2011 NZ Horse of the Year Show

2011 NZ HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW

Time most definitely did tell a story in itself when Tracey Parnwell won the Amateur Show Hunter of the Year title at the 2011 NZ Horse of the Year Show in Hastings today (Saturday).

Parnwell won the title aboard Time'll Tell and in doing so secured the Denise Crispe Memorial Trophy – Crispe died suddenly just days after winning the NZ (open) Show Hunter of the Year in 2008 aboard the same horse.

The trophy was presented today to Parnwell by Denise's mother Diane.

The much talked-about Squirt who was disfigured after the wood preservative cresote was splashed on his face at the series' final show in Hawera earlier this month, finished seventh in the amateur in the hands of owner Kathryn Corry.

NZ team bronze medal winners Clarke Johnstone (Cambridge) and Orient Express retained their overnight lead in the Alltech CIC3* eventing, adding 1.6 cross-country time penalties to their dressage score of 40.2 penalties, but they go into tomorrow’s showjumping with no room for error.

Second placed Lizzie Brown (Hamilton) and Henton Attorney General went inside the time on the cross-country to finish the day on their dressage score of 43 penalties.

She did the same with her other horse Push Play, to move into third place on 48 penalties. Brown was the only rider to complete John Nicholson’s challenging cross-country course without incurring penalties.

National eventing coach Erik Duvander summed it up by saying, that good courses made good riders. The showjumping phase will be completed tomorrow.

Two dressage grand prix riders took a step closer to qualifying for the 2012 London Olympic Games, with Vanessa Way (Taranaki) and former Olympian Louisa Hill (Auckland) each gaining a qualifying score.

To do so, riders had to score an average of 64% from the ground jury of five and also 64% from the five star judge Mary Seefried (Australia), to gain part one in their journey towards achieving a Minimum Eligibility Score (MES).

However, the National Olympic Committee in conjunction with Equestrian Sports New Zealand, is yet to confirm the New Zealand qualifying criteria, which traditionally is higher than the MES, set by the FEI.

Way should be safe with today’s score of 67%, which rarely achieved in New Zealand at this level. Louisa Hill and Bates Antonello, with their trademark flamboyant work notched 65.19%, despite mistakes.

In dressage it couldn’t have been a closer finish in today’s Young Rider CDIY test, with Kelly Van Dyk stamping her mark on the class, placing first and second on her two rides.

Even then there was nothing in it – Wolhkahn finished first on 65.053% and Marceau second on 65.052%.

It was a great comeback for the Putaruru rider, who was eliminated on Wolhkahn in yesterday’s young rider test after erratic behaviour.

Today was a fresh start and she made the most of it, with lovely clean tests on both rides.
South Island Young Rider Champion Catherine Tobin with Riverndell Romeo finished third well behind on 59.07%.

In showjumping hometown lad Daniel Meech, home for a flying visit from Europe, took the honours in the premier stakes after a cool-as-a-cucumber ride aboard Winston Darco V.

The former Olympian was the last of five to go in the jump-off over the Leopoldo Palacios-designed course and stopped the clock at 48.48 seconds. Ahead of him Doug Isaacson (Dannevirke) on Major Brown had gone clear in 49.58, after rattling the first of the double, but had to settle for second.

The six-day show culminates tomorrow (Sunday) with the Bell Tea Olympic Cup.

Results -
Show hunter, Amateur of the Year: Tracey Parnwell (Rotorua) Time'll Tell 1, Diana Fowler (Paeroa) Astek Gianni 2, Charelle Marsh (Rotorua) Sirocco Tango 3, Trudi Biggar (Waitemata) Meersbrooke Fire 'n' Ice 3.

Show hunter (open) of the year: Chloe Akers (Palmerston North) Kiwi Motto 1, Lucy Olphert (Tauranga) Don Quattro (owned by Carolyn Jolley) 2, Georgia Reid (Blenheim) Zactac Mint 3, Mathew Dickey (Taranaki) Witzcellar 4.

Showjumping, Moa Brewing premier stakes: Daniel Meech (Europe/Hawke's Bay) Winston Darco V 1, Doug Isaacson (Dannevirke) Major Brown 2, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Kahurangi Valentino 3, Anthony Thomas (Australia) Levitation NZPH 4, Tess Williams (Gisborne) Alltech Walnut Brown 5, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Kahurangi Tardak 6.

Eventing, Alltech CIC3*: Clarke Johnstone (Cambridge) Orient Express, 41.8, 1; Lizzie Brown (Hamilton) Henton Attorney General, 43, 2; Lizzie Brown (Hamilton) Push Play, 48, 3; Alice Montgomery (Christchurch) Gordon, 51.4, 4; Clarke Johnstone (Hamilton) Incognito, 53.4, 5; Clarke Johnstone (Cambridge) KS Secrets, 55.2, 6.

ends

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