Hoy Show: Teenager outright winner on debut

CHAMPION: Keean Cooper and Amarula MVNZ were the only combination to go clear during yesterday's Young Rider of the Year event. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

COMPARED with many of his opponents Keean Cooper was a "baby" during yesterday's Young Rider of the Year Showjumping Championship at HOY in Hastings.

But the Waikato 16-year-old coped admirably with the challenging Hawke's Bay Showgrounds Premier Arena course designed by German Werner Deeg. In his first attempt at this class Cooper, who rode Amarula MVNZ, was the only one of 29 riders to go clear in the Dunstan Horse Feeds-sponsored event.

"It was the biggest course of my riding career ... very technical too. But if you knew where it was technical you could sort them out," Cooper explained shortly after receiving the $770 first prize and Big Red Trophy.

"This title was totally unexpected. Just to go around was absolutely amazing," the Te Kauwhata College Year 12 student said.

"We got Amarula from the South Island two-and-a-half years ago and we've been slowly bringing him through. He hasn't been going that good this week but he pulled it out today and gave it his all."

Cooper was full of praise for the work put in by his coach John Cottle during the past year. Cottle represented New Zealand at three Olympics and has won the Olympic Cup title on six occasions at HOY.

"I'm going to celebrate this title by having a rest. Fortunately I've got tomorrow off to recover before I compete again on Sunday," Cooper added, referring to his Fiber Fresh Junior Rider of the Year Championship assignment on Double J Angelic.

The Aussies captured the quinella in last night's McMillian Silver Fern Stakes with James Arkins and his New Zealand thoroughbred/warmblood cross Rosthwaite Vigilante II winning the hotly-contested class and his compatriot Clint Beresford on Emmaville Jitterbug placing second.

The $46,000 class, the second-richest of the show, looked to belong to Helen McNaught-McFarlane of Taupo and her quirky grey Carnutelabryere, who headed into the second round with a clean slate and were all clear going into the last in the second round in a very quick time. However, it wasn't to be and she finished on four faults for fourth.

In the CIC3* eventing, Rio hopeful Clarke Johnstone of Matangi continued to dominate with Balmoral Sensation. The combination gave another master class, leaving everything in place in the showjumping to remain on their dressage score of 35.5 penalty points.

Waikato's Samantha Felton and Ricker Ridge Escada also came home clear to move from fourth to second place on 50.2, while Kumeu's Andy Daines and Spring Panorama slipped to third after dropping a rail to finish on 52.3.

Auckland's Dannie Lodder and Call Me Al have retained their lead in the CIC2* despite dropping a rail in the showjumping. They sit on 42 penalty points with Juliet Wood and Donna Edwards-Smith second equal on 46.2.

John Nicholson's cross country course will challenge them all today. Around 20,000 people are expected at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds for People's Day to watch the final discipline in the eventing class.

The six-day show draws to a close tomorrow with the presentation of the Olympic Cup for the Showjumper of the Year.

Dunstan Horse Feeds 7-year-old of the year: Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Veroana 1, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Casebrooke Lomond 2, Tim Myers (Taranaki) Surreal 3, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Delta Fasteuex 4, Katie Meredith (Kaiapoi) Westgrove GNZ 5, William Willis (Auckland) Dollar Roll MS 6.

Dunstan Horse Feeds Young Rider of the Year: Keean Cooper (Te Kauwhata) Amarula MVNZ 1, Sam Morrison (Tauranga) Frangipanne de Toxandria 2, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) AP Ninja 3, Emily Fraser (Bulls) Kiwi Sunray 4, Melody Matheson (Hastings) Landenfeld 5, Sarah Young (Tokoroa) Belize Di Cantero 6.

McMillan Silver Fern Stakes: James Arkins (Australia) Rosthwaite Vigilante II 1, Clint Beresford (Australia) Emmaville Jitterbug 2, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan On The Point Eve 3, Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) Carnutelabryere 4, Amanda Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Cassanova 5, Tash Brooks (Cambridge) Kapattack 6.

WEEKEND EVENTS

Today's showjumping:

PREMIER ARENA

Class 31 (b) 8.45am-9.50am: NZ Pony Club team of the year art.

Class 36 (b), 10.15am-11.30am: 1.35m horse of the year championship.

Class 37, 12.45pm-2pm: Pony of the year.

2.30pm-5pm: Crosscountry.

Class 38, 5.30pm-7pm: Premier stakes.

NRM ARENA

Class 36 (a), 7.30am-10.15am: 1.35m horse of the year championship.

Class 39, 10.45am-1.30pm: Horse 1.25m horse of the year championship.

2.30pm-5pm: Crosscountry.

ARENA TWO

Class 40, 7.30am-11.50am: Pony championship 1.20m.

Class 39: Horse 1.25m horse of the year championship

Class 41: Horse 1.15m horse of the year championship.

12.15pm-2pm: Div A.

5.30pm: Div B.

ARENA THREE

Class 42, 8am-10.45am: Child rider of the year 13yrs & under pony competition 1m.

Class 43, 11am-3pm: 1.05m pony championship.

Class 44, 3.15pm-5.30pm: 1.15m pony championship.

Tomorrow's showjumping:

PREMIER ARENA

Class 45, 9am-10.40am: NZ speed horse of the year.

Class 46, 11am-12.30pm: Junior rider of the year championship, 1.20m-1.30m (Super Moth Trophy).

12.30pm-1.30pm: Dressage Grand Prix Kur.

Class 47, 2pm-4pm: Olympic Cup.

NRM ARENA

Class 48, 8am-11am: Intermediate rider of the year championship.

Class 49, 11.15am-12.45pm: Speed pony of the year 1.20m.

ARENA TWO

Class 50, 8.30am-10.45am: Amateur rider of the year championship.

Class 51, 10.45am-1.30pm: Rider of the year 15 yrs and under.

ARENA THREE

Class 52, 8.30am-11.45am: 1.10m pony championship.

Today's dressage:

OVAL

*Class 237: CDIY FEI yr individual test 2009.

Class 238: Level 6-7, musical freestyle.

Class 239: FEI intermediate B 2015.

*Class 240: CDI FEI grand prix special 2015.

Tomorrow's dressage:

OVAL

*Class 241: CDIY FEI young rider freestyle 2009.

*Class 242: CDI ***FEI grand prix freestyle 2009.

Class 243: Level 8 intermediate freestyle.

Class 244: FEI grand prix freestyle 2009.

Today's eventing:

Crosscountry.

Today's eventing:

Pony ring: 9am.

Draw order:

Class 140: Category A pony show hunter of the year 70cm max.

Horse ring: 9am.

Draw order:
Class 141: Horse show hunter of the year 1.15m max.

Today's showing:

ARENA ONE

From 8am:

Class 375: *Riding horse of the year over 148cm, Riding Horse of the Year Trophy.

Class 376: *Park hack of the year over 148cm & not exceeding 158cm, French Etiquette Memorial Cup.

Class 377: *Hack of the year over 158cm, NZ Hack & Pony Council Trophy.

Class 378: *Saddle hunter horse of the year over 148cm, Zion Memorial Trophy.

ARENA ONE

From 9am:

Class 379: Rider of the year 11 years & under.

Class 380: Rider of the year 12, 13 and 14 years, Jane Thompson Cup.

Class 381: Rider of the year 15 and 16 years, intermediate rider of the year.