Hot competition at Hawke’s Bay eventing

Eventing riders and their supporters were delighted to be out again competing in the sunshine of Hawke’s Bay today at the Flaxmere Equestrian Park. Quite a few of the horses were excited to be back out too, and some of them showed off some great moves in the dressage arenas, though not always according to the tests! Judges would have been reaching into their vocabulary to find words other than a tactful “expressive”.

The highlight classes for this two-day competition are the Equissage NZ Young Rider One Day Championship (CCN3*S) for the Charisma Trophy, and the COF’s Hawke’s Bay Ltd Junior One Day Championship (CCN2*-S) for the Hoffman Trophy. While the fields in both classes are not large, there were some quality performances in the dressage and show jumping phases today. 

Vicky Browne-Cole heads the field in the Young Rider championship on Cutting Edge, after being placed third after dressage but producing a lovely clear show jumping to take the lead. Hearts went out to Brittany Fowler, who hails from near Ashburton, and who is currently a working pupil for Clarke Johnstone. She and her mighty pony Apsley Backchat Kid did an outstanding dressage test to take the lead, but had a bit of a moment of miscommunication in the show jumping, and ‘Reuben’ put in a very unexpected stop, nearly tossing Brittany off. She managed to stay on, but unfortunately had touched the fence, and so was eliminated. 

Alena Dorotich and Donner XS were second after dressage, but also had a mishap in the show jumping to drop them down the placings. 

Vicky was stoked with her nine-year-old mare’s clear round. “She felt really good.” Early in the day she thought her dressage had gone well, but wasn’t sure what the judges would think. “I hope the judges agree that it was a good test, as I enjoyed riding it.”  

Kaitlyn Freeman, from Otaki, is holding second place on 14-year-old Holsteiner Landisohn, who looked like he was especially delighted to be back competing. She described her dressage as “interesting” but was pleased with the test. “I was happy he didn’t blow up!” 

The Junior Riders had an early start to the day, and put on some great performances. Charlotte Penny and the little mare Festival were the standouts in the dressage, and the Auckland pair took the lead and held onto it after a very polished performance in the show jumping arena.  “She jumped really well in there, and it was our first two-star,” says Charlotte. The 18-year-old student is thrilled to find herself in the lead in a championship class. “It’s pretty cool. I haven’t done too much with her so I am really stoked.” Festival, by L.A.X, was bred and produced to three-star level by Monica Oakley.

It was awesome to see Balmoral Sensation and Clarke Johnstone competing today, and they looked stunning. Ritchie was definitely impressed with being back in front of his adoring public, and put in a great show. However it was local rider Muzi Pottinger on Just Kidding who took the lead after the dressage phase in the Lumberjack Logging CCN3*-S+, pulling off a beautiful test. 

Muzi says: “He got a bit exited in the canter work so the last change was a bit expressive, but we kept it together. For his first outing I was rapt, as he can be very excitable. His trot work was lovely, and his extended trot in the end I certainly had to contain and not create, but he was super.”  The pair went on to go clear in the show jumping, to hold the lead.

As to Clarke and the horse with the whitest tail on the grounds, there were smiles all round after their test. “He felt wonderful, soft and really supple, but his emotions overcame him a bit at the end of the walk. He was so pleased to be out again.”  Clarke and his Olympic ride jumped a beautiful clear in the show jumping, making it look easy, and we look forward to seeing them on the John Holmes-designed cross-country course tomorrow. Clarke also leads the 95cm class on his youngster, Domasco. 

Jock Paget leads the star-studded NZ Sotheby’s International Realty CCN3*-S on Green Eggs and Hammer, a horse previously ridden at CCI4* level by Clarke (when he was named Deo Volente). Rails proved extremely expensive in this class; Clarke was first after dressage on Aces High, but one rail dropped them to seventh, and Jock’s Bing Bong was second after dressage but also had a rail, to drop to ninth. With a clear rounds, Abigail Long and Cruising Guy are just 0.1 penalties behind Jock in second, and Maddy Crowe and Waitangi Pinterest are 0.2 in arrears, in third. Abby is also fourth, on Belmont Holy Smoke.

Bundy Philpott and Jerry, her impressive 10-year-old thoroughbred by No Excuse Needed, lead the Livamol CCN2*-S, with a 74.5% dressage test and clear jumping. Matthew Grayling is second on Henton Ambassador, and Heelan Tompkins third on Oaks Onyx.

Interim results