HOY: eventing kicks off

Muzi Pottinger and Just Kidding lead the four-star dressage (Libby Law)

Muzi Pottinger and Just Kidding have seized the lead after the dressage phase in the four-star eventing class, fractionally ahead of Madison Crowe and Waitangi Pinterest. Muzi and ‘Ferg’, who is two-time National Three-day Champ, scored an average of 72.01% for a penalty score of 28, while Madi was just 0.1 behind. 

Madison Crowe and Waitangi Pinterest (Libby Law)

The eventing is enjoying the stardust of visiting internationals, Tim and Jonelle Price, and probably enjoyed its largest-ever audience for the first phase as a result today. Tim obviously got on well with Samantha Lissington’s Ricker Ridge Escada, scoring 70.62% for third place.

Tim Price and Ricker Ridge Escada (Libby Law)
Escada, Tim Price and Samantha Lissington (Libby Law)

Jonelle had a little bit more of a tricky ride with the strong-minded mare Ricker Ridge Divine Right, and is in 19th place of the 22 starters, on a score of 39.8.

Jonelle Price and Ricker Ridge Divine Right (Libby Law)

Donna Edwards-Smith is in fifth, eighth and ninth places on her three rides, DSE Tangolooma, Cluny and Mr Hokey Pokey.

The scores are all pretty close though, with just 10 penalties between first and 16th. 

Tim and Jonelle’s WEG team mate Blyth Tait was a little disappointed with his ride in the four-star, on Chloe Phillips-Harris’ Cor Jet, who he said was a lovely horse but got a tad uptight in the atmosphere.

However, Blyth is leading the three-star on his own Havanna, on a score of 26.9. Samantha Lissington is second on Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ on 27.2. Fiona Fraser on Xanthus III is third on 29.6 with another Olympian, Jock Paget on Ricker Ridge Riley, fourth on 30.2.

Blyth Tait and Havanna, who are leading the three-star (Libby Law)

The eventing’s show jumping phase is tomorrow, with the cross-country phase on Saturday.