The Countdown is on - 10 Days to Go!!

The Countdown is on - 10 Days to Go!!

Christchurch will play host to New Zealand’s top eventers next weekend (November 8 & 9) for the ESNZ Eventing Canterbury National One Day Event Championships at the National Equestrian Centre at McLeans Island.

Boosted by a huge North Island contingent making the journey south to compete, the championships promise top flight competition across all classes especially at the upper echelon, silencing concerns the competition would not be of true championship standard.

The prestigious Forest Gate Trophy awarded to the CIC3* winner has attracted an all-star field of 14 including former champions Donna Smith (Te Kauwhata) on Balmoral Tangolooma and Christen Hayde (Franklin) on Tandarra Sweet As. Also entered is rising star Samantha Felton (Matangi), who won both the CIC2* and CIC1* classes here last year, returning with her three horses – Ricker Ridge Pico Boo, Ricker Ridge Escada and Henton After Dark, top young rider Jessica Woods (Ohaupo) on Defies Logic, as well as Monica Oakley (Waipukurau) on Fontain, Fraser King (Cambridge) on Nadal KSNZ, Abby Lawrence (Te Puke) on Pseudonym, and Amanda Pottinger (Wairarapa) Achilles II.

Heading the South Island’s hopes are former international Emily Cammock (West Melton) who is on the comeback trail following the birth of her first child riding both Shaw Lee and the quirky Dambala, with whom she took out the National Three Day Event crown at Taupo in 2012, former CIC2* winner Sam Taylor (Swannanoa) on Leo Degas and Rangiora’s Susannah Stewart on Cowboy, who have been in dynamic form already this season with back-to-back wins.

Two noticeable absentees from the line-up are defending champion Angela Lloyd (Auckland) with Song and current ESNZ Eventing Super League leader Matthew Grayling (New Plymouth).

A huge field of 20 is down to contest the CIC2*, battling it out for the Waiteko Trophy, while 37 will line up in the Saddlery Barn CIC1*. Competition will also be tough across the lower levels with record numbers to compete in the Hei Hei Pharmacy CNC105, Clarke McKenzie CNC95, and Rangiora Vet Centre and Canterbury Equine Clinic CNC80.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the number of entries, particularly in the National Championship classes. We’ve got a large number of competitors travelling from outside Canterbury, including a strong contingent from the North Island which is really pleasing to see,” says Event Director Bruce Taylor.

Taylor said the organising committee were pulling out all the stops to ensure a successful and enjoyable weekend of top class eventing.

“The cross country course designers in particular have worked extremely hard to present interesting and challenging tracks, following a completely new line to what riders have experienced in the past,” he added.

In total, more than 160 horses from throughout New Zealand will compete across two days of action. Dressage and show jumping will take place on Saturday (November 8) with the cross country on Sunday (November 9).

This is just the second time the National One Day Event Championships have been held in the South Island, the first being last year, since it was hosted by the Ashburton Area at Surrey Hills in the mid-1990s.

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