Local Riders Target Glory at South Island Jumping Champs   17 Dec 2014

South Island Jumping & Show Hunter Championships

December 19-20

Gore A&P Showgrounds

LOCAL RIDERS TARGET GLORY AT SOUTH ISLAND JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Local riders are hoping the hometown advantage will give them that something extra when they take on the South Island’s best in the Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) South Island Show Jumping and Showhunter Championships at the Gore A&P Showgrounds this weekend.

Invercargill’s Nicole White and Scott Wylie are amongst hundreds of riders from across the island converging on the Gore A&P Showgrounds for two action-filled days of jumping and show hunter competition, covering everything from introductory pony classes and show hunter, right through to the big guns in the Premier Super League at 1.60m.

White has been in unbeatable form this season with no less than six Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider series victories to her credit already and with both speed demon Cricklewood Ace and up-and-comer Flashback in the five-strong field she is poised to bring up win number seven, defending the title she won last year. She’ll face some stiff opposition though with arch rival Olivia Robertson (Ohoka) fresh from defeating the Australians in a Young Rider match aboard borrowed horses last weekend in the North Island with her two stables stars Ngahiwi Cisco and DHs Ceniki. Also starting is Rakaia’s Kimberley Bird on Ngahiwi Summer.

“I am super excited about having the South Island Championships at Gore. The grounds are going to be absolutely perfect and the Southland Show Jumping Committee have worked super hard to make the show the best it can be and I think it's going to be a fantastic show,” says White.

The other big local hope is rising star Scott Wylie (Invercargill) in the Pony Grand Prix. Wylie has both Spring Brooke and MF Spot Me entered in the eight strong field which includes inform combinations Grace O’Sullivan (Rangiora) on Galaxy Masterpiece and Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) on Moonlight Glow, who bothy have wins to their credit this season. Wylie comes in off a strong performance at last weekend’s Xmas Cracker Show in Christchurch where he posted one of only two clears in the first round, to finish fourth and fifth respectively and will be looking to go even better on home ground.

The show also gives the big guns their first Premier League of the southern season to be designed by visiting Auckland course designer Ross Coles. Attracting just the three starters Mosgiel’s Claudia Hay will go in as hot favourite aboard her stunning stallion Euro Sport Centavos with four wins from five Grand Prix starts this season. They’ll come up against Robertson and Ngahiwi Cisco, who are new to this level, as well as Tegan Fitzsimon aboard Alacazam MH, who made a stunning return to top level at Canterbury A&P.

Aside from the major championships, crucial points are on offer in the competitive ESNZ national jumping series’ including the Junior Rider KiwiSpan Series, Caledonian Amateur Rider Series, and Pro Am, all of which have attracted strong fields, as well as the breeding age group series classes for five, six and seven-year-old horses. The crowd-pleasing South Island Speed Pony and Speed Horse Championships have also attracted strong entries on Saturday afternoon.

Entry to the grounds is FREE. All welcome.

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