Christchurch's Chris Harris is riding high after taking out the two premier events at the South Island Show Jumping Championships, which finished in Mosgiel yesterday.
Harris, riding the grand old campaigner Zilco Te Peka Luciano, returned to the unbeatable form they've shown all season posting two clear rounds to nab the Bomac Super League in style.
Despite attracting just the four starters and it being the first Bomac Super League of the southern season, international course designer Kevin Hansen took no prisoners. He built a tough track designed to test combinations to the highest three-star level - looking ahead to the National Show Jumping Championships in Christchurch in two weeks time and on to the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings in March.
After a gallant second in the South Island Young Rider Series on Saturday behind Brad Cunningham on Cheltenham, Christchurch's Tegan Fitzsimon and Alacazam MH stepped up to top level, finishing second with just four faults from the first round after producing one of the best rounds of their careers going clear in the second. Both Cunningham and Emma Power on Longridge Maverick were eliminated.
Harris was also to the fore aboard the ultra-talented mare, Lindis Lara, taking out the One Star Grand Prix sitting on 8 faults, ahead of Stacey Anderson and Saddlery Barn Cruiser second, and Ross Smith and Quite Cassini, third.
Meanwhile, the pony grand prix championship went to Kimberley Bird riding Showtym Image with the only clear round of the competition, to post the biggest win of the Ashburton teen's career. Christchurch's Olivia Robertson took second and third with Sweet Addition and Iamwhatiam, respectively.
One of the most exciting classes of the day was undoubtedly the South Island Open Speed Horse Championship. Attracting a huge field of 29 starters Dipton's Kathryn Manson on Adoris set the early pace with a time of 80.76 over the long track. Manson had a long wait to know if she had done enough though, holding the lead until Dunedin youngster Brittany Whelan on Summer Solei came out flying in the third to last round of the competition, stealing victory with a speedy 77.84. Louise Marriot and Concur finished third on 82.54.
The age group series attracted some strong fields, with the seven-year-old class one of the glamour events on the first day of competition with eight starters in front of a large crowd.
Burnham's Ross Smith and his two imported stallions Quite Cassini and Ajardo posted the only two clear rounds of the competition over the big three-star level track, with some fences up to maximum height of 1.40m.
Smith nominated Quite Cassini for the win and the South Island Seven-Year-Old Championship title, settling for second with Ajardo. Dunedin's Brittany Whelan finished third with the gutsy little George Jetson, the fastest of the four faulters.
The six-year-old championship was equally exciting with a big field of 13 starters. Held in ring two, again the honours went to a stallion, with Chris Harris's Zilco Cassius GNZ taking the honours, ahead of the ultra-consistent Louise Marriot second with Concur. Smith was third with Cesann.
Kurow's Kate Taylor and Landzone were stylish winners of the five-year-old championship. Taylor and Landzone were one of only two combinations to jump clear in the first round, the other being Angus Taylor aboard Oak As, both going through to the jump off. Kate Taylor and Landzone posted a second clear to take the win, with Angus Taylor and Oak As second after taking one rail.
The Amateur Series class proved another good competition with six clear rounds and four double clears, out of 19 starters. Louise Marriot continued her strong form this season, taking the win with a double clear in the fastest time aboard Matilda II, just ahead of southern trio Fiona Sharp and Rainbow Priceless, second, Donna Smith and Tower, third, and Gail Richardson and Lahar, fourth.
The Junior Rider Series came down to a three way jump off between Invercargill's Ashleigh Smail on My Agi, Georgie Pinckney on Whinnie The Who, and Ashley Lovett on Flintstone.
In the show hunter competition the overall South Island horse championship went to Ngarie Lamb (Waikaia) and Swayze, with the South Island pony championship to Steffie Whittaker (Chch) and Solitaire Opal.
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