Christen Hayde on Tandarra Sweet As, winner of the national one-day event and leader of the Bell Tea Super League. Photo by Barbara Thomson
The most prestigious titles in New Zealand Eventing will be contested at the NRM National Three-day Event at Aratiatia, Taupo, this weekend, 18th-20th May, with a capacity entry vying for the four championship trophies
It is the culmination of the eventing year, with all five of the Eventing New Zealand series (Bell Tea Super League, Massey University Young Rider, Alltech Junior Rider, Pro-Am, and Amateur) concluding here, with double points on offer for these final classes.
There are twenty-one riders coming from the South Island, the most ever, which should make the Inter-Island Teams Competition, with four riders representing each island, an exciting one. The venue, the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre, received a $30,000 Lion Foundation grant for development of the cross-country course, so new challenges await all competitors.
The course, which runs over both the adjacent Dept of Conservation Reserve and the Landcorp property next door, reflects the heritage of the area. The designers are John Nicholson from Te Awamutu, brother of Olympian Andrew Nicholson, for the 3* and 2*, and former Olympian Andrew Scott, from Feilding, for the 1* and pre-novice.
The 1* and pre-novice tracks are built alongside each other so both classes can run concurrently, enabling the organisers to accept the maximum number (dictated by daylight hours) of qualified entries. This is thought to be a world first, but it worked last year, so is being repeated.
The cross-country distances are far longer for a three-day (CCI) event than a one-day (CIC) event, the 3* being 6000m, so horses are required to be much fitter, hence the requirement for veterinary inspections prior to the start of the competition and before Sunday’s showjumping phase.
Sponsorship support has enabled the prize money to be increased this year, particularly the NRM CCI3* (Advanced), with first prize doubling to $3000. The Bell Tea Super League is worth $5000 to the winner, so there are worthwhile rewards on offer.
The NZ Horse & Pony Young Event Horse Championship takes place on Friday, for qualified 4 and 5 year old horses. This has become an attraction in itself, providing a shop window for breeders, and an introduction to high profile events for the horses.
Article: Virginia Caro
