Will Beatson’s March Continue?

Will Beatson’s March Continue?

Dannevirke farmer Maurice Beatson and his home-bred team of horses seem to have a bit of a march on the opposition as they head into the third round of the Bayer New Zealand World Cup League.

Saturday evening the third round of the showjumping series will be run under lights at Manfeild Park as part of the three star Feilding A and P Show, the only indoor world cup round held in New Zealand.

Former Olympian Beatson, who has represented New Zealand at a world final in the past, has an 11 point buffer over three-time series winner and fellow Olympian Katie McVean (Mystery Creek), after winning the two rounds to date.

Both riders – who were team mates at the 2010 World Champs – will start two horses apiece on Saturday evening. Beatson has the perennial My Gollywog, along with Schimmel Warrior, while McVean has Dunstan Delilah and Dunstan Zimorena.

Rising star Luke Dee (Ocean Beach), who has just been named as captain of the young rider team to take on Australia in a week, is on the card aboard Ombudsman. Dee has been in fine form of late and is really starting to make his mark in the upper ranks of jumping.

Also entered are former series winner Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) aboard the 19-year-old Swinger, along with Bernard Denton (Feilding) and Horsesports Suzuki, Lucy Akers (Opiki) aboard Cortaflex Tinapai and Tim Myers (Taranaki) on Pick Me NZPH.

The New Zealand series runs over eight rounds, with the final in Tauranga in late January. The winner has the opportunity to travel to Sweden for the world final in April.

Bayer World Cup League Points (after two rounds): Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) 28 points, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) 17, Bernard Denton (Feilding) 16, Ross Smith (Canterbury) 13, Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) 10, Lisa Coupe (Kumeu) 9, Susie Hayward (Canterbury) 9, Luke Dee (Ocean Beach) 8, Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) 6, Carissa McGregor (Auckland) 5, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) 1.

ends

© Scoop Media