{"id":139880,"date":"2019-06-23T15:13:59","date_gmt":"2019-06-23T13:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/chris-van-der-merwe-and-capitals-chantilly-take-this-years-main-title-class-at-the-nissan-winter-classic\/"},"modified":"2019-06-23T15:13:59","modified_gmt":"2019-06-23T13:13:59","slug":"chris-van-der-merwe-and-capitals-chantilly-take-this-years-main-title-class-at-the-nissan-winter-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/chris-van-der-merwe-and-capitals-chantilly-take-this-years-main-title-class-at-the-nissan-winter-classic\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris van der Merwe and Capital\u2019s Chantilly take this year\u2019s main title class at the Nissan Winter Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chris van der Merwe and Capital\u2019s Chantilly take this year\u2019s main title class at the Nissan Winter Classic<\/a>: <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
It was five days of unmissable showjumping action at this year\u2019s Nissan Winter Classic as riders competed in 39 hotly-contested events at Shongweni Club from 13 to 17 June \u2013 culminating in one of the biggest international FEI World Cup classes. And this year, the 1.5m Nissan FEI World Cup Qualifier was clinched by Limpopo\u2019s Chris van der Merwe (25) riding Capital\u2019s Chantilly.<\/p>\n

This has been a stellar year so far for van der Merwe \u2013 sponsored by BB Auto Nissan Polokwane and Studs Clothing \u2013 who came into the Nissan Winter Classic having taken both the Nissan Easter Festival and Reonet World Cup titles earlier this year. This latest win adds to an already impressive 20-year riding career which includes two President Cups, an Outdoor Grand Prix, as well as the 1.35 and 1.40 SA Champs in 2017.<\/p>\n

The Nissan Winter Classic has always been a favourite for Van der Merwe, having won the Young Rider\u2019s Series on his horse, Little Big Time previously, as well as jumping his first ever World Cup Qualifier on Domino in 2014.<\/p>\n

Going into this year\u2019s contest, Van der Merwe stated: \u201cCapital\u2019s Chantilly is my best horse and one of the top three leading horses in the World Cup so far.\u201d These words proved true as he managed to take the lead over renowned South African showjumper, Nicole Horwood (Kyalami) \u2013 four-time winner of the SA Showjumping Derby \u2013 riding Capital\u2019s Don Cumarco.<\/p>\n

In addition to taking the main title class, Van der Merwe was also one of a three-way tie in this year\u2019s exciting Nissan 6 Bar Event. Van der Merwe \u2013 riding two-time winner of the 2018 and 2019 6 Bar contest, Capital\u2019s Castigo \u2013 joined Team Nissan\u2019s rider, Oscar Ncube (Kyalami) on Nelbie van Het Heyveld Z, and Leona van der Merwe on Capital\u2019s Cascord, to clear the 1.95cm jump this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cNissan would like to extend its congratulations to all the riders for putting on an incredible performance at this year\u2019s event,\u201d said Mike Whitfield, Managing Director of Nissan SA. \u201cWe would also like to thank all the spectators that came out to support the riders while enjoying the stalls and entertainment on offer. It was another spectacular showjumping event featuring the competitive spirit and camaraderie that is so in sync with the Nissan brand.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Nissan Winter Classic forms the third of five elite events that make up the South African leg of the World Cup Jumping qualifiers. This annual event is renowned for attracting the country\u2019s best riders, among them husband-and-wife team, Barry Taylor and Lorette Knowles-Taylor (Gauteng); renowned international showjumper, dressage rider and instructor, Dominey Alexander (Gauteng); as well as the Triggol family (Gauteng) \u2013 Govett (winner of the 2019 Cup Qualifier at Stokkiesdraai) alongside son, Thomas and daughter, Cayleigh.<\/p>\n

Grant Langley, Nissan Winter Classic event organizer and one of South Africa\u2019s most respected riders, said: \u201cA huge thanks you to our flagship sponsor Nissan who has been instrumental in developing the sport in KwaZulu-Natal across all levels of equestrian jumping.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great team effort and we look forward to continuing to grow the event. It was fantastic to see such high class jumping. Our international course designer (Michel Ismalun from France FEI Level 3, assisted by Cape Town\u2019s Kevin Sprately from Cape Town FEI Level 3) said this is the only country he has built in where he has witnessed such a tremendous growth in our riders and horses, and we have some fantastic young riders coming through which is very exciting for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alongside the showjumping entertainment, visitors to the Nissan Winter Classic enjoyed family fun in the dedicated Nissan children\u2019s zone, the popular Nissan vehicle display and test drive, and a range of quality market stalls.<\/p>\n

The annual Nissan Winter Classic also gives back to the local community in the form of charitable donations aimed at improving the local educational facilities. Funds raised by Foresyte Shows Langley Equestrian Centre in 2019 will continue to contribute to enhancing the facilities at Umthombomuhle School in the Hammarsdale area, benefitting more than 100 schoolchildren.<\/p>\n

Nissan Winter Classic 2019 Winners<\/p>\n

The 1.5m Nissan FEI World Cup Qualifier
1st: Capital\u2019s Chantilly \u2013 Chris van der Merwe (Limpopo)
2nd: Capital\u2019s Don Cumarco \u2013 Nicole Horwood
3rd: Eldo \u2013 Ashlee Healy<\/p>\n

The Horsebox Equestrian Pony Rider 1.15m KZN Championship
1st: Silkwood Lickity Split \u2013 Bella Hackland (Eston)
2nd \u2013 My Irish Boy \u2013 Alexandra Ric-hansen
3rd: Rasta \u2013 Helen Criticos<\/p>\n

The Horse Box Equestrian 1.20m Adult Championship
1st: Artav\u2019s La Conda \u2013 Amy Engelbrecht (Summerveld)
2nd: Prism \u2013 Jessica Prince
3rd; Seeis Alioucoura \u2013 Christi Lyn Davis<\/p>\n

The 1.40\/1.45m Nissan Rider\u2019s Grand Prix Tour
1st: Rivendell\u2019s Chancellor \u2013 Matthew Morrison (Kyalami)
2nd: Mark White Nissan\u2019s Capital\u2019s Kronos \u2013 Nicole Horwood
3rd: Ultimo WC \u2013 Lara Neill<\/p>\n

The Nissan 6-bar Event \u2013 at 1.95cm Its was a three-way tie for the Nissan 6 Bar!
1st: Nelbie van Het Heyveld Z \u2013 Oscar Ncube (Kyalami)
1st: Capital\u2019s Cascord \u2013 Leona Van Der Merwe
1st: Capital\u2019s Castigo \u2013 Chris Van Der Merwe<\/p>\n

The Forsyte 1.50m Rider\u2019s Championship
1st: Clyde Z \u2013 Cathryn Neill
2nd: Capital\u2019s Chantilly \u2013 Chris van der Merwe
3rd: Counter Attack \u2013 Barry Taylor<\/p>\n

For full results of the Nissan Winter Classic, check The Winter Classic 2019 and SA Showjumping on Facebook, visit www.foresyte.co.za, or contact Grant Langley on 082 859 2160.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Click HERE to submit your Durban \/ Kwazulu-Natal Press Release<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chris van der Merwe and Capital\u2019s Chantilly take this year\u2019s main title class at the Nissan Winter Classic: It was five days of unmissable showjumping action at this year\u2019s Nissan Winter Classic as riders competed in 39 hotly-contested events at Shongweni Club from 13 to 17 June \u2013 culminating in one of the biggest international […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[18],"tags":[8275,3335,953],"class_list":{"0":"post-139880","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-durban","7":"tag-durban","8":"tag-mydurban-co-za","9":"tag-newspaper","10":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=139880"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139880\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=139880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=139880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=139880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}