Two-time Olympian Daniel Meech stamped his authority on the first day of the New Zealand National Show Jumping Championships yesterday at McLeans Island near Christchurch.
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Daniel Meech and Argento. © Annie Studholme
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Meech was dominant in the speed round where time was converted to faults. He will go into the second day of competition today lying in pole position in both the premier class, the June Cresswell Bayer NZ Senior Horse Championship, with his grey Argento, and in the Fiber Fresh Feeds Cathay Pacific One Star Grand Prix aboard the Burnett-Grant family's Winston Darco V.
Meech and Argento produced the senior horse grand prix's only clear round to take the win ahead of Gisborne's Tessa Williams on Alltech Craighaven Nitro, with southerners Ross Smith on Quite Cassini and Susie Hayward on Andretti lying third and fourth respectively. The competition is tight, though, with less than two rails separating the four starters, and still two days of competition to come.
In the Fiber Fresh Feeds Cathay Pacific One Star Grand Prix Championship Meech produced a smart clear round aboard Winston Darco V to hold a narrow lead going into the second round.
In-form young rider Rachael Bentall and Kiwi Brave backed up from winning the Back On Track South Island Mitavite Giltrap Audi Young Rider with a stunning jump-off performance against the clock earlier in the day to lie second, with local hope Chris Harris on Zilco Te Peka Lotto in third less than a rail in arrears. Meech also lies fourth on Carlotta.
In the Young Rider, just three combinations made it through to the jump-off over the technical track. Katie Meredith and Rio Madrid were first to go taking a rail and stopping the clock in 39.05. Bentall was next, producing a lovely clear in 39.69. Last to go, Dunedin's Brittany Whelan went all out on her plucky little gelding George Jetson. She looked to have it in the bag finishing faster in a time of 38.15, but paid for it with one rail down to finish second.
Less than a rail separates the top four ponies going into the second round of the hotly contested Pony Grand Prix. A record 18 started with Taupo youngster Briar Burnett-Grant making an exceptional start, winning the class with Mighty Maximus to sit on zero penalties ahead of Ohoka's Olivia Robertson on Mr Black Magic on 1.19. Burnett-Grant also lies third on her second ride Kabo Silver on 1.32 with current national series leader Emily Fraser sitting sixth with Tony The Pony on 4.35.
Otane's Kim Best dominated the age group series classes, taking out both the Andretti Cushionride Seven Year Old and the Goldengrove Stud Five Year Old with Giggles and Mr Wiggle respectively, while Brooke Zander won the Hokonui Sport Horses Mitavite Six Year Old with Double J Rumours.
Merran Hain again showed her experience, sealing the Global Performance Horses IverQuantel Amateur rider with two beautiful clears on the aptly named Untouchable for the second year running, one of only three clears of the competition, while Zoe Shore and Olympia NZPH further extender their lead in the national STH Hay Supplies Pro Amateur, winning the title against the clock.
The Commercial Contract Services Limited KiwiSpan Junior class went to Lisa Hogg on IQ in the jumpoff from Jacquita Ellen Farquhar on Rustic Moonlight, both going double clear.