First thing that comes to mind apart from the VERY WINDY Saturday…..while im sat at the computer to start writing, is to say sorry to Louise Leonard and her gorgeous horse Chrialka stonehaven who gave Donna the ride at Richfields in the CIC 2*. Donna and Zander were equall leaders in the dressage with Jessie woods on Too Predictable, they both jumped clean rounds in the showjumping to leave them equall going into the xc on Sunday. Donna and Zander had a super ride around xc to come into the last fence just checking her watch and JUMPED THE WRONG FENCE……They went back straight away to get it and jumped the correct one, but unfortunately couldn’t avoid the BIG E!!!!! They ended up with 5.6 time after the little diversion but that would have been enough to keep them in the lead and to win the Natioal title……but another day. Jessie woods and Too Predictable had some gear problems and just ran out of steam at the end of the course, this left the eventual winner of this class James Avery and Amarillo. They have been on fire all season down in the South Island and have continued their successful campaign up here. Second in this class is the very versatile Event/dressage rider Angela Lloyd on Song. Third was Annabel Wigley on the lovely Frog Rock all the way from the south Island as well.

In the CIC 3* Christen Hayde on the super mare Tandara Sweet As stormed home for the win ahead of Jock paget and Clifton Airtight and in third and hot on everybodys heels and waiting for a big win themselves very soon was danni Lodder on the sensational jumping mare Interflora of renton who is owned by Trish and Graham Macpherson and Danni.

In the CIC Novice class Ginny Thompson won this class from start to finish on her classy mare Peewee of ashbury ahead of Lizzie Brown and her lovely catch ride Pioneer Zuess then the all consistent Sophie Wilkinson aboard Turbulence followed by Donna On Winston sw. We also ran Balmoral Tangalooma and Drumelzier in this class, although it wasn’t their day in the dressage unfortunately. Paddy had 2 rides in this class with him sitting on the wonderfull sports Café and the always ready to run Wolverine. He had good rides on both but finishing outside the placings with Tangalooma and Drumelzier.

In the Young Event horse Pre novice Donna rode vicki and steve jack’s Athens for a 4^th place in this tough class, we also had Waitangi My Space who had a green cheeky slide off at the sunken road. Paddy rode Cara Goodmans Landition who finished in 9^th place after a great xc run. This class was convincingly won by Jessie Woods on her stunning big mover LV award(who is I believe by Annamour as well) followed by Folk law and Kyleigh Snow and Zuess Allmighty and Lauren Cooney.

The Pre Novice Championship class was hotley contested with Danni lodder having two flash Waitangi horse of Jos and John Bayley’s who led the dressage in typical Lodder style followd by Donna on Alpha Romeo sw. The eventual Winner of this class was Donna on Alpha Romeo sw after Danni gave the lead away with Hotmail having a fence down and Icon slipping off the same sunken road fence as My Space(we have now renamed that fence the ‘Waitangi’s catchment’) 2^nd in this class was Danni on Waitangi Hotmail followed by Lizzie Brown on Chasing Dreams. Paddy rode Knightly venture who was just behind Alpha Romeo in the dressage only to jump in the worst part of the windy/rainy day and just pop….or did it blow down, in the showjumping!!! They had a super ride in the xc though.

We will put our video up on face book very soon with random people featuring.

Thanks to our ground crew for the weekend Tess, Racquelle(popping in and out)Alana and Mummy Kate and Sally Robertson (who is back to the U.S to work for Clarke and Jess Montgomery very soon) for yet again making it a great weekend.

Remember next Tuesday we are having a practise showjump afternoon starting at 3pm 65cm up wards to 3* heights in preparation for puhunui 3 day.

Congratulations to Ginny Thompson who has just purchased our Landioso 3 year old Balmoral Limerick, we wish them well in their ventures. Thanks to Tracy Smith and Nikki Kitcheman for their good work on limerick.

This Weekend we are off to Kihi Kihi dressage for some in arena practise with the below horses for three days -

Just Chocolate

Henton Executive

Balmoral Sensation

Winston sw

Varzuga

Balmoral Oakey

Henton Balmoral

Knightly Venture

Wolverine