ESNZ EVENTING SUPER LEAGUE

Cantabrian Emily Cammock reaped a worthy reward for making the long trip from Christchurch to Auckland with her horses for the Puhinui International Three-day Event over the weekend, narrowing the gap on Olympian Clarke Johnstone in the ESNZ Eventing Super League.

Emily led the top class, the Honda CCI3*, on Shaw Lee after the dressage, and held that lead going into the showjumping phase despite 12.4 cross-country time penalties, but the scores were so close she had no room for error. One rail down cost her top spot, allowing Cambridge’s Bundy Philpott to take the win with Tresca NZPH after the only clear round in that third phase.

However the points earned by Emily and Shaw Lee, who were third equal in the Super League series prior to the event, sees them move into second place and significantly narrows the gap to Clarke Johnstone and Balmoral Sensation, who took what looked like an unassailable lead after winning the Adelaide CCI4* last month.

Bundy leapt into contention with Tresca NZPH, having not posted any points in the year long series prior to Puhinui, but now sits in third place, due to the extra points earned in the long format event. The series culminates at the NRM Three-day Event at Taupo next May.

Corey Wood, who also travelled from Canterbury with his horse Pick Up Line, earned a top four spot in the series after placing third in the class, aided by producing the fastest cross-country round, the only one with single figure time penalties. Like Bundy, he had not posted points previously, but both will be hoping to consolidate their positions when competition resumes in the autumn.

Standings at halfway: Clarke Johnstone, Matangi, Balmoral Sensation, 102 pts; Emily Cammock, Christchurch, Shaw Lee, 80 pts; Bundy Philpott, Cambridge, Tresca NZPH, 51 pts; Corey Wood, Christchurch, Pick Up Line, 39 pts; Samantha Felton, Matangi, Ricker Ridge Rui, 34 pts; Donna Edwards-Smith, Te Kauwhata, DSE Cluny, 32 pts.

EQUISSAGE PRO-AM RIDER

Remarkably there is no change at the top of the Equissage Pro-Am series following the Puhinui event, despite leader Lydia Truesdale not making the long trip from Canterbury with Allander Rocket. None of those immediately behind her added to their tallies, so she will be breathing sighs of relief.

Sadly Otorohanga veterinarian Cherie Jaques, poised to challenge for top spot with Black Gem, suffered a nasty fall at Puhinui, and was taken to hospital with concussion and severe bruising. We wish Cherie a speedy recovery, and her family a happy Christmas. Black Gem appeared to escape unharmed.

The big mover was Angela Lloyd on Lyrical following second place in the iSpy Horses CCI2*, which has rocketed her into third place, pushing the previous third and fourth equal placings down a peg.

Standings at halfway: Lydia Truesdale, Allander Rocket, 86 pts; Cherie Jaques, Black Gem, 78 pts; Angela Lloyd, Lyrical, 61.5 pts; Larissa Srhoy, Rockquest, 52 pts; Chanel Griffiths, Astek Guardsman, 43 pts; Holly Morrell, Pampero, 43 pts.

MITAVITE YOUNG RIDER

Another unfortunate fall has affected the Mitavite Young Rider series, with Greer Caddigan parting company from Mr Mancini in the cross-country warm up, and while she remounted and completed to hold third place overnight, she had in fact broken her ankle, so did not trot up next morning, needless to say.

This allowed Angela’s pupil Beth Wilson and Alto et Audax to jump from seventh equal to top of the table, albeit by the narrowest of margins, following their second place in the Honda CCIY2* behind Jackson Bovill and Visionnaire, who took the title at zero hour with his 21st birthday on cross-country day.

Kate Herdson, who had an outstanding win in the DEVI Heating Systems CCIJ1* title on Eon, to add to their CICJ1* (short format) title won at Springbush Hunua in February, has elected to contest the Young Rider series rather than the Junior series, and shot into third place behind Greer and Mr Mancini.

Good performances from Gemma Hampson on Pintado Prima Rosa, the “pinto pony”, in the Honda CCIY2*, and Vicky Browne-Cole on Amazing Spy in the DEVI Heating Systems CCIJ1*, sees them now separated by one point in fourth and fifth places respectively, having been fourth equal previously. Jeffrey Amon and JA Take A Shot, who were not competing at Puhinui, have been relegated to sixth.

Standings at halfway: Beth Wilson, Alto et Audax, 85.5 pts; Greer Caddigan, Mr Mancini, 85 pts; Kate Herdson, Eon, 67 pts; Gemma Hampson, Pintado Prima Rosa, 60 pts; Vicky Browne-Cole, Amazing Spy, 59 pts; Jeffrey Amon, JA Take A Shot, 57 pts.

PEL AMATEUR RIDER

Shannon Galloway continues to add to her tally at the top of the PEL Amateur Rider series, placing sixth on Day Walker in the Veterinary Associates CCI1*, but behind her the places are changing. Amanda Illston is now an ominously close second after winning the Thompson Electrical CNC1* (short format) class which was also run at the event.

Ingrid Herdson, mother of Kate, has improved to third equal position on Mr Tambourine Man after placing fourth in the Horse & Pony CCN105, with Helen McGrath and Woodbine Just In Case not adding to their total. Kyle Calder holds his fifth position following fifth place on Apteryx in the iSpy Horses CCI2*, while Erica Alderton has improved from ninth equal to sixth after finishing third on Orion Star behind Amanda in the short format CNC1*.

Standings at halfway: Shannon Galloway, Day Walker, 77.5 pts; Amanda Illston, Verdelho, 72 pts; Ingrid Herdson, Mr Tambourine Man, 53 pts; Helen McGrath, Woodbine Just In Case, 53 pts; Kyle Calder, Apteryx, 51 pts; Erica Alderton, Orion Star, 38 pts.

JUNIOR RIDER

Hastings Girls High School pupil Caroline Howell has resumed the lead in the Junior Rider series in emphatic terms after placing second in the DEVI Heating Systems CCIJ1* on Telestory. Elizabeth Wylaars, from Christchurch, was unable to add to her score with Wairoa Renegade, but as a veterinary science student at Massey next year she will have more opportunities to earn points.

Ten year old Scout Lodder’s outstanding win on Overnight Success in the Horse & Pony CCN105 class has rocketted her into third place in the series, in what can only be called a fairy story – the former racehorse was retrieved from the knackers’ yard by Scout’s mother Dannie, and they have produced him together.

Standings at halfway: Caroline Howell, Telestory, 72.5 pts; Elizabeth Wylaars, Wairoa Renegade, 51 pts; Scout Lodder, Overnight Success, 37.5 pts; Annabelle Jones, Braxton Boy, 33 pts; Samuel Amon, RM Let It Be, 33 pts; Kaitlyn Freeman, Landisohn, 33 pts.

GRASSROOTS

Ashley Johnston has added to her tally at the top of the Grassroots series with Miss Vee NZPH, but Ashra McAvinue has jumped from fifth equal with TR Wanderlust to be second at the halfway stage after placing sixth in the Bucas CNC105 (short format), with everyone else at the top of the table unchanged.

Standings at halfway: Ashley Johnston, Miss Vee NZPH, 47 pts; Ashra McAvinue, TR Wanderlust, 24 pts; Jenny Pearce, Top Steel, 21 pts; Yvonne Steers, Poldark, 20 pts; Eleisha Walls, Daimler Benz, 20 pts; Georgie Moody, How Fantastique, 18 pts; Steph Sole, Power Play, 18 pts.

LINK TO FULL SERIES RESULTS

Virginia Caro