Dusky Bay wins horse trials

Press, 19 June 1979, Page 26

Dusky Bay wins horse trials

Dusky Bay. ridden by Mrs Florence West (Loburn), had his third horse trial success in a row when he won the Atlantic Silver Stirrups open two-day event at the Riccarton Racecourse over the week-end.

After winning the dressage and having a clear show jumping round. Dusky Baj held the lead at the end of the first day’s two phases from Kiowa, ridden by Jan Swarbrick (Kaikourai. and Salute, ridden by Debbie Gresham (South Canterbury). The second day’s programme included the steeplechase, roads and tracks and cross country with 27 obstacles to negotiate. Two new interesting fences were “Dolly's Doom.” a solid ramp with a drop landing, and the “Colonel’s Stripes,” a V-shaped bounce fence with two alternatives, one of 4m distance between the two post and rails, and one of 5m at the V.

Duskv Bay continued well with a penalty-free steeplechase and roads and tracks, and although clear in the cross country, notched up 40.4 time penalties. Although Kiowa had a better cross country with 26.8 penalties he just failed to catch the winner having 2.9 penalties more.

The intermediate class provided a close finish between the promising Willoughby, ridden by Kathy Taylor (South Cantei•buryj, and Bryan Harris (Cheviot) on Bonaire, winner of last year’s three-day event. Willoughby won with only 1.1 penalties less than Bonaire. The first two place-getters in the novice horse also had a close finish with the winner, Mrs Judy Smith, on St James, winning with 33.7 penalties from Brent Jury, on Codey, with 34.5 penalties. The easiest win of the day went to Brendon Smith (Kaikourai, riding Bacardi Rum. A convincing win in the dressage gave Bacardi Rum a good lead. On the second day he produced the only clear cross country of the day — a very creditable performance. Although the junior committee of the Canterbury area of the New Zealand Horse Society were a little disappointed with the entries — the usual contingent from Southland was not competing this year — the two days competition held in perfect weather was most successful and well run. Results:—

Atlantic Silver Stirrups open horse.—Dressage: Mrs F. West s Dusky Bay 1. Miss D. Gresham's Salute 2, Miss J. Swarbrick’s Kiowa 3, Mrs M. Let ham’s Cyclone 4. Overall: Dusky Bay (67.9) 1. Kiowa (70.8) 2, Mrs J. Knox's Wait and See (101.7) 3, B. Costello’s Avalon (235.05) 4. Intermediate horse.—Dressage: S. Higgs’ Ringo 1, R. Moore’s Reprieve 2. Miss K. Peter’s Don Juan 3, Miss K. Taylor's Willoughby 4. Overall: Willoughby (52.15) 1, B. Harris’s Bonaire (53.25) 2, Don Juan (63.1) 3, Ringo (104.6 i 4. Novice horse.—Dressage: Miss Z. Chart’s Faru 1. B. Jury’s Codey 2, Mrs R. Mackenzies Sorab 3. G. Mould's Santini 4. Overall: Mrs J. Smith’s St James (33.7) 1, Codel (34.5) 2. Faru (44.55) 3, Miss J. Vanderweg’s Nellaboy 4. Open pony. — Drfessage: B. Smith’s Bacardi Rum 1, C. Preece's Equality 2. L. Thompson’s Shenandoah 3, R. Moriarty’s A Touch of Class 4. Overall: Bacardi Rum (13.5) 1, Equalitv (110.65 i 2, A Touch of Class (174.65) 3.