Emily Cammock has held on to her lead in both the Honda NZ CCI3* and the Veterinary Associates CCI1* at the Puhinui International Horse Trials. She made a great job of the difficult three-star cross-country, adding just 12.4 time faults with Shaw Lee, who she describes as so much fun to ride in that phase. On her young horse, Impeccable, she also looked very classy, and added just 0.8 time faults.
Emily says Shaw Lee is fairly consistent in the show jumping arena as well as across the country. “He jumped a clear show jumping round at Taupo, which gave him the three-star national title in May. He is genuine and tries really hard.”
But Emily has a lead of only 1.6 penalties from Corey Wood and Pick Up Line, to make it a Canterbury quinella after the cross-country phase. Corey had the fastest round of the day, with 7.6 time faults, and moved up to second. Bundy Philpott is just another penalty behind with Tresca NZPH, after a great round and 10.8 time faults.
Corey was a little worried for a moment when he hit a flag, especially as he had recently been deemed on the wrong side of a flag at a Canterbury event. “I looked down and it was on the right side and down there, so I went ‘phew, clear’!” As to tonight and any possible social activities, Corey reckoned he would be sensible – or try to be! Emily, on the other hand, was going for a good sleep, as her two young children had kept her awake a lot of last night.
Emily’s daughter Katie, aged three, had seen her mother go for a swim in the water jump earlier in the class on Lewis. Katie always keeps a keen eye on her mother and you can often hear her yelling “go Mama, go” as Emily rides past. She wasn’t too worried about the fall she saw, though. “She assured me that if I had put my arms out and kicked, once I fell off, that my chin would not have hit the bottom and I would have swum,” Emily says.
Renee Faulkner and Rubinstar HH, and Samantha Felton on Ricker Ridge Divine Right, were the other two riders to jump clear in the three-star but both with time faults: 16.4 and 11.2 respectively. Jock Paget had a fall coming out of the water, and Chloe Phillips-Harris also had a fall at the last combination, but both riders and their horses are okay.
In the two-star class, Clarke Johnstone once again gave everyone a cross-country lesson to take the lead on Wolf Whistle II, after the overnight leaders, Maddy Crowe and Waitangi Pinterest, had a stop going into the water. Clarke says Wolf Whistle, who is owned by Kate Wood, didn’t miss a beat and he is very pleased with him. “He has a good show jumping record, with only one rail in the last four starts,” he adds. Clarke is also pleased to be in front of his students: “You’ve got to keep them on their toes!”
Clarke is sitting on 47.8 penalties, and Angela Lloyd is in second place with Lyrical on 51.5. Ellie White’s fine performance on Tui Teka puts her into third with 56.9. There is a two-way tie for fourth place, between Diane Gilder (Your Attorney) and Kyle Calder (Apteryx).
One of the highlights of the day was seeing 10-year-old Scout Lodder attack the NZ Horse & Pony 105cm cross-country course first on Pioneer Makokomiko and then on Overnight Success, producing two lovely clear rounds, both under time. Scout is now leading the class on Overnight Success, and is in second place on Pioneer Makokomiko. Christen Lane is third on Henton Armada. Course builder Mike Guilfoyle commented, “We work here for weeks and weeks to get this course ready, and when you see performances like Scout’s, it makes it all worthwhile.”
Scout is clearly a real talent, but, under current FEI rules, cannot progress to FEI classes (ie one-star and up) until she is 14. There is talk of asking for dispensation, but in the meantime, she is a real pleasure to watch romp around the 105 tracks.
In the Veterinary Associates CCI1*, Emily Cammock sits on 44.2 with Impeccable, with Aleisha Collett and Mi Focus on 47.7 and Greer Caddigan on Mr Mancini with 47.8. Sarah Young is fourth on Equador MW on 49.7, and Abby Lawrence fifth on Anonymous.
In the Devi Heating Systems Junior Rider one-star class, Kate Herdson and Eon have held on to their dressage lead, putting in a very accomplished and fast cross-country round and adding nothing to a 45.3 dressage score. Caroline Howell and Telestory are second on 48.1 with Fenella Carter on Absolou third on 58.3.
Sophie Alexander also held on to her lead in the Honda NZ CCI Young Rider 2* class, adding just 2.4 time faults to be on 50.1. Breathing right down her neck on 50.3 is the birthday boy, Jackson Bovill, who rode very well today to produce a clear round within the time on Visionnaire. Beth Wilson (Alto et Audax) is also on 50.1 with Kimberley Rear (Delta Legacy) on 51.7, so only 1.6pen separates the top four! What a cracking competition this has turned into!
Sophie Abbott on Henton Armani was another to hold her lead after dressage in the Fiber Fresh CCN95, with Beth Wilson having another good round, this time on Arohanui II to be second. Rene Ryall is third on Falstaff with Elise Edwards-Smith fourth on DSE Laidback Ollie.
Amanda Illston on Verdelho leads the Thompson Electrical CNC* with 33.2. Elleysha Eastell and Voluminous are second on 35.7, and Emily Denny is third on Golden Horse Feed Ultimatum.
In the Bucas CNC105 class, it is anther case of the dressage leaders retaining their lead. Sofie Boswell and Anastasia had a fault-free round to remain in first place, followed by Anne-Marie Styles on Giocattolo. Fiona Fraser looked very comfortable on Xanthus III (who has been ridden by Blyth Tait at four-star level) and is now sitting third.
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