Eventing Action Heats Up In New Zealand

By: Annie Studholme

Emily Cammock flying round the CNC1* track at the opening event last month (Photo: Annie Studholme)

Eventing action will heat up this weekend as riders look to impress in the lead up to the NZ National One Day Event Championships next month. 

More than 130 riders from across the South Island are set to converge on the National Equestrian Centre at McLeans Island, near Christchurch, for Eventing Canterbury’s second spring one day event.

A small field of three are set to tackle the CNC2*+ including former international Emily Cammock (West Melton) on Shaw Lee, who is on the comeback trail after the birth of her first child, veterinarian Sam Tayor (Swannanoa) on Leo Degas, and Susannah Stewart (Rangiora) on Cowboy looking for back-to-back wins after winning at the opening event here last month. The three will tackle the same cross country as the CNC2* class but will compete at 3* dressage and show jumping level.

The CNC2* has attracted a small but strong field of eight with a number of young riders out to upstage their more seasoned rivals.

Cammock starts Al For Short. She will be joined by Giles Gormack (Amberley) on Lucero, West Coast visitor Eve Hawes on Hurlingham Lansong, and Amanda Brown making the step up to CNC2* aboard Glenmark for the first time. The young guns include Sophie Abbot (Christchurch) on Time To Tango Too, Cam Robertson (Rangiora) on Black Ink and Courtney Davis (Waipara) on By Hoki and Lydia Truesdale (Christchurch) on Allander Rocket, who are both on debut at this level.

The CNC1* will be impossible to pick with a strong field of 26 set to battle it out, while competition across the CNC105, CNC95 and CNC80 will also be intense with large entries respectively.

Action is set to get away on Sunday (October 12) at 8am with the dressage phase, followed by the show jumping at 11am. The all-important cross country starts at midday.
This is the last major hit out before the NZ National One Day Event Championships at the same venue on November 8/9.