It’s a new-look Puhinui for 2019, with the event’s central hub, arenas and yarding all moved to the far end of the peninsula, and the cross-country course going in an entirely different direction.
And fittingly, there are some new faces at the top of the scoreboard after a sweltering day’s dressage.
Renee Faulkner is part of eventing’s ‘future potential’ squad, and over the last few years has put in some solid performances with Rubinstar HH, including fourth in the Advanced here at Puhinui two years ago.
But it was certainly one out of the blue to see the 22-year-old vet nurse from Papakura and her 14-year-old warmblood gelding top the leaderboard in the Auckland Council CCI4*, with an average score of 68.19% for 31.8 penalties.
The Ground Jury were not in agreement over the top placings, however, with president Andrew Bennie scoring Christen Lane’s test on Thunder Cat the highest (71.25%), while Tim Downes (GBR) preferred Monica Oakley and Acrobat (70%), and Janet Surr (GBR) had Clarke Johnstone and Aces High as her top score (68.54%). But Renee was second with two of the judges and third with the other, which was enough to give her the best average.
Christen is sitting second, just 0.8pen in arrears, Clarke is just 0.1 behind her in third, and Monica fourth, less than a penalty behind him – so the scores at the top end of the class are extremely close indeed, and only 15.8 penalties cover the entire field of 12 combinations.
Donna Edwards-Smith has two of her four rides in fifth and sixth places – DSE Tangolooma and DSE Cluny – while DSE Rodriguez is eighth and DSE Mendoza ninth.
In the Gilmours CCI3*, Monica Oakley’s super-moving thoroughbred Artist (Guillotine) found favour with all three judges, scoring an average of 74.95% to comfortably take the top spot on 25.1 penalties.
Continuing her great day on the flat, Renee Faulkner is second, riding her friend Aleisha Collett’s well-performing mare Mi Focus, on 28.3, Bundy Philpott is third with Shillings, on 31.4, and Ashleigh McKinstry a close fourth on Pioneer Brass Monkey, who won this class in 2016. Fifth and sixth spots in the class of 26 have gone to Muzi Pottinger on Good Timing, and Elise Power on Arctic Cielo.
Jock Paget hasn’t often been beaten on the flat with his fancy Holstein import, Bing Bong, so it’s no surprise that the pair are first in the Veterinary Associates CCI2*, with a score of 72.88% leaving them on 27.1 penalties.
But very close behind, and right on the back of winning both the National Junior one-day and three-day eventing titles, is 15-year-old Dunedin schoolgirl Elle Morshuis and World Famous, on 28.4pen.
Abigail Long and Cruising Guy are a very close third, followed by Samantha Mynott and CHS Royal Genie, Miya Fleming with Eon, and Greer Caddigan with Ricker Ridge Pico Boo.
In the Thompson Electrical CCI1*, Clarke Johnstone and Watermill Hadley have a firm grip on proceedings, scoring first with both judges to sit on 73.88% for 26.1pen.
Clarke and the Dutch-bred imported gelding won the Tait Trophy at Kihikihi in April, for the national one-day title at 105cm level, and have also had success jumping in the 7YO series classes.
Clevedon teenager Rene Ryall is second on her thoroughbred, Regal Riems, with Charlotte Treneary very close behind her in third on her lovely grey pony, Kabo Pongo. Leisa Keightley and Black Attire have been having a blinder of a season so far, and they are poised for another good placing in fourth, while Sam Doak is fifth on Mr Fahrenheit and Francesca Masfen sixth on Kinnordy Gallilee.
