Kiwis Head to Adelaide Chasing Oceania Crowns

The New Zealand Young Rider Team takes the Oceania Championship for the Fiber Fresh CCI3*-S. 2024 NZL-Land Rover Horse of the Year. Tomoana Showgrounds, Hawkes Bay. Sunday 10 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography

There’s a strong contingent of Kiwis comfortably ensconced in Australia ready for the Adelaide Equestrian Festival and keen to lay claim to the Oceania Championships – both the senior and young rider. Entries are high at the popular event, which also includes the Southern Hemisphere’s only CCI5*-L.

The eventing championship is the second trans-Tasman clash this month, something that makes ESNZ high performance manager Jock Paget very happy. “These trans-Tasman competitions are critical for our campaign preparations,” he says. “They give riders the opportunity to travel horses to new environments, compete at foreign venues and learn to manage their equines in those environments – these are key skills.”

Ideally all New Zealand’s future championship riders will have that exposure before heading to pinnacle events. “It’s also about learning what it feels like to ride in a team. We want these competitions annually so we can expose our future championship riders to as much of that as possible.”

The Senior Oceania Championship at Adelaide will be contested in the CCI4*-S. Organisers are excited to say the 22-strong CCI4*-S field is the largest since the class was introduced, adding they are particularly encouraged by the quality and scale of the field. It will undoubtedly be a true trans-Tasman clash with both nations keen to claim the bragging rights.

For the Kiwis, Bridie Quigley and her 14-year-old grey gelding Oranoa Greyson won their last two starts – the CCI3*-S at Matamata in February and CCI4*-L at Taupo in December. They have previously travelled to Australia to compete, placing eighth in the CCI4*-L at Werribee last year.

Carys McCrory and her 16-year-old thoroughbred Nemesis have solid form, finishing no lower than second in their last six starts, including wins at the CCI4*-S at Taupo in September and the CCI4*-L at Christchurch in April. This is their first foray offshore to compete.

Charlotte Penny lines up with her 11-year-old grey mare Carousal who was second and third in the CCI4*-S at Taupo in September and November, as well as sixth at Matamata in February.

Rounding out the senior team are Rebecca Wardle and 14-year-old Dingmac Eccles who were third in the CCI4*-L at Taupo in December, won the CCI4*-S at Christchurch in October and were second in the CCI3*-L at Christchurch in April. Reserves for the senior team are Australia-based Andy Daines with Hat Trick and Emily Cammock with Zealand Blue HSH.

The young rider team will compete in the 39-strong CCI3*-L. Lining up for New Zealand is Fabriana McQuarrie on 14-year-old Oceanic who was third in their last outing in the CCI3*-L at Taupo in December. Prior to that the combo had two wins in CCI3*-L at Christchurch.

Holly McInnes rides her 10-year-old thoroughbred Pop It. They were third in their last CCI3*-S start at Matamata in February and top six in the CCI3*-L at Taupo in December.

Scout Lodder and her mum’s 16-year-old thoroughbred Overnight Success have a trio of fourths to their credit for their last three starts in CCI4*-S and CCI3*-L classes. The combination were in the victorious New Zealand young rider team at the last Oceania clash.

Rounding out the team is Tessa Bradcock on the 10-year-old mare Ceremony who placed second in their last CCI3*-S start and bagged two victories at the same level last year.

Reserves for the young rider team are Bridie Quigley aboard Encore and Mackenzie Marlo with CHS Diplomat.

The trans-Tasman competition was first held in Gawler in 1985 when the Kiwi senior team triumphed. Since then honours have been shared with the last clash in 2024 at the Horse of the Year Show where Australia won the senior title and the hosts, the young rider.

Madison Seivwright and 18-year-old Waitangi Pinterest are New Zealand’s sole entry in the CCI5*-L. This is their second start at Adelaide, but their first in the 5* having previously placed fourth in the CCI4*-L. They have competed at Pau 5* and Aachen CCIO4*-S, where they placed 11th.

There are 13 entries in the 5*, including former winners and others keen to add their names to the coveted trophy. Clarke Johnstone and Balmoral Sensation were the last Kiwis to win the crown, back in 2017, with Matthew Grayling and Revo the winners in 2001, and Nick Larkin aboard Red also on the honour roll. The 5* horse inspection is on Thursday, with dressage on Friday, cross country Saturday and showjumping Sunday.

Overall, the 2026 Adelaide Festival has attracted its largest ever number of entries since pre-COVID with three highly competitive classes on the programme, including 12 Kiwi combos.

THE TEAMS
Senior Team:

Senior Team Reserves (in order)

Young Rider Team:

Young Rider Reserves (in order)

EVENT SCHEDULE

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By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photo by Libby Law/ESNZ

13^th April 2026