Brooke Lyons was just ecstatic to be back competing aboard her beloved Freddy Dash and wanted “a decent crack” at an event before winter . . . but today she rode off with the Treadlite CCN2*-L Open class.

“I have never won a class here before . . . it is just awesome,” said Brooke. “I just wanted to come and do a good job. I am just stoked.”

The Auckland combination cracked 70% in the dressage to score a personal best, were one of just three combinations to be clear and inside time in the cross country and had two down in the showjumping to finish on 37.8.

“I am just a bit rusty,” said Brooke, who just 12 weeks ago welcomed her first child, baby Jack. “This is our first event back. I didn’t have big enough studs in behind and it was a bit slippery, so I didn’t feel I could ride him through the turns as much as I usually could.”

Freddy has been a really consistent 3* horse and also done a few 4* too. The 12-year-old was bought for Brooke’s mother Deidre as a low level “eventing mum” horse but has wooed his way into the hearts of most of the family. Deidre still rides the horse as do Brooke’s nieces and nephews. Two-year-old niece Frankie tells Brooke she’s actually sharing the horse with her. He became Brooke’s ride after she lost two horses and her sister Channel and mum encouraged her to take the reins.

“He really is the ultimate mum’s pony.”

Brooke is trained by Donna Edwards-Smith, Tracey Smith and Blyth Tait.

Today in the showjumping, overnight leader Bridie Quigley (Auckland) aboard Ricker Ridge Riley had costly rails and had to settle for fourth. The in-form Scout Lodder (Clevedon) and Overnight Success moved up from fifth to second with their 41 penalty point effort, with Catherine Taylor (Palmerston North) and Coljoy filling third on 52.8.

 

Results –

Treadlite CCN2*-L Open: Brooke Lyons (Auckland) Freddy Dash 37.8 1, Scout Lodder (Papakura) Overnight Success 41 2, Catherine Taylor (Palmerston North) Coljoy 52.8 3, Bridie Quigley (Auckland) Ricker Ridge Riley 87.8 4, Ken Blake (Taupo) Our Silver Fern 148.1 5.

 

For full results, head to www.equestrianentries.co.nz