Equestrian: Narrow lead for Kaitaia rider

Kaitaia rider Jo Shepherd da Silva holds a narrow lead after the dressage phase of the intermediate two-star competition on the opening day of competition at the international three-day equestrian event at Puhinui.

Riding the 10-year-old bay gelding Dunstan Jerry Springer, Shepherd da Silva goes into tomorrow's cross-country on 47.8 penalties, just 2.4 ahead of second-placed Thea Sweeney from Christchurch on Travel Bug.

Da Silva's husband, Brazilian-born Genaldo, has an overnight lead on Vincent Vega in the novice one-star event, but half the field still has to ride dressage today. The advanced three-star event starts today.