7 Days to National Jumping and Show Hunter Champs

MARK IT IN YOUR DIARIES!!
WHAT: New Zealand National Jumping and Show Hunter Championships

WHEN: February 4-7

WHERE: National Equestrian Centre McLeans Island, Christchurch

COUNTDOWN IS ON – 7 DAYS TO GO!!!

Canterbury is preparing for an onslaught of the country’s top show jumpers for the prestigious 22st annual McMillan Equine Feeds New Zealand National Jumping and Show Hunter Championships, which takes place at the National Equestrian Centre at McLeans Island from February 4-7.

Boosted by a smattering of North Islanders headed south, the competition has the makings of a world class event with four days of action.

Fresh from winning the Ultra•Mox FEI World Cup NZ Series for a record fifth time Ohaupo’s Katie Laurie (nee McVean) has a mortgage on the top two classes with no less than seven horses entered.

The defending champion will start Dunstan Lucca, Dunstan Springfield and Dunstan On The Point Eve in the Excel/NRM NZ Premier Horse Championship, while she has Dunstan De Boss, Dunstan On The Point Sandy, Dunstan On The Point Slic Chic and Dunstan Luego GNZ in the Equissage/Fiber Fresh NZ Grand Prix Championship.

The South Island’s sole hopes will lie with Ohoka’s Olivia Robertson and Ngahiwi Cisco, the current Young Rider of the Year combination, who have made the step up to World Cup level this season in the Excel/NRM NZ Premier Horse Championship. She is also the only rider able to ruin Laurie’s clean sweep down to start DHs Ceniki in the Equissage/Fiber Fresh NZ Grand Prix Championship.

The other main classes for horses include the Wilcox Perlas Potatoes June Cresswell Memorial 1.30-1.40m Horse Championship which has attracted a field of 13 and championships at both 1.20 and 1.10m, as well as the age group series championships for 5, 6, and 7 year-olds.

The big pony action comes in the Country TV/Seales Winslow NZ Open Pony Championship, which will feature a stellar line-up of top pony riders including in form local combinations Steffi Whittaker (Springtson) on Moonlight Glow, Grace O’Sullivan (Rangiora) on Galaxy Masterpiece, as well as former winner Lucy Turner (Broadfields) on Tallyho Mystic. Missing from the start list is defending Champion Molly Buist-Brown (Burnham), who is recovering from a nasty fall at Ashburton.

The South Islanders will be hard pressed to keep the trophy in the south with top North Island combinations Ally Carson (Putauru) on Tiger Tale LS and Tony The Pony, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) on Delta JD, Redcliffs Galeforce and Redcliffs Muchintuchin, and Sophie Scott (Wellington) on Waiotahi Belle and Benrose Playtime all down to start.

The speed rounds for the two premier classes – the Excel NZ NRM NZ Premier Horse Championships and Equissage NZ/Fiber Fresh Grand Prix Horse Championship – as well as the age group classes, the Lets Bale/Tavern Harewood Pro Am and Caledonian Holdings/Lysaght Ltd Amateur will kick off the action on February 4 over tracks designed by visiting Australian John Vallance, followed by the first round competitions for all other classes onFebruary 5.

Showhunters will also take place with two rings running over all three days, with all championship classes on Sunday.

The event promises great family entertainment – entry is FREE all four days. Food and refreshments are available on the grounds. Finals are Sunday, February 7. Entries close today.

Results to be sent out DAILY from Thursday. Finals SUNDAY.

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