The Australian Trans Tasman Young Rider team will go into today's cross country phase at the South Island Three-Day-Event at McLeans Island near Christchurch with a 1.9 point advantage over the Kiwis after a strong dressage performance.
Lauren Balcomb on Kootamooto is leading the way for the Australians on total points of 46.7. Larissa Srhoy of Ashburton on Starburst put up a strong performance to score 48 for New Zealand, placing her second in the Trans Tasman Young Rider Challenge. This leaves Balcomb and Srhoy lying first and second respectively in the Tavern Harewood CCI 2* Class.
"This is a fantastic result that will make for an exciting competition over the next two days," says Jan Hunt, chef d'equip for the New Zealand team.
The leading non Trans Tasman Young Rider Competitor in the CCI 2* Class is West Melton rider Emily Butcher on My Shout with points of 53.1.
Waikato's Sam Taylor on D.V.8 leads the NZ Community Trust CIC 3* Class with 54.8, holding a 3.4 point lead over Matthew Grayling of Taranaki on NRM Lowenberg who lies in second place on 58.2 points. Emily Butcher goes into today in third place on Transcend with 65.0.
The DEVI Heating Systems CCI1* Class proved to be a tight competition with 4.8 points between the first six place-getters. Manawatu rider Katherine Gillaly on Black Tuxedo took out first on 51.5, closely followed by Emily Butcher on Dambala with 52.1 and Sam Taylor on Leo Degas on 53.3.
The Striding Edge Horse Shoeing Pre Novice Class was also a hotly contested competition with just 10 penalties separating the top 16 place-getters. Okuku rider Amanda Brown and Chinwag took pole position on a 30.8 point total, Douglas Thomson from Wellington with Benrose Super and Tracey Barrett of Broadfields on Croftlea Rock & Roll lie second equal with 33.3 points, closely followed by James Avery on Frog Rock, Eve Hawes on Hurlingham Lansong and Emma Milliken on 45 South in fourth equal positions with 35.5 points.
Ellie Braddock on Order of the Phoenix and Douglas Thomson on Grand Jury are leading the two training sections, while Monica Archibald on Spectacular Trio holds prime position in the Pre Training Class.
Yesterday, Emily Butcher riding the four-year-old gelding Lewis won the Saddlery Barn South Island Young Event Horse Championship with a total score of 94.14.
Douglas Thomson riding the five-year-old Grand Jury finished second with 92.79 points, with Eve Hawes and Hurlingham Lansong, third with 92.50.
The CIC3* cross-country class is scheduled to get under way at 9.30am with show jumping for the CIC3* getting underway at noon. The show jumping for remaining classes will bring the competition to a close, starting at 9am on Sunday.