NZ National Jumping and Show Hunter Championships - Mc Vean Blooms on Day One

New Zealand show jumping’s golden girl Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) has given the Aussie invaders something to think about after she rocketed to the top of the leaderboard on the first day of the New Zealand National Jumping Championships in Christchurch this evening.

Riding the starry, Dunstan Daffodil, McVean rode a foot perfect round against the clock over the challenging track designed by visiting Australian course designer John Vallance to go into the second day of competition tomorrow on zero faults.

Cambridge’s Samantha McIntosh and Estina sit in second, with Alison Rowland on Bickley Brook Bella the first of the Australians home.

It is extremely tight at the top of the leaderboard though with less than a rail separating the top riders.

The Fiber Fresh Feeds One Star Horse Championship also got underway this evening with the Australians dominating, filling three of the top six places. Australian young rider Jack Maunder on Cyra rode brilliantly to hold pole position just ahead of Mathew Gilmour (Auckland) on Cuba D Esquelmes, second, and James Arkins (Australia) on Dreamtime Invader, third.

The stakes will be upped tomorrow with the second day of competition over a considerably bigger two-round course. Combinations in these top two classes will get a rest day on Saturday before returning for the finals on Sunday.

The rest of the championship classes get underway tomorrow including the highly anticipated The Press NZ Open Pony Grand Prix, which features 16 of the country’s leading pony riders including North Islander visitors Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) on Hopeful Illusion and Emily Fraser (Takapau) on Tony The Pony and Tiger Tale LS, coming up against an all-star South Island line-up.

Results:

First competition NZ Senior Horse Championship: Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Daffodil 1, Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) Estina 2, Alison Rowland (Australia) Bickley Brook Bella 3, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark 4, Billy Raymont (Australia) Stardom 5, Daniel Meech (Pukekohe) Argento 6.

First Competition Fiber Fresh Feeds One Star Horse Grand Prix: Jack Maunder (Australia) Cyra 1, Mathew Gilmour (Auckland) Cuba D Esquelmes Z 2, James Arkins (Australia) Dreamtime Invader 3, Jesse Linton (Napier) Bessette 4, Jamie Kermond (Australia) Yandoo Laughton’s Legacy 5, Mathew Gilmour (Auckland) Belize Di Cantero 6.