Puhinui (NZ) International 3 Day Event: 6-8 December 2013

By: Diana Dobson/ESNZ

One of the pinnacle events on the New Zealand eventing calendar is on in Auckland shortly, the Puhinui International Three Day Event. The cream of the Kiwi based eventers will be converging on Puhinui Reserve, Auckland, from December 6-8.  

Some of that excitement is because the world number one ranked eventing rider Andrew Nicholson will be making a rare appearance. Nicholson has been on top of the eventing world for some time now and Kiwi eventing fans are delighted that he will be back, albeit briefly, at a New Zealand event – even if he isn’t riding.

Nicholson will be hot property with the eventing crowd who can join him on a cross country course walk and hear his take on how to tackle the challenge. Fans will also enjoy Nicholson having a “couch chat” interview with fellow Olympian Blyth Tait in the Fan Zone. Unfortunately Nicholson cannot attend the whole event, and will be flying back to his UK base late on Friday night, but he will be there to watch the first veterinary inspection on Thursday afternoon (December 5) and all day Friday for the dressage.

While Jock Paget is in New Zealand, as he is currently on provisional suspension under FEI rules due to his horse having returned positive tests, he cannot compete or have any official role at any FEI or national level event, of which Puhinui is one. ESNZ have advised that Jock will not be attending the event.

There are, however, a host of other stars at Puhinui. Other Olympians include Joe Meyer who is back from his Florida base to teach in NZ for a few weeks, Heelan Tompkins, who is competing in both the CCI2* and Veterinary Associates CCI*, along with Matthew Grayling who has a good chance of taking out the main class, the CCI3*. Grayling will also be competing against his daughter Charlotte in the CNC* - a rare sporting contest.

Clarke Johnstone, a member of the bronze medal-winning New Zealand team at the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG), will also be competing, having recently returned after being based for some years in the UK. He has a horse in the CCI2* and a young horse in a lower class, as does Annabel Wigley, who has recently relocated her top horses to UK in a bid for a spot in the Kiwi team at WEG and the Olympics. Rising star Lizzie Brown, fresh from a huge win in Europe at Boekelo, will also be at the event, although not riding.

Local riders are coming from all over New Zealand including a strong contingent from the South Island.

Eventing is best described as an equestrian triathlon. With three phases, the sport tests a rider’s skill more completely than any other. There are various classes scheduled at the Auckland event, from the challenging CCI3* to novice level.

Dressage, the first phase held on Friday December 6, shows the horse and rider’s ability to perform a series of prescribed intricate movements on the flat in an enclosed arena.

Saturday, December 7 has the challenging cross-country phase which involves the horse and rider galloping over natural terrain, jumping a variety of fixed obstacles along the way including the spectacular water jump in the main arena. Puhinui Reserve provides an amazing venue for this alongside the Manukau harbour.

In the final phase of showjumping held on Sunday 8 December, horse and rider jump a series of easily knocked-down fences in the main arena. The rider and horse combinations accumulate penalty points in each phase based on varying factors and the combination with the lowest amount of points at the end of the 3 phases takes home top honours. It is an exciting sport attracting interest from all levels, from weekend hobby riders to professional international stars.

Quick Links

• The full list of classes and entries, as well as live scoring during the event, can be found at http://www.equestrianentries.co.nz
• Twitter: @PuhinuiHT facebook.com/Puhinui
• Eventing horses for sale on HORSEZONE
• Eventing STALLIONS AT STUD on STALLIONZONE