Watson Waits on Rest of World
Monday, 3 April 2017

Emma Watson is ruing four faults in the fourth and final round of the Spark FEI World Children’s Challenge today.

The in-form rider, with her roany pony Fun House still claimed the overall win for the second consecutive year for the New Zealand leg of the international class but she now faces an agonising wait while the rest of the world post their results.

“It was gutting to have that block fall in the last round,” said Watson. “It was a roll back onto the wall and we just cut it too fine.”

And she had plenty of praise for the course.

“All the courses were really beautiful and Pink jumped them well. I was a bit nervous in the warm-up and started not concentrating but pulled it together when we got into the ring.”

Her win topped off an “incredible” season for Watson.

The New Zealand team – comprising Watson, Phoebe Burns (Hastings) aboard Galaxy Masterpiece, Crystal Hackett (Waiuku) on Cracklin Rose and Emma-Kate Wilson (Hamilton) on Bjorking – finished on 21 faults.

Team trainer Maurice Beatson said the young riders had been challenged in the opening round which was held in fading light late on the first day of the show.

“It was a bit tough on them but all the riders have improved over the days as the show progressed,” he said. “It is a lot of pressure on them when they start, so to see that improvement is what we want to see.”

The riders all competed as individuals, with the team receiving a world ranking to find the final result.

The global competition is run for 12-14 year olds, who all jump the same course. Faults are tallied and the top 15 combinations head to the world final where they will compete on borrowed horses.

Watson represented New Zealand at the final earlier this year in Mexico and would dearly love to repeat the honour.

Results –

Spark FEI World Children’s Challenge (overall): Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Fun House 1, Phoebe Burns (Hastings) Galaxy Masterpiece 2, Peita Milne (Nelson) WPS Tonka 3, Crystal Hackett (Waiuku) Cracklin Rose 4, Lilly Carpenter (Taihape) Tallyho Mystic 5, Olivia Adams (Christchurch) Mr Black Magic 6.

Round one: Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Fun House 1, Olivia Apatu (Waipukurau) Alasaan Arzu 2, Lilly Carpenter (Taihape) Tallyho Mystic 3, Peita Milne (Nelson) WPS Tonka 4, Phoebe Burns (Hastings) Galaxy Masterpiece 5, Olivia Adams (Christchurch) Mr Black Magic 6.

Round two: Phoebe Burns (Hastings) Galaxy Masterpiece 1, Crystal Hackett (Waiuku) Cracklin Rose 2, Peita Milne (Nelson) WPS Tonka 3, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Fun House 4, Lilly Carpenter (Taihape) Tallyho Mystic 5, Olivia Adams (Christchurch) Mr Black Magic 6.