Olympic riders suffer ups and downs at Puhinui

Olympic riders suffer the ups and downs of equestrian sport at Puhinui International Three Day Event

While Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) had a great day his team mate Jock Paget (Taupo) had a minor blip on the inexperienced Snow Leopard which eliminated him from the Puhinui International Three Day Event. In the iSpy horses CCI** competition Clarke Johnstone’s class showed through as he rode a copybook round to overtake his pupils who were in first and second ahead of him after the dressage phase.

“I didn’t have a moment anywhere on the (cross country)course” said Clarke of the improving Wolf Whistle II. “If I hadn’t had a run out at Arran Station I would have run three star here as he’s ready for it”. Clarke cannot afford to knock a rail in Sunday’s show jumping but as he is combining eventing with show jumping at top level, the 2* fences shouldn’t be a problem.

Angela Lloyd (Hunua) on Lyrical sits in 2nd and Tui Teka and Ellie White rose from 15th overnight to third place. Overnight leaders Madison Crowe and Nick Brooks both had stops around the Honda water jump, and slipped to 8th and 9th respectively.

Jock Paget was poised to challenge the leader in the Honda CCI*** class but a big jump into the water jump and not making the turn onto the exit from the water caused Snow Leopard to trip up the bank and tip Jock out of the saddle incurring elimination. So Rangiora’s Emily Cammock has maintained her lead in both the CCI*** and the CCI1* at the Puhinui International Three Day Event with two clear jumping rounds and just a handful of time penalties. Her third ride of the day on Lewis in the 3* was best forgotten as both took a ducking in the Honda water jump and Emily just had time to change her wet clothes to ride Shaw Lee at the end of the class. Her 12.4 time penalties on Shaw Lee very nearly cost her the lead, but as all other riders also had time penalties she has managed to stay ahead on 60 penalties. Corey Wood (Kaiapoi) had the fastest round of the day on Pick Up Line elevating them to second on 61.6, just ahead of third placed Bundy Philpott (Cambridge) close in third on 62.6. None of the top 3 can afford to have a rail down tomorrow, or the coveted Honda 3* Championship title will slip from their grip.

Emily has only a minor chin scrape to show for the moment she took a dive into the water at the Honda roll top. “He jumped big and just couldn’t stand up on landing. It was my mistake - I rode him too strongly into the jump as he’d looked a bit at the first water entry over the chevron. I should have just let it come up” said a still smiling Cammock.

In the Honda 2* Young Rider class placings changed very little although leader Sophie Alexander nearly lost her lead incurring 2.4 time faults. Another second over the time would have cost her the lead. She said that “while World Famous isn’t a natural galloper I think I can get him fitter and get close to the times”.

And in the Veterinary Associates CCI* while Emily and Impeccable held their lead the 2 seconds over the time has moved them within striking distance of Mi Focus and Aleisha Collett. Third place was held by Greer Caddigan and Mr Mancini but they have been withdrawn tonight allowing Sarah Young and Equador MW to move into third. In the Devi Heating 1* Junior rider class the impressive Eon and Kate Herdson have 3 rails in hand from second placed Telestory and Caroline Howell. Absolu and Fenella Carter sit in third.

Sunday looks set for another sunny day with some great jumping to come before the hard fought prizes are handed out

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