Pep talk gets Morrison into gear
A pep talk from trainer Jeff Mcvean proved just the ticket for Sam Morrison in the showjumping World Cup round at Manfeild on Saturday night.
Aboard her 11-year-old gelding Biarritz, Morrison kept her cool to finish with eight faults over the Gary Sinclair-designed course, and take the win.
‘‘The course was tough,’’ said the 21-year-old. ‘‘If you didn’t get straight on, you risked a rail, so I tried to make sure I hit every jump straight.’’
It’s been a while since Morrison has won a world cup round – a whole season in fact. She won at Hawke’s Bay on debut at the beginning of last season, and despite starting in every round this season, hasn’t managed to place.
‘‘I didn’t back myself to win here either.
She was pleased to be first out too. ’’It gave me the option to just jump my own round and not what others were doing. To be leading going into the second gave me a good confidence boost.’’
But that didn’t mean she wasn’t feeling the pressure. With Olympic Cup winner Helen Mcnaughtmcfarlane (Taupo) and Carnutelabryere ahead of her, she knew she needed a little rub of the green.
‘‘When I say Helen take a rail it meant I had two [rails] in hand, so I just did what Jeff told me, not rush and just jump each one as it came.’’
Morrison is claiming full responsibility for the rail that fell at the last to finish on eight faults.
‘‘I got a bit of a hot head going into it, so it was completely my fault’’
She’s hoping the victory augers well for the rest of the season, and plans to take Biarritz to Australia after the Horse of the Year Show in March.
‘‘I want to continue riding him properly,’’ she said.
‘‘He will never let me down if I ride him well. I really want to have a good season leading into our trip to Australia and try to be competitive over there.’’
Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) and Schimmel Warrior were the only combination to notch a clear over the two rounds in Feilding, but he carried 12 faults from the first, to finish in third place. Mcnaught-mcfarlane also finished on 12, but had the faster time.
Youngster Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) and Larinium LS got up to finish fourth. Opiki’s Lucy Fell, who won the opening round in Hawke’s Bay, was fifth aboard Letitbe.
In the Pony Grand Prix, five of the 16 starters came back for the jump-off where both Emma Watson (Morrinsville) aboard Fun House and Amanda Steele (Dannevirke) on Jakaranda both kept their slates clean.
However, Watson’s speedy 35.08 seconds triumphed over Steele’s 36.21.