Attention turns to Christchurch this coming weekend for the National One Day Event Championships being hosted by Eventing Canterbury, 17-18 April at McLeans Island. The event also includes the Melwood Equestrian South Island Young Event Horse Championships on Friday 16 April.

Covid-19 caused the cancellation of the 2020 national one day titles and none of the four 2019 title holders are lining up to defend their titles.

Just two combinations are starting in the DVS CCI4*-S Championship competing for the coveted Forest Gate Trophy. They are Emily Cammock (West Melton) aboard the seasoned campaigner, Shaw Lee, and Catherine Taylor (Palmerston North) aboard Kiteroa Lara.  A former winner of the Forest Gate title, Emily last won in 2006 aboard Southern Ben, a horse she later took to the UK to successfully campaign and compete at CCI5* level.

Catherine is making the trip south from her hometown of Palmerston North with three horses. She is also starting Coljoy in the CCI2*-S, competing for the Ferndale Salver, and Vulcan in CCN95-S young horse class which is restricted to 4, 5 and 6 year olds.

Several other north island combinations are crossing the cook strait to contest the CCI3*-S title for the Waiteko Trophy. Kyle Calder (Auckland) with Apteryx, Bonnie Farrant (Wellington) and Jay Gatsby and Kate Fleming (Wellington) riding Goldstone Hawk. Together with the other south island based combinations, this class of 12 is going to be competitive. Kate Fleming also rides Stars Aligned in the CCI2*-S along with Kaitlyn Freeman (Otaki) who rides Landishon.

In addition to the horse and rider combinations, there are a number North Island based officials heading South for the weekend.  Hamish Butler-Gallie as Technical Delegate for the CCI4* and CCI3* classes leads the Technical team with Simon Green who is TD for the CCI2*-S. Margs Carline is president of the Ground Jury for the three FEI classes, along with Bill Phiskie and Mura Love, and Paula Gold is the Chief Steward.

It has been 7 years since the National One Day titles were contested in Christchurch and so everyone is looking forward to seeing what course designers Nick Pyke (4*), Richard Crowe (3*) and Lucy Shaw (2*) have put forward to test the combinations on Cross Country Day, Sunday 18 April.

Spectators are welcome to attend, entry is free and food and drink is available over the three days of competition.

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