Conditions at Taupo for the NRM National Three-Day Event Championships couldn’t have been worse during dressage. While the sky did brighten for a few short minutes at lunchtime, the afternoon soon deteriorated, the wind picked up, and it was definitely colder. Scores were never going to be great in such conditions, but the horses were surprisingly well performed and honest.
In the NRM CCI3*, Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding have the lead on their score of 45.5. “It wasn’t his best test but I am very happy with him given the conditions. There were lots of little mistakes and that is what cost us the marks,” Amanda says. She is looking at the bigger picture now with the conditions so appalling. “My goals have now changed with this weather. I won this last year, and this year winning isn’t now the main aim. It is now to get a qualifying score so I can get my four-star qualification. I won’t be going out all guns blazing; the big goal is to get him home safely.”
Mr Mancini’s tail was certainly not held high in his test, but he still produced some good work for Campbell Draper and the pair sit in second place on 48.1. They probably got the worst of the weather, with the wind driving rain across the arena. Ever stoic, Campbell could only say “Nice test, awful weather.” That sums it all up, really.
Ashleigh McKinstry and Pioneer Brass Monkey are third equal on a score of 51.1. It was sort-of-okay weather-wise for the pair although the sand arena where the dressage was transferred to was still very wet. “He is used to puddles,” said Ashleigh afterwards. “I was quite happy with his test. Next season he will be even cooler.”
Emily Cammock was wet through by the time she had finished her test on Shaw Lee. Making an early course error didn’t get her off to a great start, but she didn’t let this frazzle her. “I was really pleased with him, but very disappointed with my mistake. He was really good considering the conditions.” The pair share third place on 51.1.
Bundy Philpott’s young horse Tresca NZPH obviously would have preferred to be elsewhere but settled in and did his best, and the pair are fifth on 51.5. “I was really pleased with him,” says Bundy. “He tried really hard. He normally does as he is asked, he is very level-headed. I just don’t know what the next two days will bring.”
Cor Jet hated the weather and Chloe Phillips-Harris was very disappointed afterwards. “It was an awful test, I had a cold and stiff horse. We ended up trotting and doing flying changes in all the wrong places.” The pair usually produce great jumping, so hopefully will be happier after the next two phases.
While she said she isn’t going out “all guns blazing” tomorrow, Amanda Pottinger was looking forward to the cross-country which is definitely her favourite phase. “It is the feeling afterwards,” she said. “Nothing beats it. It is just that trust that you have with the horse: it’s unbelievable.” She described the course as “big and bold but with no big surprises.” Just Kidding has been on a re-schooling year since getting a huge fright in the water here last year, although got through without faults and went on to win the national title. Amanda was therefore pleased to see the water not featuring so prominently this year. “It’s not such a maximum-sized fence at the 10-minute mark, and not as big as last year.” She is also surprised at how good the ground is in general, despite the huge amount of rain.
In the Bates CCI2* Championship, Maddie Crowe on the lovely mare Waitangi Pinterest leads the class narrowly on a score of 40.7. Sarah Young and Leo Degas and Dannie Lodder on Balmoral Henton share second place, on 40.9 with Stephanie Vervoort on X Factor fourth on 44.5.
Maddie hadn’t expected to be in the lead after dressage, as she really rated her competitors although didn’t watch many as it was “far too wet” and her strategy was to stay warm and dry for as long as she could. She thinks it is a personal best for the pair which was quite an achievement in the terrible conditions. “We were so wet, and the wind picked up. She’s a trooper, she always puts her best foot forward. She didn’t notice the rain and doesn’t easily get frazzled.”
Maddie thinks there are a lot of questions in the two-star cross-country track. “They are really good questions, though; I really like the track. I’m the last to run so that will be another challenge.”
The CIC3* was held in the worst of the weather but it was Jock Paget on Angus Blue who took the lead after dressage. “He was good out there. There were a couple of things I would have liked to tidy up but overall he was good.”
All competitors were adversely affected by not being able to warm up as they really would have liked to, but no doubt they are all looking forward to the cross-country. Jock was keen to get out on the course, especially as recent competitions have been cancelled.
This short-format three-star class is for riders in the squad from which the team contesting the Oceania Championships will be named; the competition is in June at the Melbourne Three-day Event. Olympian Clarke Johnstone and Balmoral Sensation are sitting third after dressage, on 44.1, with Andy Daines second on Spring Panorama.
Dannie Lodder has had a good start to her competition, leading both the Fiber Fresh CCI1* on Eye Spy, and the Wairakei CCN105 Championship on Overnight Success, and she is second in the Bates Saddles two-star on Balmoral Henton.
Also, teams have been named for the Inter-Island Competition and will battle it out for the Silver Spurs Trophy. Representing the South Island are Emily Cammock and Shaw Lee (CCI3*), Brent Jury and SE Hedging (CCI2*), Madison Crowe and Waitangi Pinterest (CCI2*), and Clarke Johnston aboard In Disguise (CCI1*). The North Island team is Donna Edwards-Smith and Mr Hokey Pokey (CCI3*), Louise Mulholland and Mr McTaggart (CCI2*), Nick Brooks on For Fame (CC21*), and Sam Felton aboard Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ (CCI1*).
The cross-country will run as per the schedule at this stage, with the first horse out on course at 8.30 in the CCN105, and the CCI1* starts at 9 – subject, of course, to the place not being totally flooded! The forecast for tomorrow is looking far more promising, and Sunday is even supposed to be sunny, which we will all be looking forward to.
Results after Dressage
| NRM CCI3* | |||
| 1 | Just Kidding | Amanda ‘Muzi’ Pottinger | 45.5 |
| 2 | Mr Mancini | Campbell Draper | 48.1 |
| 3 | Pioneer Brass Monkey | Ashleigh Mckinstry | 51.1 |
| 3 | Shaw Lee | Emily Cammock | 51.1 |
| 5 | Tresca NZPH | Bundy Philpott | 51.5 |
| NRM CIC3* | |||
| 1 | Angus Blue | Jonathan Paget | 40.5 |
| 2 | Spring Panorama | Andrew Daines | 42.4 |
| 3 | Balmoral Sensation | Clarke Johnstone | 44.1 |
| 4 | Ricker Ridge Pico Boo | Samantha Felton | 46.2 |
| 5 | Just de Manzana | Jessica Woods | 51.1 |
| Bates Saddles CCI2* | |||
| 1 | Waitangi Pinterest | Madison Crowe | 40.7 |
| 2 | Balmoral Henton | Dannie Lodder | 40.9 |
| 2 | Leo Degas | Sarah Young | 40.9 |
| 4 | X Factor | Stephanie Vervoort | 43 |
| 5 | DSE Cluny | Donna Edwards-Smith | 44.5 |
| Fiber Fresh CCI 1* Championship | |||
| 1 | Eye Spy | Dannie Lodder | 40.2 |
| 2 | Anonymous | Abby Lawrence | 42.2 |
| 3 | In Disguise | Clarke Johnstone | 43.4 |
| 4 | Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ | Samantha Felton | 44 |
| 5 | Astek Guardsman | Chanel Campbell | 44.8 |
| AMS Saddlery CCI 1* Open | |||
| 1 | Meersbrook Viva La Vida | Jordie Watson | 42.1 |
| 2 | Visionnaire | Jackson Bovill | 42.3 |
| 3 | Greensleeves | Megan Finlayson | 43.5 |
| 4 | Enzo | Abigail Long | 45 |
| 5 | LV Hat Trick | Jessica Woods | 45.9 |
| Wairakei CCN105 Championship | |||
| 1 | Overnight Success | Dannie Lodder | 27.1 |
| 2 | Shillings | Bundy Philpott | 28.5 |
| 3 | HNS Chrialka Gienah | Bryar Kirkeby | 31.2 |
| 4 | DSE Sunset Pass | Donna Edwards-Smith | 31.5 |
| 5 | Impeccable | Emily Cammock | 31.6 |
| Equissage CCN105 Open | |||
| 1 | Shevchenko | Eloise King | 25.1 |
| 2 | RM Limbo | Jeffrey Amon | 25.6 |
| 3 | JA Take a Shot | Jeffrey Amon | 28.5 |
| 4 | My Silver Lining | Jeffrey Amon | 28.9 |
| 5 | Aruko Razzamatazz | Madeline Banks | 29 |
