NORTH ISLANDERS DRAW FIRST BLOOD IN SOUTH North Island riders have made their presence felt on the first day of the Otago 3* Jumping and Showhunter Championship Show, dominating the Telford Young Rider Series at the Taieri Agricultural Park in Mosgiel today. Hastings’ Melody Matheson riding Cheltenham set up the northern trifecta with a heart-stopping jump off performance. Ten started the class including four North Islanders – Matheson, Lily Toothill (Karaka) on Ngahiwi Cruise, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) on Kiwi Ludo (owned by Massie and Annette Scott) and Hannah Burnett-Grant (Taupo) with Carlotta and BG Conny –over the big challenging track designed by international course designer Gerrit Beker from Tauranga. Just Matheson and Massie pulled out clear rounds to ride off against the clock, with Matheson taking the honours. Toothill took third as the fastest of the four faulters ahead of Leeston’s Rose Alfeld on My Super Nova, also on 4 faults. The Young Rider was the highlight today, kicking off four days of top class jumping action in the south. Tomorrow’s action includes the much-anticipated Country TV Pony Grand Prix, which will feature newly crowned North Island champion Steffi Whittaker on Moonlight Glow (Halswell). Whittaker will be up against 10 other top pony combinations from around the country, including Taupo pocket-rocket Briar Burnett-Grant with Mighty Maximus and Pioneer Jade, as well as arch rivals Lucinda Askin (Ashburton) with Totem and Buckle Up, and Broadfields’ Lucy Turner on Tallyho Mystic among others. A field of 17 will also do battle in the Cowells Pavlova One Star Horse Grand Prix, where local Claudia Hay (Mosgiel) will be looking for a top performance aboard her starry stallion Euro Sport Centavos, backing up from a win in the Euro Sport Elite Rider today with the only clear round. She also starts Euro Sport Heartbreaker, but comes up against an all-star line-up which includes top North Island contenders Katie McVean and Maurice Beatson. The Caledonian Amateur Rider, STH/LG Forge Pro Amateur Series, and KiwiSpan Junior Rider Series take place tomorrow before action moves to the Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday afternoon for Ride the Rhythm – a thrilling night of music and high-action equestrian entertainment combined featuring the country’s top combinations. Building on its success last year, Ride the Rhythm promises a night not to be missed with the Southern Wide Real Estate Horse Jumping 1.30m, Perlas Potatoes Pony Grand Prix, GJ Gardner Homes High Jump, and the $50,000 McMillian Equine Feeds Super Grand Prix, as well as the Pryde’s Dressage Meets Cowboy Musical and stunts from trick rider Sonia Duncan. Music from the world’s number one Abba show, Bjorn Again, will round out the night. The action returns to the agricultural park on Sunday for the age group series classes and the 25th NZ Master Games equestrian competition. Three show jumping rings will be in use at the agricultural park as well as a dedicated showhunter ring on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. RESULTS: Telford Young Rider Series – Melody Matheson (Hastings) Cheltenham 1, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Kiwi Ludo 2, Lily Toothill (Karaka) Ngahiwi Cruise 3, Rose Alfeld (Leeston) My Super Nova 4, Nicole White (Invercargill) Cricklewood Ace 5, Olivia Robertson (OHoka) Ngahiwi Cisco 6. Euro Sport Elite Rider – Claudia Hay (Mosgiel) Euro Sport Centavos 1, Rik Van Miltenburg (Milton) Truly Unique 2, Brad Cunningham (Christchurch) Kiwi Crusher 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Centrico 4.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 08:20:38 +0000
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