Clarke Johnstone has just bagged the biggest win of his career with victory in the CCI4* at the Mitsubishi Motors Australian International 3 Day Event in Adelaide.

The Matangi Olympian led from the get-go, scoring 45.9 penalty points in the dressage, adding just 8.8 time penalties in the cross country and finishing it off with a stunning clear in the showjumping to take the class on a score of 54.7.

But all the pressure in the world was on him as he rode in for that final round. Just ahead of him, former Adelaide winner Megan Jones and Kirby Park Impress had ridden a cool clear, and he had no room to drop even a single rail.

Balmoral Sensation nudged a couple of early rails, but soon found his groove and Johnstone rode a brilliant clear to take the crown. “I feel so very lucky to be here,” he said, who was New Zealand’s best individual eventer at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games with his sixth place finish. “It is something I have strived for my whole life since I started riding – to win a 4* – and to be finally here is the best feeling ever.”

He thanked his parents and grandmother who “own my beautiful horse”, his groom Lydia Beales who he “couldn’t do without” and his team at home.

Johnstone also paid tribute to double Olympic gold medallist and former Adelaide 4* event director Gillian Rolton who died on Saturday. “This event isn’t about me, it is about Gill. She was an amazing woman who made the event into this and we will all miss her very much,” he said. “My heart goes out to Gill’s family and close friends. This is my favourite event in the whole world. There are no other events like this. I love coming here and I look forward to doing so again in the future.”

Donna Edwards-Smith (Te Kauwhata) and DSE Mr Hokey Pokey were the next best of the Kiwis in seventh place on 73.9, after adding four faults in today’s showjumping. Ginny Thompson (Kaukapakapa) and Star Nouveau finished in eighth place on 82.6, Andy Daines (Kumeu) 10th on Spring Panorama and Edwards-Smith 13th with DSE Tangolooma.

There was plenty of carnage in the showjumping round with just three combinations coming home clear and inside time over the John Vallance-designed course.

Edwards-Smith was full of praise for her team. “He (DSE Mr Hokey Pokey) is full of courage and with a big heart,” she said.  He fairly flew around the showjumping course and picked up just four faults for an unlucky rail.

There was plenty of drama at the event, with protests from yesterday’s cross country only finalised just hours before today’s showjumping. Of the 20 original starters, five were eliminated and one retired during the cross country, and one withdrew at the second horse inspection.

Johnstone was just the third Kiwi to win the only CCI4* in the Southern Hemisphere – the other two being Nick Larkin and Red in 1997 when it was a 3*, and then Matthew Grayling aboard Revo in 2001 when it was a 4*.

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The horse details:

Balmoral Sensation owned by the Johnstone Family

DSE Tangolooma owned by Donna and Elise Edwards-Smith and Graham Smith

DSE Mr Hokey Pokey owned by Elise Edwards

Star Nouveau owned by Virginia Thompson

Spring Panorama owned by Leanne and David Jensen and Andrew Daines

Van Heck owned by the Selby Syndicate

Black Crest owned by the Selby Syndicate

 

By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison

Photos by Libby Law/ESNZ