Fleming looks set to defend title

WHAT: ESNZ Eventing Canterbury 2015 FEI South Island Three Day Event

WHEN: Thursday April 16 to Sunday, April 19, 2015

WHERE: South Island National Equestrian Centre, McLeans Island, Christchurch

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON – 8 DAYS TO GO!!

Fleming looks set to defend title

Pauatauhunui’s Kate Fleming heads a strong North Island contingent making their way south to compete in the Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) Eventing Canterbury 2015 FEI South Island Three Day Event at the National Equestrian Centre at McLeans Island next week.

A runaway winner of the CCI2* last year aboard Mendelssohn, the 22-year-old is looking to make it back-to-back victories, but she will face some stiff opposition from fellow northerners Abby Lawrence (Paengaroa) on Song, Holly Morrell (Taupo) on Alani and Puhinui International Three Day Event Cato Packaging CCI2* victor Katharine Van Tuyl (Palmerston North) on her starry youngster Double J Sunshine.

Heading the locals vying for top honours is Amberley’s Giles Gormack and Lucero, who are sitting on a hat trick of wins at 2* level this season having won the CNC2* classes at both of Eventing Canterbury’s One Day Horse Trials at McLeans Island and Amberley. Also starting is Christchurch young rider Sophie Abbott aboard Time To Tango Too and Corey Wood (Southland) on Pick Up Line.

The CCI1* will be an equally hot affair with no less than 17 combinations vying for honours including a strong bunch of South Islanders up against the three visiting northern riders of Jake Barham (Wellington) on Atlan and Danielle Wallace (Wellington) with Dunurban Matotai, both from Wellington, as well as New Plymouth’s Charlotte Grayling (New Plymouth) aboard Giddyup.

There is no CIC3* being run this year. However, competition across the lower levels remains strong with more than 23 set to battle it out for honours in the Hei Hei Pharmacy CCN105, and 31 in the Striding Edge Sporthorses CCN95. A field of 18 young horses will tackle the Saddlery Barn sponsored 4, 5, & 6 Year Olds CCN95, while 43 line up in the Canterbury Equine Clinic and Rangiora Vet Centre CCN80.

Aside from strong entries from across New Zealand, the event also boasts top class officials including visiting Australian Winks (Elizabeth) Armstrong, who together with New Zealand’s own Jenny Draper (Waikato) and Stuart Bishell (South Canterbury) form the FEI Ground Jury for the CCI2* and CCI1* classes.

Vital points will also be up for grabs across nearly all of the ESNZ series including the Massey University Young Rider, Alltech Junior Rider, AMS-Erreplus Pro Am, Amateur Rider and Weatherbeeta Grassroots series.

Action is set to get underway at 12.30pm on Thursday, April 16 with the prestigious Saddlery Barn South Island Young Event Horse Championship which has fielded a massive 21 starters. The first phase of the three-day-event, dressage, will get underway at 9.15am on Friday after the first fitness inspection, followed by the all-important cross country phase at 9.30amon Saturday. The event comes to conclusion with the final show jumping designed by Geoff Bryant scheduled to begin at9.30am on Sunday.

Entry to the grounds is free and the public are welcome to attend, cashing in on top-flight eventing action on their back doorstep. The cross country will provide spectacular public viewing with all of the courses for the main classes starting in the main arena; the course is taking a different route to previous years. Hot and cold food and beverages will be available on site all three days.

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