Otago kicks off South Island jumping season

Otago Area ESNZ Spring Jumping Show
Otago Taieri A&P Showgrounds
Mosgiel
September 19 &20

Otago kicks off South Island jumping season

Jumpers from across the South Island are Mosgiel-bound this weekend for the long-awaited start of the southern Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) Jumping and Show Hunter Season.

Hosted by the Otago Area ESNZ at the Otago Taieri A&P Showgrounds at Mosgiel, strong entries have been received across all classes with a number of riders making the long trip south from Christchurch to compete.

With no Horse Grand Prix or age group classes, all eyes will be on the Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider, Caledonian Holding Amateur, Main Events NZ Universities and Telford Junior Rider as well as the SC Saddlery Horse Mini Prix and the Team Cubitt Pony Mini Prix.

Traditionally strong, Saturday’s Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider has attracted an all-class field including former Young Rider of the Year Rose Alfeld (Leeston) with both Capprera and My Super Nova. She will be up against fellow Cantabrians Harry Feast (West Melton) on Double J Bouncer and Kimberley Bird (Rakaia) on Ngahiwi Summer, who both posted some strong results last season, as well as newcomer Morgan Baddeley (West Melton) on Commodore. Local hopes will be pinned on 19-year-old Jayne Beattie on Midnight Magic Rumble, stepping out at this level for the first time having competed at junior level last season.

Both the Caledonian Holding Amateur and Telford Junior Rider series will also be hotly contested with 12 and seven entered respectively, while just two combinations line up in the Main Events NZ Universities class.

On Sunday, nine combinations take the field in the SC Saddlery Horse Mini Prix all out to beat former top Young Rider combination Nicole White (Invercargill) on Cricklewood Ace, with local Kate Beatie on Just Lucky contesting the four-strong pony mini prix which features Steffi Whittaker (Lincoln) on Moonlight Glow, Sophie Townsend (Darfield) on Tallyho Neptune and Scott Wylie (Invercargill) on MF Spot Me.

Local course designer Donella Still has been charged with the task of designing for the main ring, with Erin Duffy designing in ring 2, while Jenni Pike is down from Canterbury to design the showhunter.

Action gets underway at the showgrounds on Saturday at 8.30am. Entry to the ground is free. All welcome.

ENDS

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