The Nicholson effect

All competitors in the Waipa Home of Champions CIC3* class agree that John Nicholson’s course was “bloody hard.”

In fact, it was so hard that only four of the seventeen combinations managed a clear round – and of those four, none managed the time.

Samantha Felton leads after the cross-country, with an outstanding round on Ricker Ridge Escada. “It’s too hard on this course to make the time,” she said afterwards. “I started a bit cautiously as he can get a bit strong. It is a super-big and super-technical course. There are brave questions, careful questions, patient questions, reaction questions.”

She was delighted with her 11-year-old gelding, who relishes the difficult cross-country tracks.  She was also very happy with her second horse in the class, Ricker Ridge Divine Right, who was having her first start at this level and had a green run-out at the third element of fence 12. “She was trying too hard and jumping too big.”

The tricky combination at Fence 7 put paid to many people’s chances, including the leaders after dressage, Sarah Young on Leo Degas, Brent Jury on SE Hedging, and Dannie Lodder on Balmoral Henton – all had issues at this fence.

Andy Daines and Spring Panorama looked very confident over the course. “I didn’t care too much about the time as I was trying a new bit on him. He was super,”  says Andy. The pair competed here last year and had an issue at one of the corners, but this year they nailed it. “He locked on to everything. Every year he gets stronger. He’s like a good red wine!” Andy completed his first four-star at Adelaide last year and hopes to return again this year and maybe even aim for Kentucky, funds and luck willing.

Another who produced a super round was Bundy Philpott on Tresca NZPH; the pair were having their first start at this level. Bundy, of course, has completed plenty of three-stars, but hadn’t competed at this level for nearly two years, after a nasty fall at Taupo. She admitted to having “really bad nerves” before setting off, but you wouldn’t have known it by the performance. “He was a machine, we went straight everywhere, I missed a beauty at the palisade but he still did it beautifully.”

Another who did a great job was Chloe Phillips-Harris with Cor Jet. These two have faced injury and health challenges in the last year or so, but put that behind them today in their first three-star of the season. “He’s such a legend” enthused Chloe. “I love him to bits.”

Renee Faulkner was kicking herself very hard after being eliminated for missing a compulsory passage after fence four. She jumped the fence on quite an angle and went straight past the white flag. “I knew it was there, but I just didn’t see it when I was out there! He [Rubinstar HH] was jumping so well until they pulled me up. He nailed the tricky combinations.”

Balmoral Sensation cruised around in the Trust Waikato CIC2* class, looking as classy as usual. “He really enjoyed his job, and that’s the main thing. It was a challenging two-star,” says Clarke. The National titles are up for grabs at this event, including the Forest Gate Trophy, but both Clarke and second-placed Amanda Pottinger are not eligible to win as they have results at a higher level.  This leaves Brooke Campbell on Freddy Dash looking in a good position to take the honours.

The one-star class was the last of the day in the hot afternoon and produced some great jumping. Clarke Johnstone is leading that class and is eligible to win the trophy after an excellent round within the time. Samantha Felton produced another good performance, this time Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ. She’s right behind Clarke, less than a rail, so the pressure will be on in tomorrow’s show jumping.

Kihikihi Cross Country action

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