The South Island’s Spring Eventing Season Kicks Off

The South Island’s Spring Eventing Season Kicks Off at Mcleans Island This Sunday

Coming off the back of a Kiwi quinella at the prestigious Burghley International Horse Trials last weekend, the long-awaited South Island eventing season gets underway this Sunday.

Hosted by Eventing Canterbury at the National Equestrian Centre at McLeans Island on the outskirts of Christchurch, the event has attracted massive interest with more than 150 entries from across the South Island competing from CNC2* down to CNC80 level.

Current South Island CIC3* champion Sam Taylor (Swannanoa) on Leo Degas heads a small but strong field of eight down to contest the CNC2*. While the class is dominated by seasoned campaigners such as Taylor, Giles Gormack (Amberley) on Lucero, Amanda Brown (Rangiora) on Glenmark and Lindsay Cowell (Prebbleton) on An Act, all eyes will be on the young guns looking to make their mark early in the new season including Nicole Chapman (Amberley) on Star’s Ransom, Cam Robertson (Rangiora) on Black Ink and Sophie Abbott (Christchurch) on Time To Tango Too.

The CNC1* marks the return of former international Emily Cammock (West Melton) with Shaw Lee and Al For Short after taking time out to have her first child, up against the tough field of 17.

Huge entries at the lower levels have necessitated the CNC105, CNC95 and CNC80 classes to be split into two sections with more than 20 starters in each.

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.

The action will begin with the dressage phase scheduled to get underway at 8am on Sunday, followed by the show jumping commencing at 10.30am. The CNC2* will be the first to get away on the cross country at midday, followed (in order) by the CNC1*, CNC105, CNC95 and CNC80.

Eventing Canterbury’s next event will be held at McLeans Island on October 12, building up to the National One Day Event Championships at the same venue on November 8-9.

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