Puhinui Reserve. Credit Auckland Council.

Eventers are gearing up for the 30th Anniversary of the Puhinui 3-Day Event this weekend, and the Auckland weather forecast is looking positive for the celebrations.  Considered the jewel in the crown of Eventing, Puhinui boasts a near perfect track record during its 30-year history – the event was unable to operate only once due to the COVID-19 lockdowns.

The 3-Day Event attracts approximately 250 riders from across the country and is considered to be the grand finale of the New Zealand equestrian spring eventing calendar.  It takes 100 volunteers and an estimated 2000 man-hours to transform the reserve’s bare land on flat paddocks into a stunning 4*competition ground.  This is no mean feat when everyone’s lives are so busy, and volunteers are in short supply across all disciplines.

The organising team are mindful of the cultural significance of the Puhinui Reserve and are involving local iwi to demonstrate that the land is treated with respect and the ecological value is upheld in the way it is transformed for the event.  

The 30th Anniversary will be celebrated at an afternoon tea on Saturday, to which volunteers past and present have been invited.   A Farmers’ Market will be held near the water jump complex.  Stalls will include food and crafts and there will also be trade stands covering everything from electric bikes to horse equipment.

Puhinui has been instrumental in supporting the careers of some of our top equestrians.  

NZL-Christen Lane and Bellhaven Cumbria take the title for the Archibald & Shorter Auckland CCI 4* – L. 2023 NZL-Archibald and Shorter Puhinui International 3 Day Event, joined here by Archibald & Shorter’s Marketing Co-ordinator Bethan Montgomery. Credit Libby Law Photography.

Last year’s winners include Christen Lane and Bellhaven Cumbria claiming the title for the Archibald & Shorter CCI4*-L, Mackenzie Marlo and DSE Presley winning the Young Rider title, and Scout Lodder and Kingsguard winning National Junior Rider.

In 2019, the top 4* class was won by Clarke Johnstone and by Monica Spencer in 2020. Both these riders were members of New Zealand’s bronze medal winning team at the 2022 World Championships in Pratoni, Italy.  Also, Clarke was a member of New Zealand’s team for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Monica was a reserve.  

Sir Mark Todd who took the trophy in 2008 on NZB Gandalf, and world-ranked kiwi eventer and Paris Olympian Tim Price won aboard Desamoray in 2002.