The appearance of the sun for the pinnacle Event of the Eventing Season was extremely welcomed by all in attendance! The Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre at Taupo was host to the 2023 NZ Three Day Eventing Championships. The days leading up to the Event produced some of the highest rainfall seen in the region for some time but this had a little affect on the well-draining pumice at the National Equestrian Centre in Taupo.
Matthew Grayling & Trudeau showed their class in all three phases to win the CCI4*-L class generously sponsored by Wade. This was a popular win with Matthew & Trudeau securing this title for a record breaking three consecutive times. A farmer from New Plymouth & previous NZ Eventing Olympic team member, Matthew is the epitome of a good sportsman & all-round fantastic individual! You will often find Matthew around the truck park joking with fellow competitors with his quick wit & great sense of humour. Once on his horse, Matthew is all talent & a class act. Trudeau is a 16 year old NZ Warmblood owned by Winky Foley & Peter W Smith. Runner up in the Wade CCI4*-L was Sales & Marketing Manager of Fiber Fresh, Shannon Galloway & Day Walker. Taking out 3rd place in this class was Christen Lane & her gorgeous Thunder Cat.
The winner of the NRM CCI3*-L class was Lizzie Green and her 9 year old Corofino II/Littorio, Corona Xtreme known at home as Rikki B. This combination added just 0.4 faults to their dressage score to come out on top! Second in this class was Carys McCrory & her NZ Thoroughbred, Nemesis. Carys is a 21 year old from Hastings with a bright future in Eventing. Third in the NRM CCI3*-L class was Helen McGrath from Whangarei with her 11 year old pinto mare, Woodbine Magic Maze. Fourth was Bridie Quigley (17 years old) & Oranoa Mason & fifth was Kelly Clarke (19 years old) and DSE Iceman – the young talent is certainly emerging & creating an exciting future for Eventing in NZ.
Making her trip to the North Island worthwhile was Cantabrian, Emily Cammock & her gorgeous Zealand Blue HSH who lead from start to finish. Zealand Blue HSH has only had limited 2* starts making this win an incredible achievement & tops of their North Island adventure after securing the 2* One Day Champs title at Whangarei in April. Zealand Blue HSH is a 6 year old Warmblood by Zirroco Blue, owned by the rider & Kelly Tyson. Abbey Thompson of Waikato & her 7-year-old Warmblood by Campion, Cadbury KSNZ came in runner-up. Fellow Cantabrian, Colleen Marrett & Attenborough finished up a noteworthy third, Mia Gilbert & Schnapps MH were fourth, Brooke Chandler with Im Bruce finished off in fifth place & Brittany Fowler & Obsidious in sixth leaving the youth again dominating the placings in the Fiber Fresh CCI2*-L.
The Land Rover CCN1*-L class was won by Susan Le Mesurier & My Talisman who jumped a beautiful clear Show Jumping round to move up from second to take the title & the Thomson trophy. Second was Monica Spencer and her gorgeous black 8 year old gelding, Aviator. Third place went to Jessica Woods and Baloubert TMS, fourth went to Sophie Alexander & JL Benedik, fifth to Emily Sherlock & Asti Amore & sixth went to Tessa Bradcock and Ceremony.
The CCN105-L class was generously sponsored by Canter for Cancer who provided the gorgeous rugs for all of the winners. This was won by Olivia Sutton (25 yo) & Henton High Court who was bred by Henton Hanoverians. Second went to Kate Musgrave (28 yo) & Galway’s Touch. Third was Bridie Quigley (17 yo) & Encore, fourth was Ariella Grant (15yo) & Hot Ginger, fifth was Jordan Smythe (18 yo) & Typical and sixth was Nicola Kennedy & Hez All That Jazz. The place getters in this class was again dominated by young riders.
Olivia Sutton & Henton High Court, winners of the Canter for Cancer CCN105-L class. Photo thanks to Take the Moment
Oranoa Sport Horses were the sponsors of the CCN95cm-L Championship class & this class was won by Ruth Steeghs & Prince of the Cape who climbed from second after dressage & Cross Country to jump a lovely clear round in the show jumping to take the win. Second was Kate Ormond & Valachi, third was Monica Spencer with her chestnut mare Valkyrie, fourth was Helen McGrath & Woodbine Glide Time, fifth was Hollie Falloon & Weiti Ontario and sixth was Katie Bird & Astek Guardian.
The second CCN95cm-L class was generously sponsored by Penny Homes. The winner of this class was Anna Isaac & Anonymous previously owned by Abby Lawrence. This combination produced a classy clear show jumping round to retain their overnight lead. Second place went to Zara Main & Dingmac Demoiselle, third was Shannon Galloway & Cooper PSH, fourth was Zara McDonald & Ngahiwi Makem, fifth was Kendra Rogers with Django (also previously owned by Abby Lawrence) & sixth place went to Emily Ramsden & L’Orame.
The CCN80cm-L was a new edition to the NZ Three Day Eventing Champs which proved very popular. This class was sponsored by Stirling Collection who sell beautiful merchandise for horse and athlete. The winner of this class was Joshua Borostyan & LV Touch of Class who lead from start to finish. This combination also took out the best placed first time competitor award – they receive a goodie bag generously sponsored by Prestige Equestrian. Second place went to Mia Matheson with My Tom Boy, third to Rebecca Wardle & DM Graduate, fourth to Annalese Hagan & Howmuch Toomuch, fifth to Annette McPherson & Specs with sixth place going to Sirka Bade & Nothingelsematters.
The Young Event Horse competition was hotly contested with 14 combinations of quality young horses. The class was again sponsored by NZ Performance Horse (NZPH) – thank you very much for your long term support of this class. The eventual winner was Helen McGrath & Woodbine Glide Time. He is a 5 year old Danish Oldenburg by Pennsylvania / Corlando, bred by Jan & Helen McGrath. Second place and best Thoroughbred went to Darcy Craw & Anarchist – a five year old by El Roca, owned by Darcy. Third place & best four year old went to Carys McCrory and Justified NZPH – he is a warmblood by Candy de Nantuel / Nonplusultra owned by Adele White & David and Brigit Kirk of NZPH. Fourth place went to Monica Spencer & Marvel – a 5 year old warmblood by Cassiano / Corofino II. Fifth place went to Kate Fleming & Apollo VWNZ – a 5 year old NZ Warmblood by Arlento ST / Centavos. The best placed mare went to Elise Edwards-Smith & DSE Astek Gabrielle – a 5 year old warmblood by Astek Gym Bello / Ramirez.
The South Islander’s were very present at the NZ Three Day Eventing Championships and were the eventual winners of the annual North vs. South competition, the Atlantic Silver Spurs. The team of Brittany Fowler & Game Keeper, Emily Cammock & Zealand Blue HSH, Colleen Marrett & Attenborough & Rebecca Wardle & Dingmac Eccles took the trophy back to the South Island.
The winner of the best performed mare for the event went to Charlotte Edwards & Just de Manzana who were fourth in the Wade CCI4*-L class. Thank you to Charlton Stud for the on-going support of this special prize.
The highest placed Pony Club rider and therefore winner of the NZPCA award was Abbey Thompson & Cadbury KSNZ for their second placing in the Fiber Fresh CCI2*-L class.
Jenni Calver generously provided each winning combination with a goodie pack for the groom of the horse in recognition of the hard work turning the horses out to perfection.
The winner of the first trot up was won by Greg Smith with the winner of the second trot up being Kate Ormond. Both of these individuals were a lucky recipient of a Fiber Fresh voucher and prize pack. The eventual winner of the Best Presented of the Event and therefore Caseley Trophy was Greg Smith with Secret Runner.
Each rider entered in the NZ Three Day Event was put in the draw to win a voucher for five 50L vouchers generously provided by Fern Fuels. The winners of these five vouchers was Bridie Quigley, Colleen Marrett, Nicky McBeth, Sarah Whiteley & Vicki Robson.
The Event Convenor, Anna Clark, produced a fantastic Event in her third year as organiser, all with a smile on her face despite the action packed demands on her! The Event was lucky to have an incredibly long list of wonderful volunteers who put in an extraordinary amount of hours in the office & various jobs required at the Event. Thank you to Jenny Draper for the organisation of the Cross Country Jump Judges & also to those who completed the vital Jump Judge roles.
The team of Officials were their usual fantastic selves & it was great to welcome Veronica Steward from Australia as the foreign Official on the Ground Jury for the 3* & 4*.
The 2024 Event was destined to be held at the Dunstan Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre in Christchurch but with exciting upgrades being made to the grounds, the decision was made to hold off until 2025 to ensure that these upgrades were complete. The Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre in Taupo will therefore be host again to the 2024 NZ Three Day Eventing Championships.