from horsetalk.co.nz (dated 16apr11)
The country's leading young riders are preparing to converge on Canterbury next weekend for the National 3DE Young Rider and Junior Rider championships.
The creation of two new national titles has boosted entries to Eventing Canterbury's annual South Island Three Day Event, with a strong North Island contingent heading south to compete.
Paraparaumu's Tayla Mason on Just Joop, Holly Morrell (Taupo) on Antara Whiskey Mac and Rochelle McGregor (Palmerston North) on Kerrang will come up against leading South Island contenders James Avery (Nelson/Cust) on Amarillo, Katie Rankin (Kaiapoi) on Time To Tango Too, and Ashburton's Larissa Srhoy on Starburst. Srhoy was a member of the winning New Zealand Young Rider team that took out the Trans Tasman Young Rider test last year, in the National 3DE Young Rider Championship. Run in conjunction with the Tavern Harewood CCI2* class, there are eight young riders to contest the young rider title, with 15 total lining up in the CCI2*. The CCI2* title will be a hot contest between the emerging young riders and some of New Zealand's best.
The National 3DE Junior Rider Championship, which is incorporated in the Eventing Canterbury CC1*, has attracted just the three contenders, including West Melton's Louise Turner on Ahuriri Dusk, who has just returned from finishing fourth in the National One Day Horse Trials Junior Championship in the Central Districts. In all, 12 riders will contest the CC1* title.
Canterbury's leading riders will also be in action. Former winner and international rider West Melton's Emily Cammock has three horses entered including Dambala in the CIC3*, Transcend in the CC12*, and rising star Shaw Lee in the CC1*. Annabel Wigley (Amberley) also has a strong team entered.
The lower levels are extremely well supported with a mammoth 36 starters lining up in the Striding Edge Horse Shoeing Pre Novice, 50 in the Sheds NZ Training, 16 in the Eventing Canterbury Training 4, 5 & 6 Year Olds, and a further 40 contesting the Blue Gum Lodge Motel Pre Training.
The event also marks the culmination of the NRM South Island Young Eventer 2010/11 and Winslow Feeds and Nutrition Pre Novice 2011 Autumn Accumulator, as well as being a vital qualifier for the National Three Day Eventing Championships in Taupo and offering double points on the newly introduced national series' leaderboards.
Eventing Canterbury chairman Kevin Bowden said he was thrilled with the response, with riders taking part from as far north as Taupo and from Bluff in the south.
"It will be great to see our top juniors and young riders in action; they are the future of our sport. It's great for Eventing Canterbury to be involved with bringing these new titles to fruition," he said. "It's very exciting."
He said the organising committee had been pulling out all the stops to make it a successful event, including making further improvements to the cross country track which would include six exciting new fences, with both water fences having undergone major changes as well. The two-star track would feature a new combination at the coffin and hollow complex.
Course designer Nick Pyke has promised high action for spectators and trade alley customers with confirmation all three FEI cross country courses will go through the main arena. Pyke is being assisted by Ms Piyathida Yodteerak, Assistant to Secretary General of Thailand Equestrian Federation.
FEI nominee Colonel Suangvich Aniruth-Deva Sam of Thailand, who officiated at the event last year, heads the Ground Jury, joined by Bill Phiskie and Stuart Bishell, while Ashburton's Geoff Bryant returns as the show jumping course designer.
Action gets under way on April 21 with the South Island Young Event Horse, followed by the start of the South Island Three Day Event on Friday, April 22, with the dressage commencing at 11am. The cross country is on Saturday, followed by the show jumping on Sunday.