Ohaupo’s Jessica Woods has won this year’s prestigious Saddlery Barn South Island Young Event Horse Championship aboard her stunning Anamour gelding LV Award today.
Held as the precursor to the main event, the NZCT South Island FEI Three Day Event and Young Rider Trans-Tasman Challenge which gets underway tomorrow with the dressage phase, the young event class is open to rising equine stars of the future aged four and five years.
Thirteen combinations started, including five four-year-olds and only two mares. It was judged across dressage (30%), show jumping (30%), movement and conformation (20%), and gallop suitable for cross country (20%) by an international line-up which included president of the ground jury Colonel Fuangvich Aniruth-Deva (Sam) of Thailand, Australian Prue Spurrett and New Zealanders Bill Phiskie and Sally Field-Dodgson.
A resounding leader after the dressage and show jumping phases, Woods and LV Award were the standout of the competition going on to win by a clear margin from Cust’s Brent Jury aboard Julie Batchelor’s SE Godswalk, a daughter of the Astek Stud stallion Kinnordy Gym Bello. SE Godswalk also took out the Best Mare and the top-placed four-year-old. Nicole Moore (Ohoka) riding the Taylor’s Everton Waka Z finished third.
The main action will get underway tomorrow with the dressage phase for all classes. The highlight will undoubtedly be the Tavern Harewood CCI2* which incorporates the Young Rider Trans-Tasman Challenge.
New Zealand’s four-strong team will be confirmed tomorrow. The squad consists of Australian-based Joseph Waldron and Springvale All Black, Auckland’s Virginia Thompson on Ashbury Pee Cee, current Young Rider One Day Champions Samantha Felton (Matangi) on Ricker Ridge Pico Boo, Woods on Too Predictable, and local rider Katie Rankin (Ohoka) on Time To Tango Too.
The Kiwi’s will have their work cut out against a strong Australian line-up looking to turn the tables after losing the trophy in Christchurch in 2010 which consists of Ben Leahy and Le Directeur, Isabel English and Feldale Mouse, Juana Andreou and Sunvalley Donnerhe, and Makayla Wood on Just Corona.
As well as the CCI2* competition (incorporating the trans-Tasman) the event will also run the NZCT CIC3*, Sheds NZ CCI1*, Armitage Williams Construction Pre Novice, AW Interiors Training, Tavern Harewood Training 4-6 Year Olds, Betavet and the Pre Training jointly sponsored by Betavet and Blue Gum Lodge Motels.
Competitors in the CCI2* will also be vying for the Swarbrick Trophy for the National Young Rider Three Day Event champion, while those in the CCI1* will be fighting it out for the Lenamore Trophy for National Junior Rider Three Day Event champion.
Entries across all levels are strong with more than 190 combinations taking part including a number of North Island combinations. Entry to the grounds all three days is FREE. Food and refreshments are available on-site.
RESULTS: Saddlery Barn South Island Young Event Horse Championship – Jessica Woods (Ohaupo) LV Award, 1; Brent Jury (Cust) SE Godswalk, 2; Nicole Moore (Ohoka) Everton Waka Z, 3; Amanda Brown (Ohoka) Glenmark, 4; Kirsty Sharapoff (Christchurch) Shoot The Breeze, 5; Emily Cammock (West Melton) Cavorts, 6.
