EQUESTRIAN EXCITEMENT
Riding high
Between 23 – 25 April 2010, the NZCT Eventing Canterbury FEI Three Day South Island Eventing Championship was held at the National Equestrian Centre at McLean's Island. During the same weekend, for the first time ever, the "Young Rider Trans Tasman Challenge" was held at McLean Island, and Eventing Canterbury says NZCT funding helped make both events possible.
Last year NZCT awarded the club a $27,000 grant which enabled it to transform its training ground and raise the standard of its facilities. As a result, Canterbury riders are enjoying new competitions and more opportunities to hone their riding skills.
In fact last October (thanks to NZCT’s assistance via the Springston Trophy grant), Eventing Canterbury was able to host one of the largest Pony Club team events in the Southern Hemisphere. Still, the sport is not just for those with a competitive streak - local riders are taking advantage of the club’s new rider memberships, twilight series and coaching clinics.
Eventing Canterbury was fortunate enough to have Lucinda Green (six times Badminton winner on six different horses) run a two day coaching clinic in February. And Lucinda is reported to have been amazed that such a fantastic, international standard riding facility was so accessible to Canterbury riders.
Eventing Canterbury says that it, and the local equestrian community, truly appreciates NZCT's role in helping it bring the sport forward for so many Canterbury and South Island Riders.
We’d like to pass this message of thanks on to you – our publicans – without whom we couldn’t support such worthwhile organisations and sports.
Visit www.eventingcanterbury.org.nz to find out more.
Right: Sam Taylor rides DV8 and wins the first South Island FEI CIC 3 star event (photo courtesy of Eventing Canterbury)
