Eventing Action Heads to North Canterbury

Eventing Action Heads to North Canterbury

Equestrians eyeing a share of the titles at the ESNZ Eventing Canterbury FEI South Island Three Day Event next month will get their last major hit out at Eventing Canterbury’s Amberley One Day Horse Trial this Sunday.

With less than a month to the prestigious event, a strong performance over the hilly cross country track designed by Sally Wigley, Brent Jury and Giles Gormack at John and Gina Savill’s Lindfield property will be a must for those combinations looking to step up. Vital points will also be on offer in the national Equestrian Entries Pro Amateur, PEL by Trutest Amateur, Equestrifit StrapX Grassroots, PGG Wrightson Junior and NRM Young Rider national series’.

Small fields dominate the top classes with just three contenders battling it out for top honours in the CNC2* Plus. Local rider Giles Gormack (Amberley) will be looking for a strong performance from Lucero after missing the first event of the season. Gormack is up against former international Emily Cammock (West Melton) with the experienced, Shaw Lee, and up-and-comer Lewis.

Cammock also has Ngahiwi Frosty and Cavorts entered in the seven strong CNC2*. She’ll face some stiff opposition though from the likes of season opener winner Kirsty Sharapoff (West Melton) on Shoot The Breeze and current National Three Day Event Junior champion Lucy Turner (Broadfields) aboard Carbon, who have just returned from competing at the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings. Also entered is Brent Jury (Cust) on SE Hedging, Jessie Fitzjohn (Christchurch) on What’s The Buzz, and Edendale visitor Anna Poole on debut at this level riding Zulu.

A big field of 16 is down to contest the CNC1* with a number of riders stepping out at this level for the first time. The CNC105 has more than 20 starters, while huge entries at CNC95 and CNC80 level has seen classes split into two divisions. Given its success at the opening event in February, Eventing Canterbury has also scheduled a CNC65 for the first time at Amberley which has attracted a big field of 29.

In all more than 140 riders from around the South Island are taking part.

The action will get underway with the dressage phase at 8am, followed by two rings of showjumping underway at 10am and 11.15amrespectively. The cross country is scheduled to start at midday with the CNC2* Plus out first.

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