NZ EQUESTRIAN News


Beatson on Song for start of World Cup Series
Friday, 25 October 2013


Dannevirke farmer Maurice Beatson is showing age is no barrier to victory with a win in the opening round of the Bayer World Cup New Zealand Series at the Hawke’s Bay A and P Show this afternoon (Friday).

Aboard his 19-year-old homebred gelding My Gollywog, Beatson headed off seven other combinations to take valuable first points in the series.
The former Olympian did the same last year, winning the first three rounds of the series.

“Gollywog feels amazing,” said Beatson. “This was a tough class and all the horses jumped well out there today.”

Three went clear in the first round over the Kevin Hansen-designed course – Beatson on Gollywog, Susie Hayward (Canterbury) and her stallion Andretti, and Bernard Denton (Feilding) on Horsesports Suzuki.

All eight combinations came back for the second round against the clock with former series winner Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) going clear on Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark along with Beatson, Hayward and Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) on Estina.

But it in the end it came down to just Beatson and Hayward, with the nod going to the defending champ thanks his faster time.

Beatson, who was three seconds ahead of Hayward, was pleased with the win.
“Kevin (Hansen) never builds an easy track and that one was probably a little more technical than usual for him.”

There are seven rounds in the New Zealand qualifier this year, with just the best four to count and the final in Dunedin at Ride the Rhythm on February 1.

The winner has the opportunity to travel to Lyon, in France, for the world final in April.

Results –
Bayer World Cup New Zealand Series: Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) My Gollywog 1, Susie Hayward (Canterbury) Andretti 2, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark 3, Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) Estina 4, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Delilah 5, Bernard Denton (Feilding) Horsesports Suzuki 6.

Report Diana Dobson