Top show jumpers converge on Christchurch for nationals

The New Zealand National Equestrian Centre at McLeans Island is a hive of activity as the country's top show jumpers converge on Christchurch for the 18th annual National Show Jumping and Show Hunter Championships which begin tomorrow.

Although New Zealand show jumping's pin-up girl Katie McVean is absent, the competition has attracted a huge North Island contingent vying for national honours against the best combinations the South Island has to offer.

Canterbury's Ross Smith on the ultra-impressive stallion, Quite Cassini, and Susie Hayward on the starry stallion, Andretti, will hold the hopes of the South Island in the Bayer Senior Horse Grand Prix. Both come into the competition on the back of a string of successful results. Hayward currently leads the national Cathay Pacific One Star Grand Prix Series.

Fresh from finishing sixth in the Bayer FEI NZ World Cup final in Tauranga last weekend, Gisborne's Tessa Williams and Alltech Craighaven Nitro lead the North Island charge alongside two-time Olympian Daniel Meech of Taupo on the rising star Argento.

Also vying for honours in her former hometown is Carissa McGregor on Chatterton.

Williams and Meech also head the North Island charge in the NZ One Star Cathay Pacific Grand Prix with half the field hailing from across the strait. Meech has a two-pronged attack with BG Conny and Carlotta entered with Williams to ride starry seven-year-old Alltech Astek Ooh La La. Hawke's Bay's Rachael Bental rides Kiwi Brave, while Sophie Burling, who is down from Kerikeri, starts Detailed and LR Ruegar.

The South Island contenders include last year's winner of the Bayer Senior Horse Grand Prix Christchurch's Chris Harris with Zilco Te Peka Lotto, Mosgiel's Claudia Hay on EuroSport Heartbreaker, Kelly Evans (Cave) with Hammertime, young riders Stacey Anderson of Christrchurch on Saddlery Barn Cruiser and Brittany Whelan of Dunedin on George Jetson. Completing the line-up is former international eventer Emily Cammock of West Melton on eventer-turned-show jumper, Transcend.

The JLT Bloodstock Pony Grand Prix, Giltrap Audi Mitavite South Island Young Rider, KiwiSpan Junior Rider, IverQuantel Amateur Rider series, and age group series classes have also attracted strong fields with a number of North Island competitors.

Notably Hawke's Bay's Emily Fraser, who is leading the national JKT Bloodstock Pony Grand Prix series, is down from Takapau to compete with Tony The Pony, as is KiwiSpan Junior rider series leader Logan Massie of Dannevirke, who will compete Double J Cloud 9 in the junior as well as Kiwi Ludo in the hotly-contested young rider, and amateur rider leader Brook Zander of Waipukurau with Double J Rumours.

Hosted by the South Island Show Jumping Committee on behalf of the seven areas in the South Island, the event will run for three days.

The ring one course has been designed by Australian John Vallance.