Big entries at Rotorua

With the large number of entries, Rotorua’s CNC95 classes were all completed on day one, along with dressage and show jumping for the others. Quimbo won yet again for Charlotte Sellar; the four-star victor is obviously loving being back eventing at this level. And Christen Lane, who certainly has some quality young horses, quinellaed one class.

Donna Edwards-Smith and her very cute palomino DSE Mr Hokey Pokey have the lead in the Dunstan Horse feeds CNC**plus, from Jackson Boville on his mare Visionnaire, and Campbell Draper on Mr Mancini. All of these riders will be using this event to fine-tune their performances for Puhinui 3DE in two weeks, but all will still be keen for the win; this is not a training run!

Great to see that South Islanders Kirsty Sharapoff, Brent Jury, Giles Gormack and Lucy Turner have not let any closed roads or earthquakes put them off travelling north. They may have taken the long route to get on to the ferry, but don’t expect them to take any on the cross-country!

The Dunstan CIC2* is  being led by Maddie Crowe on Waitangi Pinterest, and Maddie also leads the Marks + Ewen & Associates CIC* on Lucius GNZ.

Chanel Campbell and Astek Guardsman lead the Prestige Equestrian CNC* A with Kyle Calder on Apteryx heading the B division. Donna Edwards-Smith and DSE Sunset Pass – the lovely thoroughbred who recently won the Dunstan X-Factor Cup at Equidays – are in front in the Reyna Equestrian CNC 105, Sally Gunn and Kiwi Highlight head the Reyna Equestrian CNC105 Amateur, and Stable Sales NZ CNC105 U21 is led by Sarah Young on Equador MW.

Good luck with the cross-country, everyone!