Canterbury Spring Eventing Season Kicks Off at McLeans Island this Sunday

Eventing action will return to the National Equestrian Centre at McLeans Island this Sunday with the long-awaited Canterbury eventing season getting underway.

Hosted by Eventing Canterbury, the event has attracted massive interest boosted by many New Zealand Pony Club Associated members looking for a final hit out before the prestigious Springston Trophy teams competition next month with more than 200 entries from across the South Island competing from CNC2* down to CNC80 level.

Current South Island CCI2* champion Giles Gormack (Amberley) aboard Lucero heads a small but strong field of five down to contest the CNC2*. The class also features experienced campaigners Emily Cammock (West Melton) on Lewis and Amanda Brown (Loburn) on Glenmark, up against young guns Sophie Abbott (Christchurch) on Time To Tango Too and Lydia Truesdale (Nelson) on Allander Rocket.

Competition will be tough in the CNC1* with huge entries forcing the class to be split into two divisions, with 14 and 16 in each respectively. Undoubtedly the ones to watch will be current CCI1* Amigo Trophy holder Kirsty Sharapoff (Christchurch) on Shoot The Breeze (CNC1* A) and Lindsay Colwell (Prebbleton) on NRM Verity (CNC1* B), who won the CNC1* at the opening event of the southern ESNZ Eventing calendar run at Oamaru by the South Canterbury North Otago Area last month.

Two divisions will also run in both the CNC105 and CNC95 with a record three classes tackling the CNC80, boasting more than 20 entries in each class.

The event also marks the first opportunity for southern riders to get first points on the board in the national series at Young Rider, Junior, Amateur, Pro-Am and Grassroots.

Action begins with the dressage phase scheduled to get underway at 8am on Sunday, with both the showjumping and cross country scheduled to start at 10am sharp.

Eventing Canterbury’s next event will be held at McLeans Island on October 11, building up to the two day South Island One Day Event Championships at the same venue onNovember 7-8.

ENDS

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