{"id":85688,"date":"2015-04-08T11:45:00","date_gmt":"2015-04-08T09:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/85688\/samantha-mcintosh-takes-the-grand-prix-title\/"},"modified":"2015-04-08T12:03:17","modified_gmt":"2015-04-08T10:03:17","slug":"samantha-mcintosh-takes-the-grand-prix-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/sports-news\/2015\/04\/08\/samantha-mcintosh-takes-the-grand-prix-title\/","title":{"rendered":"Samantha Mcintosh takes the Grand Prix title"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every year the Nissan Easter Festival gets better and better.<\/p>\n

More families attend the festivities, a larger number of entries are received for the equestrian competitions and media interest spikes at this annual celebration and partnership between family and horses.<\/p>

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This year proved to be no different.<\/p>\n

With over 10 000 people attending the show and in excess of 1 000 show entries received, Kyalami Equestrian Park chairman Clem dos Santos explained why this show is, once again, due high praise.<\/p>

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\u201cThe 2015 show was hugely successful due to the synergy that exists between Nissan and the world class equestrian event managed by Kyalami Park Club.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople come from all over the country for this 10 day event because they know they are guaranteed fabulous children\u2019s play zones with various arts and crafts; test drives and competitions; interesting food stalls and a village.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll this in addition to witnessing the finest equestrian competition on the continent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

After nine days of horse action, the Easter Sunday treat for the crowd was the Nissan Six Bar event, which was won by Team Nissan rider Lorette Knowles-Taylor on the majestic Titanic.<\/p>\n

The pair outlasted the 14 starters, taking the R15 000 first prize after clearing the last fence which stood at a mammoth 1.90 metres.<\/p>\n

The most watched event, however, is always the 1.50m Nissan Adult SA Outdoor Grand Prix, which took place shortly after 2pm, on April 6, in the Bob Charter arena.<\/p>\n

The near capacity crowd witnessed only two clears in the first round — seventh ranked SA rider Lorette Knowles-Taylor, as well as former Youth Olympic Games participant Samantha Mcintosh.<\/p>\n

Ironically, the same two riders were the only two clears in the second round, setting up for a thrilling jump-off.<\/p>\n

First to go and winner of the 2015 1.50m Nissan Adult SA Outdoor Grand Prix and R30 000 in prize money was Samantha Mcintosh, jumping her third clear of the day in a time of 36.5 seconds.<\/p>\n

So as the sun set at Kyalami Equestrian Park on Easter Monday, the 2015 Nissan Easter Festival was once again an event etched in the memories of all those who attended the equestrian extravaganza.<\/p>\n