The winners! The New Zeland Trans Tasman Young Rider team Photo: www.anniestudholme.com
New Zealand's young equestrians have cruised to a commanding victory in the final show jumping phase of the Young Rider Trans Tasman Challenge in Christchurch today.
Even without overnight leader Samantha Felton (Hamilton) and Ricker Ridge Pico Boo who were unfortunately spun at the vets inspection this morning, the Kiwis took the trophy with 201.4 penalties, more than 50 clear of the Aussies on 252.7.
Held in conjunction with the Tavern Harewood CCI2* competition as part of the Eventing Canterbury South Island FEI Three Day Event at the National Equestrian Centre at McLeans Island, Australian-based Kiwi Joseph Waldron spearheaded the team victory with a stunning performance aboard Springvale All Black to win the class. Ohoka's Katie Rankin on Time To Tango Too held on for second despite collecting 12 faults in the show jumping.
Although the Australians would have liked to be closer going into today's show jumping phase, all three riders produced faultless clear rounds today.
Makayla Wood on Just Corona were the best placed Aussie combination finishing third overall.
Makayla Wood and Just Corona Photo: www.anniestudholme.com
"It's great to finish on a high note," said Australian coach Sam Lyle. "They all made mistakes yesterday and they paid for it. Sometimes you make mistakes and get away with it, other times you don't. We would have liked to be closer, but it's been a wonderful competition."
The win gave New Zealand a hat-trick in the competition having won it in Camperdown, Australia, in 2009 and here in Christchurch in 2010.
New Zealand coach Tinks Pottinger was thrilled with the overall results. "I am absolutely delighted; they have been a wonderful team of young riders to be involved with from star to finish. We had a disappointing moment this morning with the trot up, but they all bounced back. There was a lot of pressure out there and they rose to the occasion. I think they all have a very bright future."
Waldron was also presented with the Swarbrick Trophy for the New Zealand Young Rider Three Day Eventing Champion.
Joseph Waldron and Springvale All Black Photo: www.anniestudholme.com
The days other highlight, the Sheds NZ CCI1* competition came down to the wire in the show jumping with less than a rail separating the top three.
Eventual honours went to Sam Taylor on the inexperienced Oak As coming up trumps with a stunning clear round. Maddison Crowe and Brogan finished second, with Eve Hawes on Hurlingham Lansong, third. A rail down proved costly for overnight leader Emily Cammock on Lewis dropping to fourth.
Rangiora teen Bonnie Farrant was fifth with Kaipara Dior but was awarded the Lenamore Trophy for the New Zealand Junior Rider Champion as the first junior rider home.
Honours in the NZCT CIC3* went to Brent Jury (Cust) on SE Big bouncing back from disappointment at Kihikihi ahead of Larissa Srhoy (Ashburton) on Starburst and New Plymouth visitor Charlotte Grayling on NRM Ru Star. Jury also had an all the way win in the competitive Armitage Williams Construction Pre Novice on his homebred SE Repechage over Olivia Robertson (Ohoka) on Tiki Taane, second, and Eve Hawes on Y-Puna Trolley Dolly, third, all finishing on their dressage scores.
Despite a rail down in the show jumping overnight leader Nicole Chapman (Amberley) retained the lead on Highwayman to win the hotly-contested AW Interiors Training on 38 penalties, just 0.5 ahead of Lucy Turner (Broadfields) on the neat wee pony Ellangowan Zach.
The Tavern Harewood Training 4-6 Year Olds was taken out by Emily Cammock (West Melton) on Kay Buckley's four-year-old former racehorse Cavorts on 32.8, while the Blue Gum Motels/Betavet Pre Training went to Ashleigh Donald (Kaiapoi) on Tobey Maguire leading from go to whoa.
The Australian Young Rider Trans Tasman team Photo: www.anniestudholme.com
RESULTS: NZCT South Island FEI Three Day Event and Young Rider Trans Tasman Challenge, National Equestrian Centre, McLeans Island, Christchurch - April 20-22
Tavern Harewood CCI2* incorporating the Young Rider Trans Tasman Challenge:
Joe Waldron (NZL) Springvale All Black, 52.8, 1; Katie Rankin (NZL) Time To Tango Too, 65.5, 2; Makayla Wood (AUS) Just Corona, 66.3, 3; Kate Mackie (Mosgiel) Zambessi, 75.2, 4; Virginia Thompson (NZL) AShbury Pee Cee, 83.1, 5; Juana Andreou (AUS) Sunvalley Donnerhe, 85.8, 6.
Young Rider Trans-Tasman Challenge (top three scores count): New Zealand (Joseph Waldron, Springvale All Black, 52.8; Katie Rankin, Time To Tango Too, 65.5; Virginia Thompson, Ashbury Pee Cee, 83.1) total 201.4, 1; Australia (Makayla Wood, Just Corona, 66.3; Juana Andreou, Donnerhe, 85.8; Isabel English, Feldale Mouse, 101) total 252.7, 2.
NZCT CIC3*: Brent Jury (Cust) SE Big, 62, 1; Larissa Srhoy (Ashburton) Starburst, 87.8, 2; Charlotte Grayling (New Plymouth) NZRM Ru Star, 110.4, 3.
Sheds NZ CCI1*: Sam Taylor (Ohoka) Oak As, 50.6, 1; Maddison Crowe (Rakaia) Brogan, 51.3, 2; Eve Hawes (Reefton) Hurlingham Lansong, 52.1, 3; Emily Cammock (West Melton) Lewis, 53.2, 4; Bonnie Farrant (Rangiora) Kaipara Dior, 61.5, 5; Ellie Braddock (Rangiora) Miss Matilda, 61.5, 6.
Armitage Williams Construction Pre Novice: Brent Jury (Cust) SE Repechage, 35, 1; Olivia Robertson (Ohoka) Tiki Taane 35.3, 2; Eve Hawes (Reefton) Y-Puna Trolley Dolly, 36, 3; Giles Gormack (Amberley) Woodbine Heritage, 37.5, 4; Amanda Brown (Ohoka) Glenmark, 39, 5; Giles Gormack (Amberley) Lucero, 39, 6.
AW Interiors Training: Nicole Champan (Amberley) Highwayman, 38, 1; Lucy Turner (Broadfields) Ellangowan Zach, 38.5, 2; Kendra Walls (Christchurch) Felix Felicis 1, 41.2, 3; Trinity St Guillaume (Christchurch) Clifton Turtle Creek, 42.5, 5; Emily Cammock (West Melton) Eyreleigh Rosnalea, 43.8, 5; Shari Jamie (Amberley) SI Bearings Me Too, 44, 6.
Tavern Harewood Training 4-6 Year Olds: Emily Cammock (West Melton) Cavorts, 32.8, 1; Rhys Smith (Rangiora) From The Clouds, 32.8, 2; Kirsty Sharapoff (Christchurch) Shoot The Breeze, 33.5, 3; Sam Taylor (Ohoka) Everton Waka 35, 4; Emily Cammock (West Melton) Shaw Will, 39.8, 39.8, 5; Susie Stewart (Rangiora) Ollie, 43.5, 6.
Blue Gum Motels/Betavet Pre Training: Ashleigh Donald (Kaiapoi) Tobey Maguire, 32.3, 1; Steffi Whittaker (Halswell) Solitaire Opal, 35.3, 2; Erin Milner (Dunedin) Glenbrooke Jordie Girl, 35.3, 3; Nicki Van Kruiningen (Rangiora) Three Wishes, 39.5, 4; Shannon Galloway (Christchurch) Baxter, 39.8, 5; Cassidy Ford (Rangiora) Razzel Basil, 39.8, 6.
NZ Young Rider Three Day Event Champion, Swarbrick Trophy: Joseph Waldron, Springvale All Black.
NZ Junior Rider Three Day Event Champion, Lenamore Trophy: Bonnie Farrant, Kaipara Dior.
NZPCA Pony Club Award (highest placed pony club rider at this event): Olivia Robertson, Tiki Taane.
Full Results CLICK HERE
Many thanks to Eventing NZ and Annie Studholme for their updates during the event
