2022 New Zealand Dressage Championships Cancelled due to Covid

Dressage

New Zealand

The 2022 New Zealand Dressage Championships and Para Championships scheduled for 24-26 March 2022 have been cancelled.

Due to ongoing concerns around the current Covid situation throughout New Zealand, the Dressage NZ Board has made the difficult decision that Nationals will not proceed on the scheduled dates.

“This decision was not made lightly, but with the current uncertainty around Covid in our communities, the Board believed this was the best decision to make for everyone involved,” said Scott McKenna, Dressage NZ Chair. “Operating under Red level brings a multitude of challenges running an event of this size, especially bringing people together from across the country. We want to be able to run this show safely, while keeping the traditionally high standard of the event that is beneficial for the riders, sponsors, volunteers and fans.”

Omicron Rise

The New Zealand Ministry of Health reported that "the sharp increase in new cases today (13 February) is another reminder that, as expected, the highly transmissible Omicron variant is now spreading in our communities as we have seen in other countries."

"The most important step anyone can take to prepare for Omicron is to book their vaccine, whether it’s their first, second or booster. Every dose counts and lowers the chances of getting very sick and being hospitalised," the Ministry posted. "We are also continuing to remind people to do the basics well – staying home if you’re unwell, wearing a mask, physical distancing and scanning in using the NZ COVID Tracer app when you’re out and about."

58% of the NZL population has been boostered, 95% has been twice vaccinated. New Zealand has a population of around 5 million, 32 of them are hospitalised with Covid.

Postponed

The Board and the Event Manager are currently exploring if there are alternative dates to hold this event in 2022, and hope to be able to share a decision around this in due course.

Riders who have already entered the event will receive a full refund of all fees paid as soon as possible.

"Dressage NZ is also continuing to work with the FEI to determine what options could be available to offer NZ based athletes a World Championships qualifying event," said Wendy Hamerton, sport manager at ESNZ.