Red Ribbon for Blue in World Cup Opener

Red Ribbon for Blue in World Cup Opener

Bridget Hansen and her lovely home-bred grey showjumper Turn it Blue NZPH cruised to a stunning victory in the opening round of New Zealand’s Ultramox FEI World Cup Series at Hawke’s Bay on Show today.

A late entry in the class, the 21-year-old from Ocean Beach has been splitting her time between Australia and New Zealand in recent years, and has only been back at home for three weeks, but she’s made quite the impact, winning grand prix and today the world cup qualifier. It was eight-year-old Turn it Blue’s first world cup start.

Twelve started the Kevin Hansen (Hawke’s Bay) designed course, with just Hansen and Blue clear in the opening round.

Hot on her heels were former series winners Kate Laurie (Mystery Creek) on Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark (owned by June Berrington) and Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) on first-time world cup starter Conyers, as well as Lucy Akers (Opiki) on Tinapai and Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) with her world cup débutante Carnutelabryere – all on four faults.

“I knew I had no room for error,” said Hansen. “I just had to go out and jump clear (in the second round). Blue does find it all really easy though – he is big, scopey and careful, with every attribute you could wish for and attitude to match.”

Hansen admits that while she wasn’t worried about her horse, she did worry about keeping her own head together.

“He has an opinion about everything and can sometimes be a bit difficult in the warm-up, but once he gets into the ring, he knows his job and tries his heart out.”

Hansen wasn’t going to start him today.

“He’s a bit fresh from having a winter off but dad was eager to get him out there. This is really one for the future.”

She said she was incredibly thankful to have the support of her parents Juliette and Warwick Hansen, who had bred the horse, and her team at home who looked after the horses while she competed in Australia.

There were six clears in the second round of the world cup today, but with faults carrying through, no-one could touch Hansen.

The series runs at six shows over the coming months, with the best three to count. The winner of the series has the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the final in Las Vegas in April.

Earlier in the Hawke’s Bay Show, Clevedon’s Laura Inkster and her nine-year-old chestnut Oporaes Jackamoe headed off 26 combinations to take victory in the FEI World Jumping Challenge.

It’s a tough competition, run over four rounds on two days, with the winner maybe having the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the world final, which next year is in Bulgaria.

Riders from across the globe jump an identical course, with results collated and only the best travelling to the final where they compete aboard borrowed horses.

But each had their own mounts this time. Inkster was the only rider to finish the competition on zero faults. Bryony Smith (Waimauku) on Ngahiwi Warrior got up for second, with Emma Thurlow (Waverley) on Clifton Ali third, Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) on Kiwi Ironheart fourth, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) on Wasabi fifth and Drew Carson (Putaruru) on Double Shott sixth.

Carson on Double Shott and Ruby Hilhorst (Atiamuri) on Leestone Eagle were equal winners of the prize for best presented combination, which was awarded by Butch Thomas.

Young Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) had a blinder of a show, winning the ESNZ Young Rider Series class aboard Ngahiwi Telephonic, and taking the quinella in the Pony Grand Prix aboard Mighty Maximus and Kabo Silver. She was also sixth in the pony grand prix on Pioneer Jade.

Results -

Ultramox FEI World Cup Series Qualifier: Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) Turn it Blue NZPH 1, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark (owned by June Berrington) 2, Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) Carnutelabryere 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Conyers 4, Lucy Akers (Opiki) Tinapai 5, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) My Gollywog 6.

FEI World Jumping Challenge, round one: Rebecca Porter (Hawke’s Bay) Mr Harrison 1, Nakaysha Lammers (Northland) Skewy 2, Laura Inkster (Clevedon) Oporaes Jackamoe 3, Hannah Bodle (Morrinsville) Shiraz NZPH 4, Emma Thurlow (Waverley) Clifton Ali 5, Rebekah van Tiel (Karaka) Double J Angelic 6. Round two: Laura Inkster (Clevedon) Oporaes Jackamoe 1, Drew Carson (Putaruru) Double Shott 2, Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Kiwi Ironheart 3, Caroline Kennedy (Cambridge) Classic Arrow 4, Drew Carson (Putaruru) Sir Gandolf 5, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Wasabi 6. Overall: Laura Inkster (Clevedon) Oporaes Jackamoe 1, Bryony Smith (Waimauku) Ngahiwi Warrior 2, Emma Thurlow (Waverley) Clifton Ali 3, Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Kiwi Ironheart 4, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Wasabi 5, Drew Carson (Putaruru) Double Shott 6.

Caledonian Amateur Rider Series: Caroline Parkes (Wairoa) Peggy Blue 1, Joanne Mackie (Gisborne) X Factor MVNZ 2, Leila Cross (Waimarama) High Plains Drifter 3, Tasha Brown (Tauranga) Temujin 4, Diana Cottle (Levin) Morpheus Rising 5, Andrew Ormond (Napier) Bill Hunt 6.

Pro Amateur Rider Series: Dean Morgan (Te Awamutu) FIS Outrageous 1, Chloe Akers (Opiki) Kiwi Motto 2, Katie Hercock (Matamata) Kiwi Express 3, Laura Knight (Palmerston North) Sir Arthur 4, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Victoria’s Secret 5, Trudi Mitchell (Wairoa) Strike Three 6.

Five Year Old Series: Tessa Ranger (Putaruru) Alezan Chablis, Laura Knight (Palmerston North) Letino, Carissa McCall (Auckland) Luxurious MVNZ =1.

Six Year Old Series: Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Eyecatcher, Caroline Kennedy (Cambridge) Smoken Up, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Radiant, Julie Davey (Hastings) CentralRoc, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Casebrook Lamond =1.

Goldengrove Stud Seven Year Old Series: Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing 1, Lisa Cubitt (Cambridge) Uniquely Blue NZPH 2, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Mandalay Cove 3, Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) Ulysses NZPH 4, Rachel McGregor (Cambridge) Equador MVNZ 5, Claire Wilson (Waipukurau) McMillans Fredrika RE 6.

Telford Junior Rider Series: Larina Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing 1, Caroline Kennedy (Cambridge) Classic Arrow 2, Hannah Bodle (Morrinsville) Shiraz NZPH 3, Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Cool Encounter 4, Maddison Bult (Auckland) Good Golly Miss Molly 5, Maddison Bult (Auckland) Sonic NZPH 6.

ESNZ Young Rider Series: Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Ngahiwi Telephonic 1, Natasha Brooks (Cambridge) Kapattack 2, Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Biarritz 3, Melody Matheson (Hastings) Roulette MH 4, Lily Tootill (Karaka) Ngahiwi Cruise 5, Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) Appleton 6.

Pony Grand Prix: Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Mighty Maximus 1, Briary Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Kabo Silver 2, Hannah Fraser (Feilding) Tony the Pony 3, Maddison Bult (Auckland) Pioneer High Jinx 4, Zoe Strawbridge (Waipukurau) Roo Baloo 5, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Pioneer Jade 6.

ends

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