Samantha Carrington rides Double J Hurricane in the 6yr old class, Northern HB Show Jumping 2021, Hastings Show Grounds, Hastings Show Grounds, Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, Sunday, March 21, 2021. Copyright: KAMPIC / Sarah Lord

Samantha Carrington’s season had the perfect finish when she and her homebred Double J Hurricane win in the grand final gave them the UltraMox Six-Year-Old Series.

The victory backed up their shared win in the five-year-old series last season. The gelding is by Euro Sport Heartbreaker out of Double J Breeze who is by Voltaire II.

“I did feel a little pressure to do well in the six-year-old . . . well, I was hoping to,” said the 17-year-old from Takapau. “He has matured a lot this season, so that is good. He was a little bit sulky as a young horse but is growing up. He is such a good horse – he helps me out a lot. Hopefully he will be my number one in the future.”

Glistening Waters Showjumping Championships 2021, Solway Showgrounds, Masterton, Saturday, April 10, 2021 Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall

Samantha is already looking forward to the seven-year-old series next season with Gilbert – as he is known at home. “I do like the age group series. They are easy for us riders and breeders and are good for stepping horses up. It stops people overjumping their horses and gets them ready to hit the big wide world when they turn eight.”

Samantha is currently working night shift at the Takapau Freezing Works which she says is working well as it allows her to ride during the day.

In the grand final six came through to the jump-off where Samantha, who was last to go, was deceptively fast to come home nearly three seconds ahead of runner-up Jeremy Whale (Cambridge) on Bannockburn ECPH.

“The course was nice for him – he is quite forward striding. We are always surprised after a jump-off at how quickly he covers the ground. He has a deceptively big stride.”

Samantha is trained by mum Wendy and aunt Robyn.

“This win is pretty good,” says Samantha. “He has only had three rails down since Christmas so is pretty clean and consistent.” The combination also won the six-year-old title at National Championships in Christchurch this year.

 

Results –

UltraMox Six-Year-Old Series: Samantha Carrington (Takapau) Double J Hurricane (by Euro Sport Heartbreaker, out of Double J Breeze, who is by Voltaire II) 72 points 1, Julie Davey (Hastings) LT Holst Freda (by Colman) 65 points 2, Jeremy Whale (Cambridge) Bannockburn ECPH (by Cassiano) 62 points 3, Rose Alfeld (Leeston) Footloose NZPH (by Quintus) 50 points 4, Sophie Blackbourn (Cambridge) LT Holst Zalato Blue (by Zirocco Blue) and Katie Meredith (Ohoka) Vulcan GNZ (by Cartell GNZ out of a Lansing mare) 48 points =5.

 

UltraMox Six-Year-Old Series Grand Final: Samantha Carrington (Takapau) Double J Hurricane (by Euro Sport Heartbreaker, out of Double J Breeze, who is by Voltaire II) 1, Jeremy Whale (Cambridge) Bannockburn ECPH (by Cassiano) 2, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Florence (by Lord Larino LS) 3, Julie Davey (Hastings) LT Holst Freda (by Colman) 4, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Kasalla (by Kannan) 5, Jesse Linton (Hastings) Keltern William (by Mustangs Bandit) 6.

 

For full series results, head to www.nzequestrian.org.nz

For full class results, head to www.main-events.com

 

By Diana Dobson
12 April 2021