Madison Crowe has been knocking on the door of the big time for a while now, and her dressage performance today in Kihikihi’s big class on her outstanding Waitangi Pinterest is perhaps her strongest yet, heading off a classy field in the Waipa Home of Champions CCI4* on 71.18% for 28.8 penalties.
Samantha Lissington is 2.1 behind on Ricker Ridge Rui, who has really stepped up since moving up to Advanced level, while Blyth Tait is third on his impressive mare, Havanna, on 31.8pen.
There are 14 combinations in the top class at what could be the last event on these beautiful grounds – the committee has already announced it will take a break next year, though it’s cautiously hopeful of a return in 2021.
Emily Cammock impressed on Shaw Lee, fourth on 32pen, while Jackson Bovill had an energetic time of it with a very fit-looking Visionnaire, to sit fifth. Monica Oakley rounds up the top six on Acrobat, on 33.3.
Sam Lissington has a commanding lead in the Grassroots CCI3*, which is the Waiteko Trophy Championship, scoring a tasty 75% for 25 penalties on Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ. The pair were first with both the judges in the massive class of 40 combinations and it’s not surprising, with an elastic, forward and accurate performance.
Matthew Grayling and NRM Trudeau are second, on 28.7 penalties, and Greer Caddigan is close behind in third on Mr Mancini, followed by Vicky Browne-Cole on Eli.
Donna Edwards-Smith and DSE Mr Hokey Pokey, having both recovered from their spectacular spill at the Horse of the Year Show, are sitting fifth on 30.4, and Louise Mulholland rounds up the top six on Mr McTaggart, on 31.2.
Aside from Sam, who is out on her own with a 3.7pen buffer, the scores are extremely tight; just 10 penalties lie between second and 24th place, so time will be of the essence in tomorrow’s cross-country.
The international riders at Kihikihi this year are certainly adding some wow factor to what is already a glamorous event by New Zealand standards, and they stamped their authority on the Wade Equine Coaches CCI2* class, which decides the Ferndale Trophy.
Jock Paget led for most of the day on his classy Bing Bong, on 28.5pen, but he was pipped in the end by Clarke Johnstone, riding the outstanding mover Watermill Glenneagle, who scored 73.12% for 26.9pen.
Just 0.2pen behind Jock is Lizzie Green, on Comanche II. Bundy Philpott is fourth with Jerry, on 30.5, behind her is Juliet Wood with Waitangi Imak, while Renee Faulkner and The Dragon Warrior round up the top six in a big class of 39.
Clarke also had it all his own way in the JLT CCN 105, which is the Tait Trophy Championship class, sitting first on Watermill Hadley (26.5) and second on Dolly Blue (27.2).
Sofie Boswell is third on her lovely Kinnordy Gym Bello mare, Anastasia, on 30 penalties, and she is very closely followed by Eliza Raven on Carter PSH (30.4), Gemma Hampson on Just Rock On (30.5), and Lizzie Green on Corona Xtreme (30.6).
Other classes
Angela Lloyd and Lyrical, who is returning from injury, lead the Prestige CCN2* class, on 70.25%. Matthew Grayling is second and third, on Joseph and Henton Ambassador respectively.
Scout Lodder is in a class of her own in the A-division of the Vosper Law CCN105 restricted class, with a whopping lead of nearly 10 penalties on Overnight Success, scoring 80.25% for 19.8pen.
Emily Wright and JA Take a Shot are second on 29, and Charlotte Treneary and Kabo Pongo are third on 29.8.
In the Carlton Party Hire B-division, Amber Scott and Absolou also have a significant lead, scoring 78.5% for 21.5pen, from second-placed Mikaela Lewis and Zenvo, on 29, while Mary Matthews and He’s a Gem are third on 30.5.
In the Pryde’s Easifeed CCN105 open class, which has 42 starters, Rachel Masters and Powerhouse have the lead on 24 penalties, with Helen McGrath and HLT Mailbu close behind on 24.8, and Leasa Williamson is third on Ridgeview Damairis, scoring 26.5.
