RD1 National One Day Event Championships

RD1 National One Day Event Championships

Final preparations are in full swing ahead of the RD1 National One Day Event Championships this weekend at the National Equestrian Centre McLeans Island, near Christchurch, with some of the best horse and rider combinations from around the country set to battle it out for top honours.

“We are on target and everything is coming together nicely,” says Eventing Canterbury chairman Bruce Taylor. “The committee has put in a huge amount of work over the past six months, but especially in the past few weeks to make the event a success. Although the wind had caused considerable damage, most of that has since been cleaned up and the cross country course is in great order, promising top class action.”

While it is disappointing not to have any of New Zealand eventing’s elite to compete, with so many of our top combinations currently overseas, Taylor expects competition to be tough, especially at the lower levels.

Unfortunately injury has taken its toll on the RD1 CIC3* reducing it to just four starters headed by local favourite Sam Taylor (Swanannoa) and Leo Degas, looking to add the time-honoured Forest Gate Trophy to the Waiteko Trophy he won for CIC2* honours last year. He will also be looking for vital points in the Super League series.

Taylor will be joined by former Forest Gate Trophy winner Brent Jury, who has teamed up with his faithful old-timer S. E Big after present rider Sophie Wigley broke he leg last week.

Aucklander Angela Lloyd remains the only North Island contender aboard her 12-year-old Thoroughbred mare Song, after injury forced Taranaki-based lawyer Fraser King to withdraw his two horses, along with travelling partner Tessa Jacks. Local Susie Stewart (Rangiora) on Cowboy rounds out the field, but also look in serious doubt of starting after a fall at Nelson landed her with a bruised hip.

North Islanders dominate the small but quality field in the Tavern Harewood CIC2* for the Waiteko Trophy. Matangi’s Samantha Felton on the impressive duo, Henton After Dark and Ricker Ridge Escada, who currently leads the AMS-Erreplus Pro-Am series, looks the one beat. She is joined by fellow northerner’s Virginia Thompson (Auckland) on Star Nouveau, Sophie Wilkinson (Kaukapakapa) on Little Miss Pete, and Laurie Currie (Lower Hutt) on Wishful Thinking.

Promising young rider Ellie Braddock (Rangiora) leads the South Island’s hopes on Miss Matilda, backing up from success at McLeans Island in the CNC2* on October 13. Also starting is Outram’s Lauren Enright on Tokyo Road, Larissa Srhoy (Loburn) on Smirnoff and Madison Crowe (Ashburton) on Brogan.

A strong field of 21 will contest the Devi Heating Systems CIC1* for the Ferndale Salver Trophy, while 22 competitors are down to compete in the Hei Hei Pharmacy CNC105 for the Tait Trophy.

Entries in the Striding Edge Horse Shoeing CNC95 and Rangiora Vet Centre and Canterbury Equine Clinic CNC80 have been boosted by the event also acting as the first area trial for Canterbury riders vying for their place in the New Zealand Pony Club Association (NZPCA) Horse Trials Championships next year.

Action gets underway on Saturday with the dressage scheduled to get start at 8am followed by the show jumping phase at 1pm. The all-important cross country is being held on Sunday with the first horses out on course from 8.30am.

Spectators will be treated to a real slice of the action with the cross country course running through the main arena, with course designers Nick Pyke (CIC classes) and Richard Crowe (CNC classes) promising the courses are of true championship standard fully utilising both modified water complexes.

It is the first time the National One Day Event Championships have been held in the South Island, since it was hosted by the Ashburton Area at Surrey Hills in the mid-1990s.
ends

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