It was a great day’s cross country at the Eyreton Pony Club Grounds in North Canterbury, aided by beautiful weather and perfect going for the horses.
There were some great performances, and some that looked a bit rusty after the winter break but overall, the standard was very good and bodes well for the South Island Three Day Event which this year is to be held in early October.
Kirsty Sharapoff and Shoot the Breeze held on to their lead despite a bit of a hiccup on cross country, to take out the Ultimate Design & Renovation CNC2* Plus class.
Kirsty wasn’t too worried about the blip. “I am trying to work on moving along a bit more on the cross country but then he was a bit surprised early in the course and I don’t think I gave him enough time to see the fence. Other than that, he went really well and really listened to me the whole way around.”
Kirsty is aiming to compete in the three-star grade at the three day event, and will competing against Emily Cammock on Shaw Lee. This weekend Emily elected to run Shaw Lee in the combined training class, rather than run him around the two-star cross country but was out on the cross country course a number of times today. “I had a super-green team out today, some of them competing for the first time in their classes, and one for the first time ever! It was a great training opportunity and I had zero expectations, and they all exceeded that.”
Larissa Srhoy maintained her lead established after the dressage phase and took out the Dunstan CNC2* class on Rockquest. The pair looked very accomplished on the cross country. Larissa also won the Melwood Equestrian CNC95 on Heads Will Roll, producing a clear round within the time today on cross country.
Also very impressive was the winner of the Equissage CNC1* class, SE Gorky Park, ridden by Brent Jury, who lead after the dressage and finished on their dressage score. The seven-year-old horse is three-quarters Hanoverian by Gym Bello. Brent, who was involved in breeding the horse, thinks there will be a good future for him, although he says he is going to take him slowly. “I have no plans to go above one-star at this point yet. He has a good brain and temperament, and is very good at both show jumping and dressage. So far he is very positive going cross country, but I want to give him time.”
Lauren Enright had a good weekend, winning two classes. Tygra won the Saddlery Barn CNC105 and Beaumont Cash won the Betavet CNC95.
It was good to see Lucy Turner with her super young horse out winning again. Astek Victor had quite a bit of time off after an injury, but was back winning the Melwood Equestrian CNC95 Under 21 Years class today.
By Jane Thompson
Photos – Jane Thompson
Eventing Canterbury Media Liaison