based at Putaruru, who won the warm-up event at Hastings on Mr Mancini, will be consolidating their form at 3* level this season, having won the Equestrian Entries Pro-Am series last year. Another to watch is NZ High Performance Director Sarah Dalziell-Clout, from the Wairarapa, who was second behind Pottinger at Taupo.
The dark horse, in every sense of the word, is Giddyup, being ridden by the man with the most 3* wins at Arran Station, dairy farmer Matthew Grayling from New Plymouth, who has recently taken over the ride on this experienced 2* horse, so will be watched with interest by more than Warwick Douglas, who produced him.
The dressage and showjumping take place on Saturday, and the cross-country on Sunday, with a very early start to get the huge entry through in good time. Superb spectator viewing is available from a long bank overlooking the course, with cars able to drive up there between classes. Hot food and drink is available on the grounds, but dogs are not permitted on the property.
