A little pep talk from trainer Jeff McVean proved just the ticket for Sam Morrison in the Country TV World Cup round at the Feilding A and P Show last night.
Aboard her 11-year-old gelding Biarritz, Morrison kept her cool to finish with eight faults over the Gary Sinclair-designed course, and take the win.
“The course was tough,” said the 21-year-old. “If you didn’t get straight on, you risked a rail, so I tried to make sure I hit every jump straight.”
It’s been a while since Morrison has won a World Cup round – a whole season in fact. She won at Hawke’s Bay on début at the beginning of last season, and despite starting in every round so far this season, hasn’t managed to place.
“I didn’t back myself to win here either,” she said. “The first few World Cups this season haven’t gone so well for me, so I just wanted to ride well and get a placing.”
She was pleased to be first out too.
“It gave me the option to just jump my own round and not what others were doing. To be leading going into the second gave me a good confidence boost.”
But that didn’t mean she wasn’t feeling the pressure. With current Olympic Cup winner Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) and Carnutelabryere ahead of her, she knew she needed a little rub of the green.
“When I say Helen take a rail it meant I had two (rails) in hand, so I just did what Jeff (McVean) told me, not rush and just jump each one as it came.”
Morrison is claiming full responsibility for the rail that fell at the last to finish on eight faults.
“I got a bit of a hot head going into it, so it was completely my fault!”
She’s hoping the victory augers well for the rest of the season, and plans to take Biarritz to Australia after the Horse of the Year Show in March.
“I want to continue riding him properly,” she said. “He will never let me down if I ride him well. I really want to have a good season leading into our trip to Australia and try to be competitive over there.”
Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) and Schimmel Warrior were the only combination to notch a clear over the two rounds in Feilding, but he carried 12 faults from the first, to finish in third place. McNaught-McFarlane also finished on 12, but had the faster time.
Youngster Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) and Larinium LS got up to finish fourth.
The New Zealand World Cup league runs over six rounds, with the best four to count for each rider.
The next competition is in Taupo (December 15-17) and Dannevirke (January 6-8) with the grand final at Waitemata (January 14-15).
The winner of the New Zealand league has the opportunity to represent the country at the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2015/2016 Final which is being held in Omaha, Nebraska, in the United States, from March 29-April 1, 2017.
In the Equissage Pony Grand Prix, five of the 16 starters came back for the jump-off where both Emma Watson (Morrinsville) aboard Fun House and Amanda Steele (Dannevirke) on Jakaranda both kept their slates clean. However, Watson’s speedy 35.08 seconds triumphed over Steele’s 36.21. Third-placed Sophie Scott (Pauatahanui) on Benrose Playtime were the fastest of the jump-off but paid for their 33.82 seconds with a rail to finish with four faults.
Results -
Country TV Premier League World Cup: Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Biarritz 1, Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo/GB) Carnutelabryere 2, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Schimmel Warrior 3, Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Larinium LS 4, Lucy Fell (Opiki) Letitbe GNZ 5, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Mandalay Cove 6.
Equissage Pony Grand Prix Series: Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Fun House 1, Amanda Steele (Dannevirke) Jakaranda 2, Sophie Scott (Pauatahanui) Benrose Playtime 3, Olivia Dalton (Auckland) Simply Samantha HH 4, Sarah West (Matamata) Showtym Cruiser 5, Georgia Percy (Wairarapa) Surprise Illusion 6.
FMG Young Rider Series: Drew Carson (Putaruru) Winston V Driene 1, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Veroana 2, Sinead Dolman (Gisborne) Floriant DHU 3, Laura Inkster (Auckland) Oporaes Jackamoe 4, Laura Inkster (Auckland) Strathcarron Zaurak 5, Brayden Aarts (Auckland) Binverter 6.
Lincoln University Junior Rider Series: Brayden Aarts (Auckland) Puma des Hayettes 1, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Wasabi 2, Sinead Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing 3, Drew Carson (Putaruru) Double Shott 4, Jaime Watters (Feilding) Winter Solstice 5, Hannah Fraser (Bulls) Vendange 6.
Let’s Bale Pro Amateur Rider Series: Kate Hewlett (Kerikeri) Capatino GNZ 1, Kimberley Winks (Taranaki) Damiana 2, Natasha Mazey (Wellington) Kabo Lunar 3, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Victoria’s Secret 4, William Lyles (Turangi) Jack The Lad 5, Alex Loiselle (Dannevirke) Clearwater 6.
Caledonian Holdings Amateur Rider: Glen Hicks (Hastings) Kiwi Hope 1, Merran Hain (Gisborne) Untouchable 2, Dana Sutton (Palmerston North) Down Wind 3, David Wood (Patea) Burton 4, Louise Bowie (Pahiatua) Kiwi Hammer 5, Tracy Mason (Napier) WP Stella 6.
Cortaflex Seven-Year-Old Series: Fraser Tombleson (Gisborne) Mea I 1, Melody Matheson (Hastings) Graffiti MH 2, Daniel Blundell (Ocean Beach) Athena NZPH 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Gold Locks 4, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Argio 5, Desiree Foxley (Wellington) Johnny Dodge 6.
