Star Nouveau is the Star of Puhinui

Virginia Thompson is the new Puhinui Champion after taking out the Honda NZ CCI3* on her horse Star Nouveau. The judges put Ginny through a few nervous moments as they calculated the final scores, as Star Nouveau had knocked two rails down and had one time fault, but she had built up enough of a lead over the three phases of the event to take out the win.

Manawatu’s Katharine Van Tuyl and Double J Sunshine had jumped a clear showjumping but incurred two time faults, giving Kaukapakapa based Ginny that extra breathing space needed. Andie Daines from Kumeu on Spring Panorama had one rail but remained in third position.

“I am over the moon. I’ve still got lots to improve on but this is such a cool result,” Ginny said. "My goal is to go to Adelaide next year. It is the only 4* event in the Southern Hemisphere, and after today we have our qualifications to go next year.”

In the iSpyHorses CCI2* it was a popular win to Putaruru’s Campbell Draper on Mr Mancini. Evergreen Campbell says his last win of this size was about twenty years ago. His horse Mr Mancini has just come back from a year off after injury. “He has been going really well this spring. The plan is to step him up to 3* in the autumn.” Donna Smith on the pretty palomino Mr Hokey Pokey was second, with Northland’s Kate Wood on Wolf Whistle II third.

The Honda NZ CCI2* Young Rider title has gone to Tokoroa’s Sarah Young for the second year in a row. She jumped a clear showjumping round, whereas overnight leader, Jackson Bovill had three rails down with Visionnaire. Wellington’s Tayla Mason was third on Royalty.

Donna Smith on Varadero took out the Veterinary Associates CCI1* after the showjumping phase proved troublesome for the six competitors who had finished in front of her after the cross country phase. Canterbury’s Emily Cammock was second and third on Ngahiwi Frosty and Cavorts.

Canterbury riders dominated the Devi Heating Systems CCI* Junior Rider class. Lucy Turner got the quinella on her two horses, Carbon and Tallyho Mystic and Elizabeth Wylaars was third on Wairoa Ruby.

ENDS

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