McMillan Equine Feeds NZ National Show Jumping and Showhunter Championships

By: Annie Studholme

LAURIE BREEZES INTO POLE POSITION ON SECOND DAY

A double clear today has propelled defending champion Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) into pole position going into the final of the NRM in conjunction with Excel NZ Premier Horse Championship at the McMillan Equine Feeds NZ National Show Jumping and Showhunter Championships in Christchurch.

Laurie came into the second day lying in second behind Brit Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) on Carutelabryere after yesterday’s opening speed round. “She (Dunstan Breeze) jumped really well,” said Laurie, who took out the lesser class here last year with the nine-year-old mare. “Yesterday she was really fresh, bordering on the verge out of control. She has come a long way. She likes it here.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s final though, Laurie knows it’s still anybody’s title with visiting Australian course designer John Vallance building some solid tracks. “Anything could happen on Sunday,” she admitted.

It’s very close at the top though with Mosgiel’s Claudia Hay on her big black stallion Euro Sport Centavos putting in another ultra-impressive performance to sit only 0.2 of a penalty behind Laurie and Dunstan Breeze’s leading score of 3.16 penalties for the two days, with McNaught-McFarlane and Carnutelabyere third on 8 penalties with the finals on Sunday.

Another strong performance from Laurie and Dunstan Springfield meant they retained their lead in the Fiber Fresh in conjunction with Country TV NZ Grand Prix Championship despite finishing third in today’s second round. Young rider Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) and Biarritz were foot perfect taking out class honours ahead of teen Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) on Ngahiwi Telephonic, to now lie second and third respectively in the overall standings.

Burnett-Grant was also in unstoppable form in the ponies, winning the opening speed round of the Rainer Irrigation in conjunction with ESNZ NZ Open Pony Championship with Kabo Silver and finishing sixth with Pioneer Jade.

Fifth to go in the 18-strong field, Burnett-Grant and Kabo Silver sped round the John Vallance course coming home clear in 62.44 seconds. Her time looked safe until local Molly Buist-Brown and Miss Mae West managed to shave off more than 5 seconds off, but paid for it with 2 fences down adding a further 8 seconds to finish on 64.56. In form southern combination Grace O’Sullivan and Galaxy Masterpiece went close, coming home in 63.31. Last out, late entry Leeshelle Small (Pukekohe) had a blinder of a round with the former southern pony Mahoe Moon Frost to finish clear in 63.14 to jump into second. O’Sullivan had to settle for third with Buist-Brown fourth.

The indomitable Maurice Beatson got away to flyer in the lesser championship classes today winning both the Wilcox/Perlas Potatoes June Cresswell Memorial 1.30m Championship and Saddlery Barn NZ 1.20m Horse Championship, with Mandalay Cove and Clearwater respectively.

While the two big championship classes have a rest day tomorrow, all eyes will on the series championships for Junior, Amateur, Pro Am and Young Riders with the second rounds of the other championship classes building up to finals on Sunday.

The T&M Nurseries in conjunction with Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider is traditionally a highlight on the Nationals programme, and 2015 is no exception with 11 of the country’s best taking part including the top four on the series leaderboard.

The competition has the added excitement of a North versus South Young Rider Challenge this year with the southern team of Nicole White (Invercargill), Olivia Robertson (Ohoka), Rose Alfeld (West Melton) and Harry Feast (West Melton) on up against a tough North Island side made up of series leader Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo), Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu), Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) and Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) to battle it out for the inaugural Cricklewood Ace Trophy donated by the White family.

Strong entries have also been fielded for the Total Realty in conjunction with Telford Junior Rider Championship, Tavern Harewood ESNZ Pro Amateur Series Championship and the Betavet in conjunction with Caledonian Amateur Rider Championships.

RESULTS:

NRM in conjunction with Excel NZ Premier Horse Championship Second Round: Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Breeze 1, Claudia Hay (Mosgiel) Euro Sport Centavos 2, Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) Carnutelabryere 3, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Lucca 4, Joshua Barker (Morrinsville) Eros K 5, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Conyers 6. Final standings (after two rounds):  Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Breeze, 1, Claudia Hay (Mosgiel) Euro Sport Centavos 2, Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) Carnutelabryere 3, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Lucca 4, Joshua Barker (Morrinsville) Eros K 5, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Conyers 6.

Fiber Fresh in conjunction with Country TVNZ Grand Prix Horse Championship Second Round: Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Biarritz 1, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Ngahiwi Telephonic 2, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Springfield 3, Kelly Evans (Cave) Hammertime 4, Maurice Beatson (Dannervirke) Schimmel Warrior 5, Sally Steiner (Tauranga) On the Point Slic Chic 6. Final standings (after two rounds):  Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Springfield 1, Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Biarritz 2, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Ngahiwi Telephonic 3, Kelly Evans (Cave) Hammertime 4, Maurice Beatson (Dannervirke) Schimmel Warrior 5, Sally Steiner (Tauranga) On the Point Slic Chic 6.

Rainer Irrigation in conjunction with ESNZ Open Pony Championship First Round: Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Kabo Silver 1, Leeshelle Small (Pukekohe) Mahoe Moon Frost 2, Grace O’Sullivan (Rangiora) Galaxy Masterpiece 3, Molly Buist-Brown (Burnham) Miss May West 4, Steffi Whittaker (Springston) Moonlight Glow 5, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Pioneer Jade 6.

Wilcox/Perlas Potatoes June Cresswell Memorial 1.30m Championship First Round: Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Mandalay Cove 1, Duncan McFarlane (Taupo) NZ Powerful 2, Brad Cunningham (Christchurch) Golden Mile 3, Rose Alfeld (West Melton) Capprera 4, Claudia Hay (Mosgiel) Euro Sport Heartbreaker 5, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Wishing Crown 6.

Saddlery Barn NZ 1.20m Horse Championship First Round: Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Clearwater 1, Kayla James (Kaiapoi) Scenario 2, Amanda Roy (Clinton) Rumours NZPH 3, Zoe Shore (Ashburton) Olympia NZPH 4, Sally Steiner (Tauranga) On The Point Silver Lady 5, Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Cool Encounter 6.

The Canterbury Community Trust NZ 1.10m Horse Championship First Round: Lisa Milliken (Queenstown) Unite NZPH 1, Erin Milner (Dunedin) Glenbrooke Jordie Girl 2, Emma Power (Little River) Ngahiwi Lola 3, Sarah Swarbrick (Waimate) Artic Invader 4, Melissa Nakhies (Dunsandel) Fleeting Glimpse 5, Cassidy Ford (Cheviot) Rae of Sunshine 6.

Equissage NZ 1.10m Pony Championship First Round: Molly Buist-Brown (Burnham) Yippee Ki Yay 1, Jamiee Bird (Rakaia) Showtym Image 2, Bailey Rutter (Balclutha) Kennebrook 007 3, Madison Thompson (Darfield) Showtym Warrior 4, Courtney Townsend (Darfield) SS Express 5, Kate Beattie (Mosgiel) Just Lucky 6.

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