Mitavite Horse Trial

Waikato Lose Eventing Title

The Northland Eventing Team rode to victory at the Mitavite Regional Teams Event at Kihikihi, breaking the two-year Waikato stronghold.

Auckland, the overnight leaders after Dressage and Showjumping had the misfortune of a technical elimination of one of their members that ultimately cost them the win. Dannie Smythe, Stephanie Smith, Melanie Jane Blair and Janine Hyde had all been competitively placed after the dressage and showjumping phases on Saturday and had maintained their team’s pole position after cross country but the elimination of their star performer Stephanie Smith dropped them down the ranks to fourth.

Northland had their own problems and were also down to just three team members after Jo Shepherd withdrew her horse from the Sunday’s Cross Country phase which also took her score off the Northland team total. However the solid team performances from Genaldo Da Silva, Kate Hewlett and Kate Wood were sufficient to clinch the win from the Waikato Team of Alex De luca Oliveira, Chelsea Hawthorn, Sarah Dring and Lucy Jackson. Taranaki finished third and a very disappointed Auckland team fourth.

Kirstin Kelly on Clifton Hula who were over looked for the Auckland Team were the eventual winners of the individual advanced class giving her vital points towards her New Zealand National Leader Board score. Bay of Plenty team member Craig Nicolai on Bush Ranger were runners up in the advanced class.

Download the full results (XLS Spreadsheet, 150KB)