Equestrian: Beatson quinella in Masterton

TOP COMBO: Maurice Beatson and Schimmel Warrior were classy in Masterton yesterday. PHOTO/FILE

Hawke's Bay Olympian Maurice Beatson bagged a quinella in the Premier League at the Wairarapa Showjumping and Show Hunter Championships in Masterton yesterday.

He had three in the class, with two going through to the jump-off over the Heather McDonald-designed course. With noone clear in the opening round, three combinations on four faults came through for the jump-off - Beatson with Schimmel Warrior and Conyers, and young gun Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) on AP Ninja.

Beatson, who competed at the 1988 Olympics, had the luxury of being the last to go in the jump-off and was already leading on Conyers, who had four faults as Hayward-Morgan picked up eight in her round.

"I knew I just had to go clear," said Beatson, who picked up fourth place aboard Mandalay Cove. "Schimmel jumped really well today."

The result backs up Beatson's efforts in the opening World Cup round in Hastings on Friday where he was third with Conyers and fourth with Schimmel Warrior.

"It's nice to be going well at the beginning of the season," he said. "We're looking forward to a busy season ahead. We'll just keep chipping away at it."

In the Equissage Pony Grand Prix, five of the 11 starters came back for the jump-off where Olivia Ahlborn (Napier) and Aorangi Ragtime took the honours with a smart double clear in 30.4 seconds, just ahead of the in-form Emma Watson (Morrinsville) and Phantom Warrior who were also all clear in 30.55 seconds.

New to the show was the futurity class for five, six and seven-year-olds. The class, which attracted 22 entries, had the horses jump in their age group heights but against each other for the final.

Show coordinator Jenny Booth was very pleased with the interest in the new class, which is popular offshore and had been suggested by her daughter Nicki who has spent a lot of time riding in Ireland where futurity classes are popular.

"It's a chance to showcase all the great breeding going on in the country and give these young horses a chance to experience the atmosphere of the main ring," she said.

The futurity class was won by Logan Massie (Dannevirke) and Double J Beyonce.

The three day show - the first premier show of the season - attracted just under 400 horses who competed in both showjumping and show hunter.