Scott Southbound for South Island Champs

Scott Southbound for South Island Champs

As Sophie Scott sets sail across Cook Straight, the pony Grand Prix rider has South Island glory firmly in her sights.

The Wellington-based rider will kick off her annual southern campaign at Showjumping Canterbury’s South Island Championships Xmas Cracker Show this weekend at the NEC McLeans Island, pitting her skills against the best pony riders the South Island has to offer in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix.

The 13-year-old starts Benrose Playtime, Hez Sweet As and Waiotahi Belle in the 11-strong field which among others includes current Pony of the Year Miss Mae West and Molly Buist-Brown (Burnham) and former National Pony Grand Prix Champion Tallyho Mystic with Lucy Turner (Broadfields).

Scott has been having a super season to date with Benrose Playtime placed in every start, but given that the pony only stepped up to this level earlier in the season she lacks some of the necessary experience in the jump-offs compared to her more experienced rivals required to win in a tussle against the clock.

Aside from Grand Prix honours, Scott will also be looking to improve her showhunter rankings. She currently sits handily on the national leaderboard in the NRM Showhunter Equitation and is second equal in the Ainwell Category C Highpoints on Kapa Haka.

While the trip south was about Scott gaining experience over the bigger, more technical and challenging tracks on offer in the south en-route to the Horse of the Year show, mum Tania said it was as much about being close to family.

Originally from Christchurch, Tania is the daughter of well-known equestrian supporters Des and Gaye Skene, while her husband’s parents, Peter and Jean Scott, are also well-known in eventing circles. “It’s a great opportunity for them to see Sophie competing. We have met so many great people on our travels south and we get to see some of Sophie’s old ponies competing with new wee riders,” she says. Husband Mark was also competing at Ruapuna Park speedway this weekend.

The Scott’s plan to stay on in the south through until after Christmas, competing at Ashburton, SCNO, and if all going well the NZ National Showjumping and Showhunter Championships in February.

Apart from the Pony Grand Prix, all eyes will be on the Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider which has been hotly-contested all season. Just a small field of seven are down to compete but with the absence of both the leading contenders, Olivia Robertson (Ohoka) and Rose Alfeld (Leeston), the class is wide-open.

Ashburton’s Kimberley Bird will be looking to replicate the form which saw her take out the Young Rider on Ngahiwi Summer at Ashburton A&P, the Ashburton Area Show and the Canterbury A&P, while local Harry Feast will be gunning for back to back wins having won at SCNO last weekend, but there’s also many other riders who could feature in the mix.

Disappointingly, Angus Taylor (Ohoka) is the only starter in the Excel Premier League, while a big field of 17 start in the Tavern Harewood Horse Mini Prix.

The other main series classes are all well supported with double points up for grabs. A field of 17 is entered in the Let’s Bale Pro Am, with 16 in the Telford/Mainland Coach Work Junior and an impressive 26 lining up in the hotly-contested Caledonian Holdings/Betavet Amateur Rider respectively. Meanwhile, only small entries have been received in the age group series classes.

Traditionally one the of the crowd favourites, the South Island Speed Horse and Speed Pony classes have also attracted a strong line-up looking for southern honours on Saturday.

International course designer Gerrit Beker, of Tauranga, is down to design in ring one, with Eryn Duffy in ring two and local Geoff Bryant designing ring three.

In all, the event has attracted more than 280 riders and almost 500 horses from across the South Island and as far north as Wellington.

ENDS

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