Bridie Quigley on Oronoa Greyson, wins the top class at the Taupō Equestrian Supplies Spring Horse Trials at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre. Photo Jan Sutherland www.takethemoment.co.nz
The top class at the Taupō Equestrian Supplies Spring Horse Trials at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre over the weekend was won by local rider Bridie Quigley on Oronoa Greyson.
By Virginia Caro
They were second after Friday’s dressage, but moved into first place after Saturday’s demanding cross-country, and finished in style with a clear showjumping round.
Former NZ Young Rider champion Mackenzie Marlo, from Auckland, was second on DSE Presley, having had two rails down in the showjumping phase of the ITM sponsored CCI4*.
Both girls had a run-out at the testing combination at the Splash on Campbell Draper’s spectacular cross-country course.
The dressage leader, Hawke’s Bay’s Christen Lane on Bellhaven Cumbria, retired after two frustrating run-outs at a challenging corner combination on the cross-country.
She bemoaned the lack of suitable top level competitions afterwards, saying, “We’re a bit rusty.”
Bridie said it was a pleasure to ride at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre over the weekend.
“The grounds were in immaculate condition, and the event had top quality [cross-country] tracks.
“We are so lucky to have these top officials, the volunteers and more, in New Zealand.”
An FEI (International Equestrian Federation) Officials Seminar was run alongside the event, with high powered directors from the USA, UK, Hungary, and New Zealand.
Participants came from around the Pacific rim nations, as well as New Zealand and Australia.
The timetable for the top two classes was adjusted to mimic a three-day event, to facilitate the Seminar.
The Quality Print CCI3* was won by current NZ Junior Rider champion Zara McDonald riding her brilliant schoolmaster Day Walker. They improved from seventh after the dressage to third after jumping clear but incurring 8.4 time penalties on the cross-country, and produced one of only two clear showjumping rounds to win by the narrowest margin.
Northland’s Helen McGrath was second on Rosie J just 0.6 of a penalty behind, while Stephanie Vervoort, who held the lead after the cross-country on Zachariah O’Herr, suffered a nightmare showjumping round to finish third, 0.2 of a penalty further adrift.
Bridie Quigley had led after the dressage phase with Encore, but they retired on cross-country.
The newly constituted Eventing Taupō has brought fresh enthusiasm to the staging of horse trials events at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre.
The presentation of this event was praised by the Seminar participants, as well as the riders and officials.
Longtime cross-country convenor Rowan Armer said, “The cross- country has not looked so good in the thirty-five years I have been involved with it.”
The heavy rain made conditions challenging, especially for those who rode their dressage tests during the thunderstorm on Saturday morning.
But the ground for the cross-country was improved if anything, as the pumice soils drains so well.