Showjumping: Morrison prevails on advice of coach

CHAMPION COMBO: Samantha Morrison and Biarritz after clinching the opening round of the World Cup. PHOTO/Paul Taylor

Samantha Morrison's decision to put a late entry into the opening round of the Ultra-Mox FEI World Cup New Zealand series yesterday at the Hawke's Bay A&P Show proved a winner for the 20-year-old from Tauranga.

She and her 10-year-old New Zealand bred Selle Francais gelding, Biarritz, headed home a smart looking field which included two former series winners who had both competed at the world final offshore.

Morrison was tossing up between starting in the young rider or the World Cup. A little encouragement from her trainer, Jeff McVean, helped her step up to the big time.

"My goal was just to jump a nice round," said Morrison, who is studying a finance degree through Waikato University. "I definitely did not expect to win it. I knew both of us were capable of doing it, but it was right out of my comfort zone and I didn't want the nerves to get the better of me."

And they didn't. Morrison and Biarritz, who is by Lindberg des Hayettes and is in his third season with his rider, were clear in the opening round but picked up a single time fault and added nothing to their tally in the second round.

Also going clear of the 13 starters in the first round were Rose Alfeld (Christchurch) aboard My Super Nova, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) on Dunstan Lucca, and Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) on Carnutelabryere.

Those with eight faults or less came back for the second round where Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) on Schimmel Warrior was clear but carried through four faults, and Olivia Robertson (North Canterbury) on Ngahiwi Cisco left everything up but had a time fault to finish on five faults from their two rounds.

Finishing second behind Morrison was McNaught-McFarlane, with Beatson third, Robertson fourth, Laurie fifth and Tash Brooks (Cambridge) on Kaapatack sixth.

Morrison was delighted with her win.

"Some of the lines were a little tricky but he coped really well. This win means a lot to me - it shows that we can compete at that top level and possibly go further. It is great to know I am sitting on a horse that can jump the top competition in New Zealand."

Morrison may have gleaned a little during the winter months when she travelled to the FEI World Cup final to watch Laurie compete on her mother's horse Frangipanne de Toxandria.

Today marked the start of the World Cup series in New Zealand. The six rounds will culminate with the final in mid-January at Waitemata.

Just the best four rounds count and those with more than one horse in the class must nominate which one will do well.

Today both Beatson and Laurie dipped out on World Cup points for nominating the wrong horses.

The winner of the New Zealand series has the opportunity to represent the country at the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2015/2016 Final, which is being held in Gothenburg, Sweden from March 23-28, 2016.

The class was also the first round of the Excel Premier League.