EVERY year the Nissan Easter Festival gets better and better. More families attend the festivities, greater entries are received for the equestrian competitions, and media interest spikes at this annual celebration and partnership between family and horses. 2015 proved to be no different.
With more than 10 000 people attending the show and in excess of 1 000 show entries received, Kyalami Equestrian Park Chairman Clem dos Santos said: “The 2015 show was hugely successful. People come from across the country for this 10-day event, because they know they are guaranteed fabulous entertainment. All this in addition to witnessing the finest equestrian competition on the continent.”
After nine days of horse action, the Easter day treat for the crowd was the Nissan Six Bar event, which was won by Team Nissan rider Lorette Knowles-Taylor on the Majestic Titanic. The pair outlasted the 14 starters, taking the R15 000 first prize, after clearing the last fence which stood at a mammoth 1.9 metre.
The most watched event is always the 1.50 Nissan Adult SA Outdoor Grand Prix. The near capacity crowd witnessed only two clears in the first round: Seventh ranked SA rider Lorette Knowles-Taylor and former Youth Olympic Games participant Samantha Mcintosh. Ironically, the same two riders were the only two clears in the second round, setting up for a thrilling jump-off. The first to go and winner of the 2015 1.50 Nissan Adult SA Outdoor Grand Prix was Samantha Mcintosh, jumping her third clear of the day in a time of 36.5 seconds.
As the sun set at Kyalami Equestrian Park on Easter Monday evening, 2015 Nissan Easter Festival was once again an event etched in the memories of all those who attended the equestrian extravaganza.
