The NRM CCI3* Open National Championship has attracted a strong field of 13, including defending champion Amanda Pottinger (Havelock North) aboard Just Kidding, South Islander Emily Cammock with both Lewis and Shaw Lee, Samantha Felton (Matangi) aboard Ricker Ridge Divine Right, Donna Edwards-Smith (Te Kauwhata) aboard both DSE Tangolooma and DSE Mr Hokey Pokey and a number of other very smart combinations.
The NRM CIC3* Open National Championship is a small but quality-stacked field.
Felton has two on the card in Ricker Ridge Escada and Ricker Ridge Pico Boo, former Olympians Jock Paget (Taupo) and Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) have an entry apiece in Angus Blue and Balmoral Sensation, who was New Zealand's highest placed individual at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Also in there is Jessica Woods (Ohaupo) aboard Just de Manzana, Andy Daines (Kumeu) aboard Spring Panorama and Renee Faulkner (Papakura) aboard Rubinstar HH.
Daines, Felton, Johnstone and Paget are all in the senior Oceania squad, and will be looking to impress selectors at Taupo. Faulkner has been named on the young rider Oceania team to head to Australia next month. The 2017 Oceania Team Championships are being run at the Melbourne International Three Day Event in Werribee.
The first horse inspections are tomorrow, with dressage on Friday followed by cross-country on Saturday and showjumping on Sunday.
The much-anticipated New Zealand Horse & Pony Young Event Horse National Championship gets under way tomorrow morning with the dressage, followed by the jumping, gallop and conformation.
The national championships are the last onshore event in the 2016-2017 eventing series.
FACT FILE
WHAT: NRM National Three Day Event Championships
WHERE: Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre, Taupo
WHEN: Thursday to Sunday
MORE INFO: www.nzequestrian.org.nz