One hundred and seventy horses from all over New Zealand are converging on Puhinui Domain in Auckland to compete in the Puhinui International Three-Day Event which runs from December 9 to 11.
The premiere class offers some stiff competition, with the 2015 winner Virginia Thompson returning in an attempt to reclaim the Honda New Zealand CCI3* title.
Eleven other horses and riders will be doing their best to beat her, including the current national one-day champions, Donna Edwards-Smith (Te Kauwhata) and her crowd favourite palomino Mr Hokey Pokey, and the current national three-day champions, Amanda Pottinger (Hawke’s Bay) with Just Kidding.
It will be a challenge for Mr Hokey Pokey to make the time on cross-country day, but we all know how well he can jump, and his dressage performances just keep getting better, so he must be considered a strong contender.
Clarke Johnstone and Balmoral Sensation will not be fronting up in the CCI3* to reclaim their 2014 title, as “Ritchie” has only just returned to New Zealand soil after finishing sixth individually at the Rio Olympics. However, Clarke’s protégée, Jackson Bovill, will be hoping to push the main players as he tackles his first CCI3*.
Jackson says his mount Visionnaire is feeling fit and enthusiastic in her final preparations. “She has had an awesome couple of lead-up runs at One-Day Champs (where the pair placed second) and Rotorua Horse Trials, so I am excited for the pinnacle event of the spring season,” says Jackson.
At just 19, he says he is not fazed by being one of the youngest riders in the premiere class. Although he is still green at this level, he says he is ready for the challenge. “I enter every competition with the end goal being a top placing. More importantly, I am striving for personal bests in all phases and if that results in a podium finish then I will be rapt.”
Two riders who have gone well out of their way to get to the competition are Cantabrians Brent Jury and Kirsty Sharapoff. Their trip included having to go the long route, since the usual routes are closed thanks to the earthquakes in the Kaikoura and North Canterbury regions. It certainly added a few hours to the journey but they arrived up in time to compete at the Rotorua event ten days ago as part of their preparation. Both have very good horses at the beginning of their three-star careers in SE Hedging and Shoot the Breeze.
At the National Three-Day earlier in their year, Kirsty came out the victor in the two-star class, beating Brent by the smallest of margins. Don’t be surprised if you see these two in among the winners at the end of the competition.
It will be a very popular win if it goes to Campbell Draper and Mr Mancini. Campbell won the iSpyHorses CCI2* class here last year and the photos of him being ‘kissed by all the girls’ are priceless… and seem to crop up frequently!
One to watch is Diane Gilder on Your Attorney. They had a few issues last season at this level, but seem to be back on track and the horse is very special. Diane has been very patient with him and it may just pay off this weekend.
The fiercely competitive Sarah Dalziel-Clout has Benrose Super Star entered, and will be looking to overcome the disappointment when, in the lead, she had one rail in the show jumping at Taupo, therefore relinquishing the title to Amanda Pottinger.
Young Renee Faulkner has been very impressive in her rise to the top classes on her striking grey, Rubinstar HH. She’s definitely one to watch, as is Abby Lawrence on Song, both with considerable experience at the top level.
Samantha Felton, having just returned home from campaigning in Australia, has Ricker Ridge Escada in the Honda NZ CCI3*. She will also be a strong contender in the iSpyHorses CCI2*, with two horses in that.
Another competing for the two-star title will be the season favourite Madison Crowe aboard her new mount Waitangi Pinterest. Maddy formed a partnership with Waitangi Pinterest at the beginning of the season with brilliant results so far, placing second in the CIC2* at the One-Day Champs and winning the CIC2* at Rotorua Horse Trials this spring.
“I’m very excited to be heading back to Puhinui this year, and a podium finish would certainly top off this spring season. Puhinui can be very testing, so fingers crossed,” says Maddy.
High quality fields of Young Riders and Junior Riders will be chasing their respective Puhinui and National titles. Sarah Young with Leo Degas is favourite to retain the Honda NZ Young Rider 2* in her last year of eligibility. Can she make it three in a row? She is a very talented and hardworking rider.
The DEVI Heating Systems Junior Rider at one-star level is more difficult to pick with a strong field of 18 including the consistent Gymnastik Showdown ridden by Greer Caddigan.
This year’s event sees the return of Olympian Andrew Bennie to Puhinui. Andrew is a two-time Olympian, winning team bronze at Seoul. He is not on a horse, however; he will be there in his role as a judge. Andrew is one of the top international FEI judges in the world and was one of the three Ground Jury members at the Rio Olympics. Those in the class that we (NZ Horse & Pony) are sponsoring will benefit from his sharp eye.
“Andrew Bennie will be ensuring our lower-level riders are on the right track as he judges the NZ Horse and Pony CCN105,” says Susan O’Brien, the event’s long-time secretary and FEI Technical Delegate. “And Margs Carline, one of Andrew’s team-mates from Seoul, joins judges from the UK and Ireland to form the Ground Jury for the Honda NZ CCI3*”
There are massive entries in the NZ Horse & Pony CCN105 – 46! We are not even going to try to pick a winner, but we do note that the field ranges from very experienced riders right through to those having their first three-day event start. Donna Edwards-Smith is of course one of the most experienced, and she will be riding DSE Sunset Pass who recently won the Dunstan X-Factor Challenge at Equidays. He is an impressive thoroughbred who had an impressive record on the track too, and Donna thinks the world of him.
The dressage phase kicks off on Friday December 9 and Saturday will be the day for the action-packed cross-country. The picturesque course is in brilliant condition.
“While the flow of the course is similar to previous years, there are a number of new combination questions for every level,” says FEI course designer Titch Massey.
The all-important show jumping will decide the winners on Sunday December 11.
There will be many trade stalls – everything from horse gear to Christmas presents – and a number of different types of food and drinks vendors. This year sees a Rider Central base for competitors and their teams to keep an eye on the action.
The event will be livestreamed on www.equestrianlive.co.nz for those not able to attend.
