EQUESTRIAN: Four-star riders at Arran Station this weekend

Virginia Caro
Arran Station in Takapau will be the stage for a special dress rehearsal for the New Zealand equestrian team this weekend before it leaves for Australia to defend the Transtasman Trophy next month.
The Adelaide International Horse Trials, from November 11-13, is the only four star event in the southern hemisphere, and one of only five world wide, apart from the Olympics and World Equestrian Games.
The special class features the four-star dressage test to be ridden in Adelaide, and a four-star level showjumping course.
Former international Nicoli Fife (Putaruru), one of the judges in Adelaide, will also judge at Arran Station during tomorrow and Sunday's Central and Southern Hawke's Bay Eventings' spring horse trials.
Fourteen entries have been received for this major competition, with the winner earning $1000 sponsored by Red Snapr, of Waipukurau.
In addition to the team, another six kiwi horses have entered the Adelaide event independently, to gain four star experience with team support available. Team manager Blyth Tait and team coach Erik Duvander will be at Takapau to help all the four star riders.
The team now contains two new caps following the withdrawal of Bryce Newman (Bulls) after injury to Bates Our Questionnaire, and Olympian Heelan Tompkins (New Plymouth) who has elected to campaign two new advanced horses in order to qualify for next years World Equestrian Games.
Tompkins will start them both at Takapau and will conduct a crosscountry course walk at 5pm tomorrow.
The new caps are Katharine Van Tuyl (Woodville) on Underhand, and ex-pat Brazilian Alex De Luca Oliveira (Cambridge) on Clifton Checkers. They join Olympian Matthew Grayling (New Plymouth) riding the Montgomery family's Gordon, and former international Andrew Scott (Feilding) with Clifton Mitavite X Factor. Scott will also start Mitavite Westella in the four star class.
Grayling had a sensational first season with Gordon last autumn, winning every start, including the NZ World Cup qualifier at Kihikihi, and both the national one and three-day events at Tauherenikau and Taupo respectively. He won at Adelaide four years ago with his Olympic mount Revo, keeping kiwi pride alive although Australia won the Trans-Tasman Trophy for the only time since its inception in 1985.
Every effort is being made to provide big match atmosphere for the four star dressage on Saturday afternoon, with tents, trade stands, flags, pot plants and music, but the missing ingredient is crowds to applaud. So those are remotely interested in equestrian sport are encouraged to go to Arran Station at 2pm tomorrow afternoon and show their support for the country's elite eventers.
Crosscountry course designer, and chairman of selectors Mary Darby (Porangahau) has made alterations to the water complex, as well as ringing the changes elsewhere, so Sunday's will provide the usual interest and excitement.
The four-star showjumping also takes place on Sunday at 10.30am.
Spectator viewing is excellent at Arran Station, the PPCS Richmond property in Fraser Rd, Takapau. Entrance is free, but dogs are not permitted on the property.