Smith ride timed to perfection

Equestrian

Donna Smith rode Just Chocolate to win the CIC3 Advanced One-day Event title at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre at Taupo over the weekend.

They led after the dressage and consolidated their position with a clear showjumping round which gave them the luxury of being able to incur seven time penalties on the cross country and still win.

Smith timed her round to perfection, incurring 6.4 penalties for a final score of 53.8, while those behind her chased hard, five of them going inside the time to close the gap. Simon Gordon finished second with Fletch.com on 55 penalties, Ashleigh McKinstry was third with Pioneer Makokomiko on 55.5, and Bryce Newman was fourth with Bates Trademark on 56.2.

The win has extended Smith's lead with Just Chocolate in the Bell Tea Super League, while McKinstry and Pioneer Makokomiko, who holds second place and also leads the Massey University Young Rider series, continues to add to her tally. Newman had moved into third place with Bates Trademark, and Gordon to fourth with Fletch.com.

The action now moves to the Puhinui Three-day Event in Auckland, 7-9 December, where double points will be earned. That is the halfway mark in the series, which run throughout the competition year, finishing at the National Three-day Event in Taupo next May.

Standings after five events: Donna Smith (Te Kauwhata), Just Chocolate, 108pts, 1; Ashleigh McKinstry (Taumarunui), Pioneer Makokomiko, 87pts, 2; Bryce Newman (Bulls), Bates Trademark, 62.5pts, 3; Simon Gordon (Auckland), Fletch.com, 52.5pts, 4; Shelley Ross (Helensville), Alberta Tomba, 46.5pts, 5; Annabel Wigley (Amberley), NRM Enzo, 36pts, 6=; Charlotte Grayling (New Plymouth), NRM Ru Star, 36pts, 6=; Monica Oakley (Waipukurau), Fontain, 36pts, 6=.