One-day champs draw big fields

More than 100 entries have been received for the national one-day eventing championships to be held at Tauherenikau racecourse this coming weekend, and amongst them are some of the country's leading equestrians.
Three national titles will be up for grabs while the New Zealand selectors will be in attendance to finalise their Young Riders Trans-Tasman Trophy team to clash with Australia later this year.
Young Rider advisor Tinks Pottinger of Tinui says many of those competing at Tauherenikau had the potential to be the stars of the future.
She classed performances there as "really important" for youngsters seeking national honours.
"It's a full scale selection trial and we are delighted with the strength of the field, particularly in the intermediate grade where most of them are competing," she said.
Pottinger, who shares the Young Rider management duties with national coach Erik Duvander, said 15 young riders were fighting for just five available sports in the Trans-Tasman line-up.
Spearheading their group are a couple of South Islanders in Clarke Johnstone of Otago and Alice Montgomery of Canterbury , both of whom are past winners at Tauherenikau.
But Pottinger says that duo won't get everything their own way. "They are a very even lot and there should be some great competition between them", she said.
The advanced section has drawn seven riders from as far afield as Auckland and Canterbury with perhaps the most interesting entry there being Emily Butcher of Christchurch, who will be looking for a strong performance on her horse Southern Ben after being long listed for this year's World Equestrian Games in Germany.
The winner of the advanced title will take home the prestigious Forest Gate Trophy and by, doing so, will be following in the footsteps of the legendary combination of Mark Todd and Charisma.
In what could be an omen for the young riders participating this year, Todd and Charisma were winners at this event way back in 1983 before making it big on the international stage.
Todd is not though the only high profile rider to have won at Tauherenikau, where other coveted prizes on offer include the Waiteko and Ferndale Trophies.
Also succeeding there in the past have been Vaughn Jefferis (world champion), Sally Clark (Olympic silver medallist) and Tinks Pottinger herself (Olympic bronze).
The Tauherenikau competition is one of two major events on the equestrian calendar, rating alongside the national three-day competition held in Taupo in May.
With assistance from the Wairarapa Racing Club, organisers have constructed a permanent international level jumping course around the property and nearby farmland.
Wairarapa equestrian identities Hamish Cameron, Don Thompson and Andrew Puddy, are responsible for designing and preparing the obstacles, which must meet international standards for competitions run by the sport's governing body, the International Equestrian Federation. "It's a showcase event and we are lucky to be able to stage it here," event organiser Andy Pottinger said.
Entry to the course is free and spectators can watch dressage tests on Saturday with all the jumping action to come on Sunday.