Equestrian: Riders mount up for world cup push

Maurice Beatson and My Gollywog celebrate their Horse of the Year Show JB Olympic Cup victory in March. Will they be celebrating again this weekend?

There's extra incentive to do well in the Bayer World Cup New Zealand Series which gets underway today at the Hawke's Bay A&P Show.

Four of the seven rounds are qualifiers for the 2014 World Equestrian Championships, which are being held in France.

Defending series champ Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) will line up his two home-bred horses in today's opening class - 18-year-old My Gollywog who won the first three rounds last season, and 10-year-old Schimmel Warrior.

In his typically understated way, Beatson said his aim for the season was no different to any other.

"Get out there and win as many classes as possible," he said. "We'll be going to all the shows, so will just see what happens in the (world cup) series."

He's hoping the series will garner more entries as the season rolls on. "It's the world cup, so it would be nice to build the numbers up a bit ... but it's got to be a high standard - that's what a world cup is."

Despite winning the right as series victor last season to represent New Zealand at the world final, Beatson has no regrets for not taking up the offer. Also on the card today is three-time winner Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) with Dunstan Delilah and Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark. She's already showing early form, and is a danger in any class. Luke Dee (Ocean Beach) will be hoping he and Ombudsman can pick up where they left off at the end of the series last season when they won the final. They're not long back from Australia where they finished seventh in the Melbourne Royal world cup round.

Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) and Estina, who already have their certificate of capability for WEG, were also in good form in Australia over the winter months, as was Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) and Shakespear NZPH, who missed out by a smidgen on taking the Australian Young Rider title.

Rounding out the field is Tim Myers (Hawera) and Pick Me NZPH who won a world cup round last season, Bernard Denton (Feilding) on Horsesports Suzuki who has done well in past series, Susie Hayward (Canterbury) and her stunning import Andretti and Jamie Campbell (Albany) aboard Socrates de la vie Z.

Course designer Kevin Hansen (Hawke's Bay), just back from an equine trade mission to China, never lets the riders have an easy run, but knows just when to push them.

There are seven rounds in the New Zealand qualifier this year, with the best four to count and the final in Dunedin at Ride the Rhythm on February 1. The winner has the opportunity to travel to Lyon, in France, for the world final in April.

Rounds in Hawke's Bay, Taupo, Central and Southern Hawke's Bay and Waitemata are all WEG qualifiers, with those who complete the first round with eight or less faults gaining a certificate of capability, which is the first step to being available for selection for the New Zealand team.