Te Awamutu teen Emily Hayward-Morgan is the talk of the show jumping fraternity after waltzing away with an astonishing three series titles at the Equestrian Sports New Zealand Show Jumping and Show Hunter gala awards dinner last night.
At 16, Emily is possibly the first rider ever to have victories at all three levels: junior (12-18 years), young rider (14-21 years) and open (over 21) in the same season. She came into the series final with both the Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider and Telford Junior Rider Series’ sown up, and, with Equissage Grand Prix Series leader Nicole White (Invercargill) on Cricklewood Ace not up to defend her lead, the third title was there for the taking.
While Emily and AP Ninja didn’t win the final, falling just short in an all-out battle against the clock around Heather McDonald’s challenging track, her second behind Lucy Akers (Opiki) on the veteran Tinapai was enough to give her the series win by 8 points, topping off what has been a phenomenal season. But she wasn’t quite finished, coming out yesterday to win the Excel Premier League series final, and elevating herself to fifth equal overall in the series.
Emily was a little lost for words last night as the magnitude of her achievement began to set in. “There are are no words to describe it really. It’s been perfect,” said the Year 11 student at Te Awamutu College. She had nothing but praise for her team of horses and dedicated support crew, without whom none of it would have been possible.
Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) added to her Horse of the Year Olympic Cup victory with success in the Excel Premier League Series aboard Carnutelabryere, while Ally Carson (Putaruru) continued her unbeatable season winning the Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series and adding to the trophy cabinet that already holds the Pony of The Year and NZ National Show Jumping Pony Grand Prix titles she won earlier in the season.
Ashburton’s Candace Kingsbury paid heavily for not attending the series final, being pipped by Diana Cottle in the final round for honours in the Caledonian Holdings Amateur, after having led for the better part of the season, whereas Gore’s Amanda Roy, who was in an unbeatable position going into the final, secured the Let’s Bale Pro Am Series, and Rebecca Porter (Napier) won the Main Events University Series.
Other winners last night were Christchurch’s Harry Feast and Double J Bouncer who won the ESNZ Seven Year Old Breeding Series, Cerys Tarr (Rotorua) on Madam Coco who won the Mitavite Six-Year-Old Breeding Series, and Tegan Fitzsimon (Christchurch) who won the East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series aboard Windermere Cappuccino. See the results below for their breeding.
Jumping action continued today with the final two rounds of the FEI Children’s World Jumping Challenge, open to 12-14 year-olds, which was won by the slimmest of margins by Morrinsville 12-year-old Emma Watson on her pony Fun House. After four rounds of jumping, Emma finished with no faults in a combined time of 117.72 seconds, less than a second faster than second-placed Sophie Townsend (Darfield) on Tallyho Neptune who also finished all clear.
The inaugural Glistening Waters Horse and Pony Derby classes were also a big hit. New for New Zealand and modelled on the UK’s hugely popular working hunter derby classes, they were won by Luke Dee on Merran Hain’s Untouchable and Claudia Thomas on Libby Pops Gift respectively.
Today wrapped up three days of competition at the Solway Showgrounds in Masterton, which attracted more than 330 horses from across the country and also signalled the end of the 2015-2016 jumping season.
Good luck & bon voyage Steffi
We’d also like to wish Steffi Whittaker all the best for her trip to Morocco next week for the FEI World Jumping Challenge. You can read more about her trip in the article on this link. Steffi was second (riding Moonlight Glow) to Olivia Ahlborn from Napier on Aorangi Ragtime in the last Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series event and finished third overall in the series, with Ally Carson winning on Tony the Pony, and Emma Watson second on Fun House.
RESULTS:
Excel Premier League Series Final: Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) AP Ninja 1, Mathew Dickey (Oakura) Quango 2, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Schimmel Warrior 3, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Ultra Blue NZPH 4, Carrisa McCall (Auckland) Esteban MVNZ 5, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Conyers 6.
Excel Premier League Series: Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) Carnutelabryere 223 1, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan On The Point Eve (owned by Nicky & Jamie Mann) 139 2, Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Biarritz 122 3, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Breeze 111 4, Tasha Brooks (Auckland) Kapattack 110 5=, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) AP Ninja 110 5=.
Equissage Horse Grand Prix Series Final: Lucy Akers (Opiki) Tinapai 1, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) AP Ninja 2, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Mandalay Cove 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Conyers 4, Lucy Akers (Opiki) Letitbe GNZ 5, Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) McMillans Smooth Dude 6.
Equissage Horse Grand Prix Series: Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) AP Ninja 62 points 1, Nicole White (Invercargill) Cricklewood Ace 54 2, Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) McMillans Midway Smooth Dude 52 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Mandalay Cove 45 4, Olivia Robertson (Christchurch) DHS Ceniki 40 5=, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Schimmel Warrior 40 5=.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series Final: Olivia Ahlborn (Napier) Aorangi Ragtime 1, Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) Moonlight Glow 2, Sophie Scott (Wellington) Benrose Playtime 3, Annabel Francis (Darfield) Te Mata Miss 4, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tony the Pony 5, Rohan Tennekoon (Christchurch) Mangakaraa Carbon Copy 6.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series: Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tony the Pony 184 points 1, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Fun House 140 2, Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) Moonlight Glow 133 3, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tiger Tale LS 121 4, Sophie Scott (Wellington) Benrose Playtime 112 5, Olivia Dalton (Auckland) 107 Simply Samantha 6.
Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider Series Final: Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Frangipanne De Toxandria 1, Emily Fraser (Bulls) Kiwi Sunray 2, Emily Fraser (Bulls) Voila 3, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Yandoo Lady Gold 4, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Veroana 5, Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Larinium LS 6.
Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider Series: Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) 213 points 1, Olivia Robertson (Christchurch) 168 2, Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) 153 3, Harry Feast (Christchurch) 138 4, Kimberley Bird (Ashburton) 114 5, Melody Matheson (Hastings) 103 6.
Let’s Bale Pro Amateur Rider Series Final: Chloe Hansen (Palmerston North) Kiwi Motto 1, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Victoria’s Secret 2, Sarah Dalziell (Masterton) Benrose Super Star 3, Claudia Porter (Napier) Mr Wiggle 4, Claudia Porter (Napier) Joia Hara 5, Sarah Jocelyn (Lower Hutt) Curioso 6.
Let’s Bale Pro Amateur Rider Series: Amanda Roy (Gore) 128 points 1, Chloe Hansen (Palmerston North) 102 2, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) 87 3, Chris Harris (Christchurch) 60 4, Zoe Shore (Queenstown) 41 5, Gail Richardson (Invercargill) 39 6.
Telford Junior Rider Series Final: Nicholas O’Leary (Wanganui) Obeone Kanobe 1, Drew Carson (Putaruru) Double Shott 2, Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) Airborne MVNZ 3, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Wasabi North 4, Drew Carson (Te Awamutu) Winston V Driene 5, Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) Ngahiwi Cruise 6.
Telford Junior Rider Series: Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) 193 points 1, Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) 169 2, Brayden Aarts (Pukekawa) 158 3=, Drew Carson (Putaruru) 158 3=, Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) 152 5, Matt Irvine (New Plymouth) 123 6.
Caledonian Holdings Amateur Rider Series Final: Glen Hicks (Hastings) Kiwi Hope 1, Diana Cottle (Palmerston North) Morpheus Rising 2, Merran Hain (Gisborne) Untouchable 3, Hannah Trott (Inglewood) Vanguard 4, Laura McGregor (Auckland) LC Bergla 5, Graeme Isaacson (Waipukurau) Pokere 6.
Caledonian Holdings Amateur Rider Series: Diana Cottle (Palmerston North) 126 points 1, Candice Kingsbury (Ashburton) 121 2, Glen Hicks (Hastings) 106 3, Angela Ruddenklau (Christchurch) 74 4, Carol Stewart (Tokoroa) 61 5, Merran Hain (Gisborne) 54 6.
Nano 7 Year Old Breeding Series Final: Carol Stewart (Tokoroa) Hit Parade 1, Harry Feast (Christchurch) Double J Bouncer 2, Tegan Fitzsimon (Christchurch) Double J Monarch 3, Robert Steele (Dannevirke) LT Holst Bernadette 4, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Veroana 5, Helen Kippen (Havelock North) Velocity NZPH 6.
ESNZ 7 Year Old Breeding Series: Harry Feast (Christchurch) Double J Bouncer (Double J Repicharge – Double J Chatalaine x Backchat, bred by Double J Stables) 120 points 1, Tegan Fitzsimon (Christchurch) Double J Monarch 106 2, Caroline Kennedy (Cambridge) Smokin Up 98 3, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Casebrooke Lamond 89 4, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Veroana 70 5, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Dorothy 54 6.
Mitavite 6 Year Old Breeding Series Final: Bernard Denton (Gisborne) Whiorau Ritchie 1, Jesse Linton (Hastings) Popeye 2, Cerys Tarr (Rotorua) Madam Coco 3, Kimberley Winks (New Plymouth) Damiana 4, Sally Clarke (Dannevirke) Argio 5, Tegan Fitzsimon (Christchurch) Corlinka 6.
Mitavite 6 Year Old Breeding Series: Cerys Tarr (Rotorua) Madam Coco (Tiger Moth LS – La Vedette x Voltaire II) 66 points 1, Tegan Fitzsimon (Christchurch) Corlinka 64 2, Bernard Denton (Gisborne) Whaioau Ritchie 58 3, Jenny Randall (Gisborne) Nero Bella 48 4, Jesse Linton (Hastings) Kiwi Ridge 46 5=, Bernard Denton (Gisborne) Horsesports Sequell 46 5=.
East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Old Breeding Series Final: Helen Kippen (Havelock North) Believe NZPH 1, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Equador MW 2, Tegan Fitzsimon (Christchurch) Windermere Cappuccino 3, Tracy Mason (Napier) WP Stella 4, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Bluewater 5, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Roman Warrior 6.
East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Old Breeding Series: Tegan Fitzsimon (Christchurch) Windermere Cappuccino (Corofino II – Vespa x Voltaire II, bred by Windermere Farm) 70 points 1, Lucy Akers (Opiki) Faratona 66 2, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Equador MW 62 3, Kirsten Beaven (Christchurch) La Rivière 60 4, John MacLennon (Waipukurau) Ngahiwi Para 58 5, Danielle Maurer (Kaukapakapa) Le Bam 52 6=, William Willis (Auckland) Sabine MS 6=.
Main Events University Series Final: Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Larinium LS 1, Claudia Porter (Napier) Joia Hara 2, Rebecca Porter (Napier) Mr Harrison 3.
Main Events University Series: Rebecca Porter (Napier) 54 points 1; Nicole White (Invercargill) 48 2; Sam Bult (Auckland) 40 3, Melody Matheson (Hastings) 38 4, Bryony Smith (Auckland) 30 5=, Tayla Mason (Paraparaumu) 5=.
Zedco Cup for Leading 8 Year Old: Quango (Quantum – Peace x Valiant), owned by the Dickey/Blyde partnership, ridden by Mathew Dickey.
Leading Mare Series in the Super League and Grand Prix Series: Dunstan On The Point Eve (Ephebe Forever – Titziana x bred, by Gerd Sosath) owned by Jamie & Nicki Main, ridden by Katie Laurie.
Leading NZ-based Jumping stallion in the Super League and Grand Prix Series: Leugo GNZ (Littorio – Showfields Rosalita, bred by Goldengrove Stud) owned by Tanya & Jade Cookson, ridden by Katie Laurie.
