NEW ZEALAND 2008 South Island Championships
January 6 2008
RESULTS
CEI*** 161km South Island Open Championship1st - Paul Jeffery, Rhan, 10:23:03 **BC
2nd - Kylie Avery, Silands Jasark, 10:23:44
3rd - Philip Graham, Wolfgang Amadeus, 11:06:55
4th - Alison Higgins, Twynham El Omar, 12:11:55
CEIJ*** 121km South Island Junior Championship
1st - Julia Anderson, SS Shalia, 10:26:14 **BC
2nd - Brooke Candy, Glendaar Sotamm, 10:26:15
CEI** 103km South Island Intermediate Open Championship
1st - Vanessa Tiffen, Astek Laurelea, 6:37:54
2nd - Linda Pullar, Kishon Abigail, 6:37:55 **BC
3rd - Jenny Worsfold, Sherwood Shahin, 7:28:07
Debbie Worsfold, Chandalla Chiffon, 7:28:09
80km Junior: South Island Intermediate Junior Championship
1st - Bridgett James & Fahana, 5:57:55 **BC
2nd - Alice Prangley, Karim NZL; 7:17:55
CEI*** 121km
1st - Maxine Leary, JA Gai Kascade, 8:46:22
2nd - Sandie MacLean, Dahman Vanzant NZL, 8:46:23 **BC
3rd - Kevin James, Karamea Fasizi, 8:47:37
4th - Helen Graham, Sherwood Sariah, 8:48:41
5th - Alison Higgins, Desert Stars Sensation, 10:04:44
CEIJ** 103km (Junior)
1st - Julia Anderson, Velvet Fire, 8:35:33
2nd - Alice Prangley, Zaandel NZL, 10:39:08
CEI*** 160 + 2 Open (161kms over 2 days: 1st day 73km, 2nd day 89km)
1st - Chris Enstrom (Aust.), Woodlands Park Saturn **BC
2nd - Ursula Keenan, Heritage CK Mateus
CEIJ*** 160 + 2 Junior (161kms over 2 days: 1st day 73km, 2nd day 89km)
1st - Jaime Heywood, Vigar Shamah **BC
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Kylie Avery on Silands Jasark 2nd in CEI*** 160 km Image by Sandie MacLean |
Linda Pullar on Kishon Abigail 2nd place & BC in CEI** 100km Open Intermediate Championship Image by Sandie MacLean |
Strapping Rhan for Paul Jeffrey Winner and BC of the CEI*** 160km South Island Open Championship Image by Sandie MacLean |
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Vanessa Tiffen on Astek Laurelea Winners of the CEI*** 100km Image by Sandie MacLean |
Paul Jeffrey on Rhan Several km from the winning 160km finish line Image by Sandie MacLean |
 Sandie MacLean and Dahman Vanzant NZL 2nd and BC by half a nose in a spectacular gallop finish Image by Carol Dixon |
2008 Holly Farm South Island Endurance Championship, Hawarden, New Zealand 4th - 6th January 2008
The first of New Zealand's three major calendared FEI Championship events was the 2008 Holly Farm South Island Endurance Championship, held in Hawarden. There were seven FEI and six National Points Rides, creating many options for the competitors. The course was a combination of 6 loops (37, 37, 40, 21, 12 & 14kms) depending on the individual ride distance, consisting of varying underfoot conditions, moderate hills, roadsides and farmland which was flat, easy going.
This year the event was hosted by Blueridge Endurance. President of the Organising Committee David Marshall was very pleased to be supported by Sponsors and some very hard working helpers. Hawarden proved a generous community with land owners freely allowing access to properties and a number of sports clubs involved whether for catering or smaller issues that needed seen to.
With soaring regional temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius the Officiating panels showed flexibility allowing the CEI*** 161km South Island Open Championship event to be bought forward from 4am to 1am on the Saturday for a small competitive field. The field travelled fairly closely until a front runner group emerged after Loop 3. Of these three combinations Kylie Avery and the 10 year old Stallion, Silands Jasark lead the group whilst Paul Jeffery and Rhan strategically closed the gap between them over the last three loops. Philip Graham riding Wolfgang Amadeus was maintaining his speed safely holding onto third place.
During the final loop, Jeffery worked at reducing the lead Avery held, past them and then managed to create some distance between them resulting in a convincing win to Jeffery in the time of 10:23:03. Rhan looked fantastic and went onto to win the prestigious Best Conditioned Award. Avery and Graham placed second and third respectively and in doing so both combinations are now qualified for selection at the 2008 WEC Malaysia. All completions were under World Champs qualifying time for which the course was designed to achieve.
The CEI** 103km Open South Island Intermediate Championship had the largest field of the weekend seeing a battle to the finish line. Kishon Abigail, an imposing chestnut mare ably ridden by Linda Pullar competing with a broken arm but certainly not slowing her down. The eventual winner was Astek Laurelea ridden by Vanessa Tiffen whom recently returned from working in Australia. Pullar came in a close second not quite able to stave off the persistent Tiffen.
Possibly the first CEI*** 161km (over 2 days) in New Zealand was run over the weekend, both an Open and Junior. A new concept for most riders in NZ which was a very interesting event to see unfold. First place and BC went to Australian rider, Chris Enstrom and Woodlands Park Saturn. Owner of Saturn, Ursula Keenan riding the gelding, Heritage CK Mateus placed second. In the Junior division, a new endurance rider Jaime Heywood riding Vigar Shamah placed first and went onto be awarded BC.
Part of the list of competitions was the running of the CEI*** 121km South Island Junior Championship. The ride began in the dark at 2am which proved to be worthwhile in the cooler temperatures, dawn breaking around 5.30am. Julia Anderson placed first on SS Shalia with stable mate Glendaar Sotamm ridden by Brooke Candy a close second. The Junior Intermediate Championship was over 80kms and won by nine year old Bridgett James riding Fahana. Borrowed horse, Karim NZL was nicely ridden by Alice Prangley to place second in this event.
The Open division of the CEI*** 120km saw a fierce competition. The field separated during loop 2 and from this point on the front five riders kept together, with one vet out lame after loop 4 leaving four combinations to ride it out. Helen Graham riding Sherwood Sariah and Kevin James riding Karamea Fasizi deciding to hold back from a gallop finish placing fourth and third respectively. This left Maxine Leary riding JA Gai Kascade and Sandie MacLean riding Dahman Vanzant NZL to go all out for the most spectacular gallop finish of the weekend. Over nearly one kilometre with MacLean leading all the way, beaten by Leary by half a nose on the line. Not to take it laying down Dahman Vanzant NZL the eight year old gelding presented for Best Conditioned with an abundance of energy and vitality ensuring him the award.
Along with the associated 80 and 40km National Points and Qualifier Rides made for a full schedule and busy time for all. This brought the 2008 Holly Farm South Island Endurance Championship to a close. It was a most successful weekend for all involved with many thanks to all who had supported the event.
Sandie MacLean