NZ EQUESTRIAN News


Beatson & Gollywog take WC Opener
Friday, 19 October 2012


It seems age is no barrier when it comes to winning the opening round of the Bayer World Cup New Zealand Series.

Maurice Beatson and his 18-year-old home-bred horse My Gollywog were the victors of the hotly-contested class on the final day of a very gusty and rather miserable Hawke’s Bay A and P Show today (Friday).

The fifty-something-year-old farmer from Dannevirke, who has represented New Zealand at Olympic Games, World Champs and a World Cup final, was his usual understated self about the win.

“It’s always a relief to get one out of the way,” he said.

Beatson and Gollywog were the only combination on four faults after the first round... Fourteen started the class, with six – carrying four, eight and 12 faults – going through to the second round.

Beatson also had another of his home-bred horses in the mix, with the lovely nine-year-old grey Schimmel Warrior, who was sitting on eight faults, and has only ever had one world cup start.

In the second round a few more of the Gary Sinclair designed fences were left up, with both of Beatson’s horses clear, along with three-time World Cup series winner Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) on Dunstan Zimmorena G, Lisa Coupe (Kumeu) on Bates Amaretto MVNZ and Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) on Swinger...

But with the faults carrying through from the first round, there was no way any could catch Beatson and Gollywog. Beatson’s Schimmel Warrior, McVean’s Zimmorena and Wilson’s Swinger all had eight faults apiece, with the final placings decided on time.

“It was a big and open track out there today, and if you had a young horse, it was hard work,” says Beatson.

Beatson, who was runner up to McVean in the 2011-2012 New Zealand World Cup Series, says he won’t be chasing series points this year.

“The aim is always to win every class we start in,” he says. “The big one we’re after is the Olympic Cup (at the New Zealand Horse of the Year Show).”

It was a good day all round for the Beatson truck – Tony the Pony, owned by Beatson’s partner Sally Clark, was a comfortable winner of the Pony Grand Prix in the hands of Emily Fraser (Takapau). The combination headed off nine other combinations to take the honours in the jump-off by nearly two seconds.


Bayer World Cup New Zealand Series (opening round): Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) My Gollywog 1, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunston Zimmorena G 2, Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) Swinger 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Schimmel Warrior 4, Lisa Coupe (Kumeu) Bates Amaretto MVNZ 5, Susie Hayward (Canterbury) Andretti 6.


Pony Grand Prix: Emily Fraser (Takapau) Tony the Pony 1, Becky Harkness (Canterbury) Brooklee Small Change 2, Shaun Fannin (Hastings) Sir Samson 3, Megan O’Grady (Tauranga) The Dreamer 4, Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) Hopeful Illusion 5, Polly Gibbs (Wanganui) Traffic LS 6.


Young Rider Series: Amanda Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Viking 1, Melody Matheson (Hawke’s Bay) Scottish Lad 2, Rosie Commons (Auckland) Glenara Shandon 3, Megan Lindermann-Cohen (Clevedon) Lesbos d’Quilly 4, Luke Dee (Ocean Beach) Ombudsman 5, Rebekah van Tiel (Auckland) Adeaze 6.


STH Pro Amateur Rider: Geordie Bull (Taupo) Bridget Bardot 1, Rachel Law (Hastings) Navy Blue 2, Trudi Mitchell (Wairoa) Strike Three 3, Savanah Larsen-Chruch (Turangi) Midway Whisper 4, Louise Grant (Canterbury) Kiwi Iron Heart 5, Desiree Foxley (Hastings) Knight’s Templer 6.


Caledonian Amateur Rider: Sarah Foreman (Auckland) Surf’s Up NZPH 1, Amy Playle (Hawke’s Bay) Oscar Star 2, Barry Beatson (Dannevirke) Sloane Square 3, Tinesha Carey (Hastings) Air Hill Squaw Valley 4, Kaylene Thomas (Hastings) Misty Mermaid 5, Kelly Wilson (Hikurangi) Ngahiwi Showtym Dancer 6.


KiwiSpan Junior Rider: Emily Fraser (Takapau) Kiwi Relic 1, Hayley Morris ( Canterbury) Live Wire II 2, Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) Cross Your Heart 3, Rebekah van Tiel (Auckland) Leeston Eagle 4, Amelia Gunson (Hawke’s Bay) Jumping Jack Splash 5, Molly Coutts (Auckland) Spiderman II 6.


Fernhill Stud Five Year Old Series: Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing, Savanah Larsen-Church (Turangi) Sole Low =1.


Mitavite Six Year Old Series: Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Lucca, Amanda Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Vision, Vicky Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Stardust, Jessie Linton (Hastings) AP Niva, Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) NZ Powerful =1.


Seven Year Old Series: Claire Wilson (Waipukurau) Finetto 1, Brooke Zander (Waipukurau) Double J Rumours 2, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Breeze 3, Natasha Brooks (Cambridge) Kapattack 4, Tom Tarver Priebe (Kawerau) Super Nova NZPH 5, Geordie Bull (Taupo) Bridget Bardot 6.


One star Horse Grand Prix: Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Springfield 1, Luke Dee (Ocean Beach) Ombudsman 2, Mathew Gilmour (Matangi) Cuba d’Esquelmes Z 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Schimmel Warrior 4, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Zasjany D 5, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Zehrenland 6.

- Diana Dobson
ESNZ Media Liaison