Donna Smith and Just Chocolate hold a narrow lead over
Jonathan Paget and Clifton Airtight after today's dressage at
the Puhinui three-day event.
Smith and Just Chocolate achieved a score of 51 penalties
after the dressage to lead ahead of Paget, riding Frances
Stead's Clifton Airtight, who scored 53.4.
Aucklander Simon Gordon holds third and fourth positions with
Fletch.com and Simply Mitch on 55.2 and 55.6 respectively.
Former Olympian Heelan Tompkins was fifth equal on Major
Difference, level with Christen Hayde on Tandarra Sweet As,
the national one-day champions, on 56.2.
The 12 combinations in this elite-level three-star class will
tackle the cross-country track tomorrow. The course is
designed by Titch Massey, who has aerated the ground to
provide good footing for the horses, as well as building
technically testing obstacles for both horse and rider.
Smith also leads the two-star class on Balmoral Sensation,
and lies second in the one-star class on Balmoral Tall Jan,
behind World Equestrian Games team bronze medallist Clarke
Johnstone riding Call Me Al.
A full day of cross-country riding on Saturday is followed by
the showjumping on Sunday.
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