New venue works well

Eventing Canterbury had a new venue for the cross-country phase of its spring event this weekend. While the dressage and show jumping were held at the South Island National Equestrian Centre at McLeans Island, all competitors travelled to Eyreton Pony Club to use the wonderful new course there.

Just out of Rangiora, the course has been used for a number of pony club events, but this was the first ESNZ competition to be held here. It rode well and the new ground utilised around the rodeo facilities gave a bit of extra variation in contour.

Marg Evans, one of the ESNZ Eventing Board members and Chair of Eventing Canterbury was delighted with how the day had gone. “The two venues worked well. We have the infrastructure available at McLeans Island, so logistically it was easier to have the dressage and show jumping phases there. The feedback has been very positive about the course here at Eyreton Pony Club. The riders said they really enjoyed it and all kudos to the course designers.”

Richard Crowe built the two- and one-star tracks, and Giles Gormack and Brent Jury were responsible for the non-FEI ones.

The Eyreton Pony Club had an unmounted rally at the same time as the cross-country and the club’s president, Lynda Dalton-Skelly, said that the children really enjoyed it. They did a course walk with Sam Taylor, then some certificate work, and got a lot out of the day.

Some of the stars from last year were out for their first event of the season. Kirsty Sharapoff and Shoot the Breeze, winners of the National CCI2* at Taupo last year, continued their fine form in the CNC2*+, taking the win.  While the pair got 16 time faults across country, Kirsty was delighted, and with Shoot the Breeze’s show jumping too. “There were some good thinking combinations. I let him cruise around.”  She is hoping to take him to the Puhinui 3-Day in December. Kirsty was also fourth in the CNC95 class on her young horse, SD Delux.

Another rider planning to travel north to Puhinui is Brent Jury, with SE Hedging. These two won the CNC2* class with a clear cross-country under the time, the only combination in the class to manage it. Brent also had a win on SE Gorky Park, after producing a lovely dressage (scoring 25) and adding nothing to that. This is an exciting young horse and Brent has high hopes for him.

Claudia Wilson had a good win in the CNC1* class on Shapeshifter II, finishing on her dressage score of 39.8.  Back from an enforced rest last season after breaking her leg, Larissa Srhoy took out the CNC105A on her classy Rockquest. The pair looked good, so we expect to see them step up to higher levels soon.

Results 

CNC2*_

1. Kirsty Sharapoff, Shoot the Breeze
2. Giles Gormack, Lucero

CNC2*

1. Brent Jury, SE Hedging, 40.4
2. Todd Magner, Kawhaka Concorde, 42.7
3. Brodie Roberts, SR Livingstone, 46
4. Maria van Kuijk, Antara Whiskey Mac, 49.7

CNC1*

1. Claudia Wilson, Shapeshifter II, 39.8
2. Michael Green, Star’s Ransom, 45.1
3. Ali Scholes, Alfresco, 50.6,
4. Sinead Henderson, Lewiston, 52.5

CNC105A

1. Larissa Srhoy, Rockquest, 31.6
2. Lydia Truesdale, Allander Rocket, 35
3. Jaya O’Neill, Lil’Bit Blue, 35.2
4. Sam Taylor, Astek Victor, 36

CNC105B

1. Maisie Hopkins, Awatuna Classic Rose, 29.8
2. Anna Poole, Valkyrie II, 30
3. Victoria Level, Airplay, 30.2
4. Jaya O’Neill, Z’questionair, 30.8

CNC95A

1. Eve Hawes, The BFG, 33.8
2. Jakob Pascoe, Monkey Puzzle, 33.1
3. Nicola Barringer, Galvanised, 35.5
4. Gemma Diedrich, Kohatu Harvest Gold, 38.5

CNC95B

1. Annabel Jones, Halcyon Mozart, 31
2. Shane Maley, Rainier, 32.7
3. Danielle Chambers, Rosewood Zakee, 35.8
4. Kirsty Sharapoff, S D Delux, 37.8

CNC95C

1. Brent Jury, SE Gorky Park, 25
2. Jamie Atkinson, Ahuriri Dusk, 28
3. Zara Power, Radiradirah, 34
4. Kirstin Beaven, Hawk Doubled Up, 36.3

CNC80A

1. Brodie Roberts, Harlequinn GNZ, 26.8
2. Raquel Cook, Karaka Commander, 29
3. Fibrin McQuarrie, Yippee Ki Yay, 30.3
4. Imogen Morrison, Muffin Man, 33.7

CNC80B

1. Goldie Lester, Rattletrack Rosie, 29.7
2. Tazmyn Charles, Kahikatea Gypsy Rose, 34.7
3. Gretchen Anderson, Atomic Orange, 35.8
4. Kelly Tyson, Vortiel, 39.3

CNC65

1. Sophie Ferguson, Y-Puna Matariki, 30.8
2. Fleur Carter-Hodder, Azevino, 33.4
3. Courtney Miller, Shakespeare’s Specialty, 35
4. Isabelle Ussher, Wembleybrook O Driscoll, 36.3