It has been 40 years since the ESNZ Eventing National 3 Day Eventing Championships have been held in Christchurch. The excitement is building for the return of the most sought after Eventing titles in NZ being presented in Christchurch. Charlotte Young has found a wonderful video and uploaded to You Tube of the 1985 NZ3DE held at McLeans Island – well worth a watch here!

Eventing Canterbury are no strangers to hosting quality competitions throughout the season with the committee hosting a huge 6 Events per season. They have a hard working team of dedicated volunteers who make each and every one of their events a huge success therefore competitors are in for a treat with Eventing Canterbury as hosts.

Claudia Faulkner – Eventing Canterbury secretary extraordinaire. Claudia will be competing 3 horses at the NZ3DE 2025.

The return of the Event has been in planning mode for the last 3 years with the re-development of the Cross Country area, having resown a large majority of the land, creating superb going for horse and rider combinations.

The NZ3DE has been instrumental in the careers of some top equestrians:

  • Vaughn Jefferies
  • Trudy Boyce
  • Tinks Pottinger
  • Matthew Grayling
  • Mark Todd
  • Marges Knighton
  • Heelan Tompkins
  • Clarke Johnstone
  • Shane Rose (Australia)
  • Andrew Scott
  • Muzi James (nee Pottinger)

Riders will be coming from both the North Island and the South Island, including:

  • Whangarei rider Helen McGrath, hot off her win at the One Day Eventing Champs 3-star championships in March
  • Hawke’s Bay rider Carys McCrory who completed her first 4-star Eventing competition recently at the One Day Champs
  • Hokitika rider Rebecca Wardle who is on the ESNZ high performance development squad

Rebecca Wardle & Dingmac Eccles

For the first time, lower levels (65cm) are being offered at the nationals, as Equestrian Sports New Zealand focuses on making the sport more accessible for the boom in grassroots riders in the greater Canterbury region.

To view entries and to view the draw (available from Wednesday 16th April), please head to the Evo Events website here

Aside from the excitement of the competition there will be a mock trot up, a XC course walk with Lizzie Green, Tarryn Jones and Georgia Allison, a function on Saturday evening, a saddle auction – check out the Eventing Canterbury Facebook page for more information. 

WHERE: Dunstan Horsefeeds National Equestrian Centre, Christchurch – 820 Equestrian McLeans Island Road, Christchurch

WHEN: Schedule:

Thursday 17 April – Young Event Horse Championships

Friday 18 April – Trot ups and the Dressage phase

Saturday 19 April – the most spectacular with Cross-Country for upper level competitors, and Showjumping for lower level competitors

Sunday 20 April – Showjumping for upper level competitors and Cross-Country for lower levels.  

SOCIAL MEDIA:

  • Eventing Canterbury Facebook page
  • eventingcanty Instagram page