EVENTING CANTERBURY

ONE DAY HORSE TRIAL

Sunday, September 18

Sheds NZ National Equestrian Centre, McLeans Island, Christchurch

The South Island Eventing season got underway in earnest at the Sheds NZ National Equestrian Centre at McLeans Island today. Attracting strong fields from all over the South Island, competition was tight across all levels, riders relishing in the fine, warm conditions.

Former international Annabel Wigley (Amberley) got a dream start to the season with NRM Enzo taking out the seven-strong Open Intermediate class. Lying third after dressage, Wigley stepped up to take the lead with a clear cross country over the big imposing Stephen Montgomery-designed course adding just 16.4 time penalties and one show jumping rail to her score, finishing on 61.1. Cust’s James Avery, winner of the inaugural National Young Rider Three Day Eventing title, last season finished second on Amarillo with 73 penalties despite picking up an unfortunate 20 faults for a run out near the end of the cross country, showing he’s on target for another successful season. Third went to fellow young rider Katie Rankin on Time To Tango Too on 74.2 just ahead of Suzie Stewart on Cowboy with 76.4.

Cross country time faults played a big part in the hotly contested Open Novice with no combinations finishing inside the time allowed. The showjumping also proved influential with just three combinations managing to go clear. After sitting mid-field after the dressage, Ohoka’s Olivia Robertson riding the outstanding pony, Mr Black Magic, moved up to take the lead with a clear cross country in the equal fastest time of the day, despite taking two rails in the showjumping. Second after dressage Reefton’s Eve Hawes on Hurlingham Lansong maintained her position throughout, while Ohoka’s Angus Taylor on Oak As shot up the leaderboard from last after dressage to take third with a clear cross country, minimal time faults, and a clear showjumping.

The two NRM Pre Novice divisions went to Sophie Abbott on Johnny Suede and Claudia Wilson on Shapeshifter, while the Training classes were taken out by Stephanie Matthews on Brookfields Forget-Me-Not and Dunedin visitor Jordan Lloyd on Superwine.

In the Pre Training divisions the honours went to Viv Butcher aboard daughter Emily Cammock’s former Advanced ride Let’s Be Frank, and Cassidy Ford and Whodunit.

Unfortunately there were no starters in the Advanced, which was to have been the first event in the national Bell Tea Advanced Super League Series. Eventing action will be back at McLeans Island on October 9 for the second event of the Eventing Canterbury Spring season, followed by the South Island One Day Eventing Championships on November 6.

Class 1 Advanced: No entries

Class 2 Open Intermediate: Annabel Wigley (Amberley) NRM Frog Rock, 61.1, 1; James Avery (Cust) Amarillo, 73, 2; Katie Rankin (Ohoka) Time To Tango Too, 74.2, 3; Suzie Stewart (Rangiora) Cowboy, 76.4, 4; Annabel Wigley (Amberley) NRM Enzo, 77.8, 5; Emily Cammock (West Melton) Shaw Lee, 80.9, 6.

Class 3 Open Novice: Olivia Robertson (Ohoka) Mr Black Magic, 48.3, 1; Eve Hawes (Reefton) Hurlingham Lansong, 49.7, 2; Angus Taylor (Ohoka) Oak As, 52.9, 3; Veronica Waddy (Cheviot) Millburn Melody, 56.2, 4; Melissa Chapman (Amberley) That’s Gizmo, 57.3, 5; Zoe Preston (Waihora) Zambirdee, 64, 6.

Class 4A NRM Pre Novice: Sophie Abbott (Ohoka) Johnny Suede, 32, 1; Ebony Ford (Cheviot) Rae of Sunshine, 35, 2; Cambpell Robertson (Rangiora) Craighaven Jaylo 35.5, 3; Zoe McVicar (Amberley) Chandalla Rhythm Devine, 35.5, 4; Sam Wilson (Hawarden) Woodford II, 37, 5; Natasha McCurdy (Rangiora) Red Label, 39, 6.

Class 4B NRM Pre Novice: Claudia Wilson (Christchurch) Shapeshifter, 37.5, 1; Sarah Kerr (Weedons) Summer Ale, 39, 2; Katie Meredith (Kaiapoi) Streetwise, 41, 3; Courtney Davis (Waipara) Dunrobin Amarillo, 41.5, 4; Nicole Chapman (Amberley) Illywhacker II, 42, 5; Frances Buckley (Oxford) Evolution RS, 44.5, 6.

Class 5A Bomac Training: Stephanie Matthews (Springston) Brookfields Forget-Me-Not, 30.3, 1; Natasha Richardson Monarch Tekoa, 32, 2; Emma Steel (Broadfields) Hewston, 32.5, 332.5, 3; Kerryn O’Sullivan (Rangiora) Halcyon Mozart, 33, 4; Nicole Shadbolt (Ladbrooks) 36, 5; Annabel Wigley (Amberley) NRM Tonga, 36.8, 6.

Class 5B Kea Equestrian/Platinum PerformanceTraining: Jordan Lloyd (Dunedin) Superwine, 32, 1; Nick Pyke (Broadfields) Jive Talking 35.5, 2; Tessa Flintoff-Lewis (Nelson) Fancy Chocolate Chip, 36.5, 3; Amanda Brown (Ohoka) Johno 37.4, 4; Anna Schroeder (Rolleston) Duggens Dew, 37.5, 5; Brittany Arthur (Weedons) Kolorkode, 37.5, 6.

Class 6A Pre Training: Viv Butcher (West Melton) Let’s Be Frank, 26.1, 1; Todd Magner (Hokitika) Marsden Magic, 31.1, 2; Ashleigh Donald (Ohoka) Toby Maguire, 32.6, 3; Claudia Wilson (Christchurch) Exterminator II, 32.6, 4; Angus Taylor (Ohoka) Everton Waka, 36.3, 5; Grace McInroe (Greymouth) Glenbriar De Ja Vue, 37.4, 6.

Class 6 A Merial Pre Training: Cassidy Ford (Cheviot) Whodunit, 35.8, 1; Sharon Chart (Little River) Kohana, 36.8, Monique Arthur (Christchurch) Glen Cree Symbolic, 38.4, 3; Grace O’Sullivan (Rangiora) Immagin, 39.5, 4; Georgie Goodworth (Cave) Tui Hills Copper Abbie, 40.5, 5; Kerryn O’Sullivan (Rangiora) Designer Genes , 41.6, 6.