HawkesBayNZ.net

Central & Southern Hawkes Bay Eventing’s autumn horse trials at Arran Station run a week later than usual this year on 9/10 May, avoiding a long time clash with the opening of the duck shooting season. This is expected to be a permanent calendar change as the season has been extended with the national three-day event running a week later than previously.

Entries throughout the country are down on previous years this season, but the quality at Arran Station has not suffered even if the quantity has. The ten strong Advanced class has attracted Heelan Tompkins, from New Plymouth, with her Olympic mount Sugoi, as well as Donna Smith, Te Awamutu, last year’s national three-day event winner, and Jock Paget, Auckland, currently at the top of the Eventing NZ Leaderboard.

Emily Butcher, from Christchurch, will have Gibstar, a promising up and coming replacement for her longtime partner Southern Ben. A stalwart of Arran Station, Emily has featured in the Noble Horsewear Loyalty Rewards earned over both the spring and autumn events at Arran Station, so it is good to see her back at top level.

The current NZ Young Rider champion, Douglas Thomson, from Patauhanui, who claimed the title with Marksman Arrow at Tangimoana last weekend, will contest the Farmlands Intermediate class, while another one to watch in that class is Lauren Currie, Wellington, who won the A1 Cup at the NZ Pony Clubs Eventing Championships at Puhinui, Auckland, last month.

Being the penultimate competition prior to the Bell Tea National Three-day Event at Taupo on 22-24 May, riders from the South Island are competing en route to Taupo, as well as competitors from throughout the North Island.

Virginia Caro