Equestrian: New leader at Puhinui

Christen Hayde riding Tandarra Sweet As makes a jump. Photo / Getty Images

The cross-country course at Puhinui provided plenty of drama today with only seven of the 12 starters in the elite three-star class completing the demanding course.

The dressage leader Donna Smith, riding the inexperienced Just Chocolate, had an unfortunate run-out in a tight combination of narrow fences but finished well, dropping down to fifth. The first four placings filled by the four riders who had clear jumping rounds.

South Islander Christen Hayde, fresh from victory in the national one-day event at Richfields a fortnight ago, rode a stunning round on Tandarra Sweet As that was also inside the time allowed to take the lead on their fifth-placed dressage score of 56.2 penalties.

Hayde has been North Island-based for more than a year, quietly gaining experience, and said of her TB mare by Drums of Time, "She was awesome today".

New Zealand World Equestrian Games team rider Jonathan Paget, recently returned from his first season based in the UK, is second on Clifton Airtight. The 28-year-old 10.8 time penalties to his dressage score of 53.4 which had him in second overnight for a two-day total of 64.2.

Paget has already qualified four horses for the London Olympics but is riding a green horse at Puhinui to give it valuable experience.

The big mover of the day was Canterbury's Brent Jury, who was also inside the time allowed with his big striding thoroughbred SE Big, and is a close third on 66.4 penalties. Jury withdrew the horse before the cross-country at Richfields, feeling he was not ready to run after a late preparation due to a lay-off, and paid the price with an over exuberant dressage performance at Puhinui which left them 11th overnight.

Annabel Wigley, also from Canterbury, was thrilled with her clear round on the inexperienced NRM Enzo, pulling up from 10th after the dressage to lie fourth, having added eight time penalties to a dressage score of 62.6 for a two-day total of 70.6.

The hard luck story of the day belonged to Simon Gordon, who was third and fourth overnight with his two horses Fletch.com and Simply Mitch, and had a fall from each of them which meant instant elimination.

The course designed by Titch Massey was a true three-star test, and rode beautifully for riders with an experienced and honest horse.

With the leader having only a fence in hand, Sunday's showjumping promises to be tense. All the horses still left in the competition will be examined by a veterinarian first.