Eventing: Grayling soars to top of table

Taranaki's Matthew Grayling & NRM Lowenberg after their win in Takapau. Photo / Barbara Thomson

Taranaki's Matthew Grayling came from behind with NRM Lowenberg to win the Red Snap'r CNC 3* class for the second successive year at the Arran Station Horse Trials at Takapau over the weekend.

The victory, by a wide margin, moved him to the top of the ESNZ Eventing Super League.

Second after Saturday's dressage with 34.2 penalties, they were one of only two combinations to produce clear showjumping rounds on Sunday morning, before treating the spectators to a stunning crosscountry round, the fastest of the day, adding just 1.6 time penalties for a final score of 35.8 penalties.

Central Hawkes Bay's Monica Oakley was second on Fontain, improving from fifth after the dressage, where they scored 39 penalties. They had a showjumping rail down, and incurred 15.6 time penalties on the crosscountry, to finish with 58.6 penalties, 22.8 penalties behind the winner.

Wairarapa youngster Francesca Silver, at her first 3* start, was a surprise third with Case In Point, despite being 10th after the dressage, where they scored 45 penalties, and having a rail down in the showjumping as well as 11 time penalties. However, a positive ride across country for the second fastest time, incurring only 2 time penalties, gave her a final score of 62 penalties.

The dressage leader, Amanda Pottinger on Achilles II, who scored 33.5 penalties, had a showjumping rail down to drop to second, but a refusal on the crosscountry saw them drop out of contention. There was a withdrawal before the showjumping, and a further two before the crosscountry, with two eliminations, leaving seven of the original 12 starters to post final scores.

Grayling's good dressage score earned bonus points in the Super League, putting him above the winner of the first leg at Taupo a fortnight ago, so he has made a great start to the year long series. The next event is the National One-day Championships at McLeans Island, Christchurch on November 8 and 9.

Standings after two events: Matthew Grayling, New Plymouth, NRM Lowenberg, 48 pts 1; Abby Lawrence, Te Puke, Pseudonym and Donna Smith, Te Kauwhata, Tangolooma, 42 pts 2 equal; Monica Oakley, Waipukurau, Fontain, 36 pts 4; Angela Lloyd, Auckland, Song, and Francesca Silver, Martinborough, Case In Point, 30 pts 5 equal.