The most dramatic finish in the history of the national three-day event saw Taranaki's Matthew Grayling and Gordon come through in a nailbiting final session in Taupo yesterday.
Grayling led the advanced competition after dressage on Thursday but surrendered the advantage and dropped to second with time faults during Saturday's cross country.
Still bruised and sore after falling from his other mount, Klinsman, the dairy farmer struggled into the saddle for yesterday's final showjumping phase and went clear until Gordon hit the final fence.
That left overnight leader Bryce Newman with a rail in hand for victory, but his mount Bates Our Questionnaire hit one fence and notched up four time penalties.
Taupo completed a unique treble for Grayling, who has won New Zealand's World Cup qualifier plus the national one and three-day championships in the one season. This week, the New Zealand selectors will name an eight strong line-up for the transtasman test against Australia at Adelaide in November.
It was a day of so close but yet so far for Central Districts horseman Newman, who also finished second in the intermediate championship behind Auckland's Kate Lambie.
Auckland amateur Neil Sharpe claimed the novice title.
- NZPA
Equestrian: Grayling in tight finish
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