2014 Nissan Winter Classic attracts cream of the crop
SA's top show jumpers will compete for top honours.
This year’s Nissan Winter Classic is once again expected to be a hotly contested affair, with all of South Africa’s top show jumpers scheduled to compete.
The prestigious event, will take place from 12 to 16 June from 8am to 4.30pm daily at the picturesque Durban Shongweni Club as part of the FEI World Cup Qualifier Series and gives local riders a chance to show their skills at an international level.
“All of South Africa’s top riders have entered the show and past champions include: Lorette Knowles-Taylor, Shaun Neil and KwaZulu Natal rider Jodi Pieters,” said spokesperson, Jodi Wolhuter.
The favourite to win the main class, the 1.5m Nissen World Cup Competition FEI, on Monday, 16 June is Nicole Horwood, according to Wolhuter.
“Nicole Horwood – on either one of her top horses – Mark White Nissan Capital Don Comarco or Capital Colnardo – is going to be hard to beat. She has big match temperament and has won most major events throughout South Africa over the past year. She really is in top form.”
She will have stiff competition though as the 2014 Classic is set to have the highest level of competition to date.
“The classes are full to capacity, and the horses and riders are just getting better each year. A lot of this year’s riders have purchased horses from overseas, and their level of riding is up to an international standard,” said Wolhuter.
“The courses will be built by Andreas Hollmann from Germany, who is absolutely top class and builds for shows all over Europe,” she added.
This year’s entries had exceeded all expectations, with the competition reaching 450 horses entry limit.
With a prize pool of over R250,000 and all of SA’s top riders wanting to take glory, the 2014 Nissan Winter Classic is not an event to miss.
