The Eventing Canterbury season (and ESNZ Eventing Calendar) finally got started on the weekend, with the committee pulling out all of the stops to run the event successfully under Covid Alert Level 2 conditions. Using the bubble format and splitting the two-day event into 4 half-day ones meant that riders were given precious MER opportunities and all seemed to appreciate the efforts made. Thankfully, the Dunstan Fiber Fresh NEC has huge amounts of space to allow for the appropriate distancing.
 
In class 1, the Ultimate Design & Renovation LTD CCI4*-S Emily Cammock and Shaw Lee enjoyed their run around the Nick Pyke designed 4* course. As Emily said “When you have had a partnership with a horse for as long as what we have – 15yrs ownership and 13 years under saddle, it’s almost like you know what each other are thinking. He is a horse that has his quirks, but we trust each other completely and he is just the most fun horse to ride Cross Country.”
 
Class 2 the Devi Heating Systems CCI3*-S Annabelle Jones has returned with a vengeance! After timeout due to Covid and various injuries, the Lincoln University student stepped up to her first 3* in the finest of fashions. Emily Cammock and Antara produced a lovely dressage test to lead the first phase on a score of 29.8, closely followed by Molly Moffat and Ngaihiwi Makem, and Cam Roberston on Wairoa Renegade. Hiccups in the cross country and showjumping phases bumped both of the later two out of contention. Emily and Annabelle were the only clear showjumping efforts and Annabelle’s fractionally faster cross country time allowed her to move up from 5th to take the win. Annabelle was “really happy with how Tom (Quintero) handled himself. He has been ready for a while to step up, feeling super fit and strong. I am really proud of him and am looking forward to knuckling down and fixing a few things in preparation for the South Island 3 Day Championships at Mcleans island in October.”
 
Lindsay Colwell and the wonderful Waitangi Netflix had a great weekend in the Bates Saddles CCI2*-S. The combination led from start to finish on Saturday. Scoring 27.8 in the dressage, they added only 0.4 cross country time faults to their score to finish on an impressive 28.6. In second place, Anna Bryant and Sioda who jumped from 4th to 2nd after the showjumping. The pair jumped double clear, gaining 1.2-time faults to hold on to their second-place position. In third place, Josefin Lerbs and Kilmarnoch on 36.9 after moving up from 6th.
 
Anna Robertson and Valkyrie II rose to the challenge to take out the Hobson Horse Coaches and Motor Homes 1* class on 37.1 – as the pair led from start to finish. Sonya Benison and MF Spotlit worked their way up from 6th place after the dressage phase, to finish on 41.8 as the pair added 4 faults to their score from the showjumping. In third place, Tinesha Benson and Ataahua Bess were close behind to finish on 42.1.
 
In division A of the Dunstan Horsefeeds CCN105-S Nele Friedrich and Mystery Man were in 5th spot after the dressage on 32, which they stayed on for the remainder of the competition as mistakes from other combinations allowed them to bump up into 1st place. Meg Glassey and The Little Prince added 5.6-time faults to their dressage score in the showjumping, to end on 36.6 in second place. Ruby Knightbridge and Awatuna Scarlett Rose were in 8th place after dressage, however worked their way up to 3rd place to finish on 40.3. In division B Annabelle Jones continued her successful weekend with Braxton Boy on Sunday taking out the win, only adding a time fault to her impressive dressage score to win from start to finish. Clean jumping efforts allowed Niamh Rayne and Ruby Kerr to move up the ranks into 2nd and 3rd places respectively.
 
Rangiora Equestrian Supplies CCN95-s. Emily Cammock has an extremely busy weekend with 7 horses entered in the competition!! Emily and Y-Puna Louie were in second place after the dressage but managed to squeeze into the top spot on 31.2 to end on their dressage score. Giles Gormack and Jeepers Creepers secured 2nd spot on 33.5, and in third place again was Emily Cammock on iCloud on 33.5.
 
Protranz Earthmoving Ltd. & Statesman Horse Floats CCN95-s A U21. Emily Holder and Diamond Solitaire finished the competition on their very respectable dressage score of 28.5, flying through the showjumping and cross country. In second place, Lily Ellis and Wembleybrook Monarch were hot on the heels of the winning combination, only 0.2 points behind to finish on their dressage score of 28.7. In third place, Bella Tane and Wabi Sabi had one rail in their showjumping, however, the pair attacked the cross country to add no more points to their score to secure themselves their final placing.
 
Protranz Earthmoving Ltd. & Statesman Horse Floats CCN95-s B U21
Grace Gormack and the lovely Rosewood Zakee were first after the dressage, having one rail in their show jump round, but due to hiccups from other combinations, managed to win the 95cm class on a great score of 34.8. Freya Ginnever and Mojito bumped their way up from 4th to 2nd after the cross country to finish on 35.2. Jade Miller and Eleanor Rigby jumped a lovely double clear to finish on their dressage score of 36.5.
 
Prebbleton Veterinary Hospital CCN80-s. Rebecca Hadfield and Gold Trinket won their class on their dressage score of 30, by a slim 0.2 points after a nice double clear. Emily Templeton and NPE Donello stayed on 30.2 after the dressage, securing their score through keeping the poles up in the showjumping and clear around the cross country to add no more points to their score. The combination ended in 2nd place. Hot on their heels in third place, was new combination of Allander Rocket and Kelly Tyson on 30.5. It was a closely contested class indeed.
 
Melwood Equestrian CCN80-s A U21. Shiloh Bailey and Oakleys Perfect Honor led the first 80cm class from the beginning to end, with a great score of 30.8. Gemma Lewis and Triple Star Black Canvas remained in second place on 33.8 throughout the competition, maintaining their score with a nice double clear. In third place, Luci Shanks and Ruby Tuesday, jumped up from fourth place to third after the cross country, ending on a score of 34.
 
Melwood Equestrian CCN80-s B U21. Sandow Jacob and Georgia Allison also led the second 80cm class from start to finish, completing the competition on their tidy dressage score of 30.5. Bumping their way up from 4th place after dressage, to finish in second place was Kate McDonald and Hollybank Just An Illusion, on a final score of 33.2. Chloe Baker and Smart Spark jumped double clear to finish on a score of 34 to secure third place.
 
Thank you to the event sponsors, officials and volunteers for supporting the event, the committee looks forward to doing it all again in mid October for the South Island Three Day Event 15-17 October.