Another Title For UK Bound Johnstone

Clarke Johnstone not only succeeded in winning the national title at the NRM Three-day Event at Taupo over the weekend, but placed second with his other 3* horse Incognito. This was his last competition before flying to the UK on Wednesday with his horses to campaign for inclusion in the New Zealand Olympic team.

Johnstone led from the start with KS Secrets, scoring 46.4 dressage penalties, and was the only rider to jump clear cross-country rounds inside the time with both Secrets and his second horse, Incognito. This gave him the two top spots with a comfortable buffer going into Sunday’s showjumping.

Both horses dropped a rail but he was never going to lose, such was the margin over third placed Bryce Newman and Bates Trademark, who went clear across country with 4.8 time penalties, and showjumped clear.

South Islander Larissa Srhoy and Starburst, the current Young Rider Three-day Event champions, were fourth, with Heelan Tompkins fifth on Major Difference, both jumping clear rounds, while Brent Jury and SE Big dropped to sixth after lowering two rails.

The South Island team of Johnstone on Incognito, Srhoy, and Jury won the inter-island team competition with a total of 195.8 penalties to the North Island team’s 206.2.

Results:

NRM CCI3*:C.Johnstone, KS Secrets, 51.4, 1; Johnstone, Incognito, 59.2, 2; B.Newman, Bates Trademark, 62.3, 3; L.Srhoy, Starburst, 65.7 4; H.Tompkins, Major Difference, 69.3, 5; B.Jury, SE Big, 70.9, 6

Fiber Fresh CCI2*:D.Smith, Just Chocolate, 48.8, 1; J.Woods, Too Predictable, 52.6, 2; A,Wigley, Frog Rock, 56.4, 3; V.Jefferis, High’n’Mighty II, 59.4, 4; C.Johnstone, Viper SL, 59.5 5; D.Lodder, Interflora of Renton, 62.2, 6

Bell Tea CCI1*:T.Lane, At The Limit, 46.1, 1; D.Smith, Balmoral Sensation, 48.5, 2; N.Page, Jack O’Malley, 49.3, 3; S.Felton, Ricker Ridge Pico Boo, 52.4, 4; S.Broughton, Rockhill Rocket, 52.7, 5; K.Wood, Tom Kitten, 53, 6

Click here for the full results.

Story: Virginia Caro  Photo: Barbara Thomson