The NEC in Taupo has never looked better, and hosted a near perfect day’s cross-country for the CCN1*, 1.05 and 95cm level riders at the National Three-day Eventing Championships today. The bigger classes wrapped up their dressage in the morning, and then all eyes were on the beautiful tracks, designed by John Holmes (1.05) and Campbell Draper and Clive Long (95cm).
In the Dunstan CCN1* Championship, Hunua school teacher Ashra McAvinue held on to her dressage lead with her lovely six-year-old mare TR Willow (by Wordly), coming home clear and under time. Anna Bryant is now second on Peace Train, and Scout Lodder has moved from fourth to third on Kingsguard.
Ashleigh McKinstry heads the Taupo Vet Centre CCN105 open class, with Pioneer Ice Monkey, with Kirsity Bale second on Kelaray Gifted, and Jessica Woods third on LV No Doubt.
Sinead Gordon and I Told You So held on to their lead in the Oranoa Sport Horses CCN95 restricted class, with a clear cross-country round, just ahead of Rosa Wilkinson and Kabo Pongo.
Anne-Marie Styles is leading the open 95cm class on Get Go, from Brea Walker and SF Gryphon.
DVS CCI4*
Monica Oakley, to the surprise of nobody, is leading the big class, after a beautiful, fluent test on Artist, a horse who just keeps improving on the flat. He scored an average of 72.86% for 27.1 penalties, putting them a handy 2.3 penalties ahead of Abigail Long and Cruising Guy. Matthew Grayling and Trudeau are third, on 29.5pen, and Emily Cammock and previous Taupo 3DE winner Shaw Lee make up the top four, just a snip behind on 30.9.
But it is all to play for tomorrow, as just 11 penalties separate the entire field of 14, and time will be of the essence over Chris Ross’ track.
NRM CCI3*
Emily Cammock leads the charge in the three-star, with an outstanding test on her 11-year-old Anamour gelding, Antara, scoring 75.36% for a penalty score of 24.6.
This put them comfortably in front of Renee Faulkner and Gina VT Bloemenhof, who’d topped the leaderboard after the first day of dressage, on a score of 26.3pen. Heelan Tompkins is sitting third on CP Aurelio, on 27.7, equal with Kyle Calder who continues his great run of form on Apteryx.
In the big class of 31, Christen Lane is fifth on Henton Armada, and Brent Jury sixth on SE Gorky Park.
March Ltd CCI2*
The leaders after dressage are very close in the two-star championship, with Elise Power and WonderStrike, a seven-year-old TB/WB cross by Wonderkind, less than a penalty ahead of Denise Rushbrook and Astek Gadzuks. Monica Oakley and Chasing Great, yet another great eventer by Postposed, are sitting third.
There is also an open CCN2* class, and this is led after dressage by Bridie Quigley and Ricker Ridge Riley, from Brooke Lyons and Freddy Dash.
