Cup caps a top year

Katie McVean produced the fairytale ending to a dream season yesterday when she rode off with the Olympic Cup for Showjumper of the Year at the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings.

The 23-year-old from Mystery Creek swept aside nerves and pressure to pocket the $40,000 winner's cheque aboard Dunstan Delphi, her eight-year-old mare bred by her father Jeff McVean.

Her victory capped an outstanding weekend for Waikato riders, who captured a host of titles as she headed off a 19-strong field challenged by a technical course featuring fences of up to 1.6m in height.

McVean finished ahead of experienced Dannevirke competitor Maurice Beatson, who rode two horses, Zibbibo and Apollo van Evendael, into equal second place.

McVean, who also won the Olympic Cup in 2008 aboard Dunstan Forrest II, was left stunned despite enjoying a stellar season in which she has won a series of prominent titles.

"It is going to be hard to keep a horse as good as Delphi," McVean said.

"She is just unbelievable. I'm just lucky Dad retired when he did and put Flower Power into foal."

Raglan's Jody Hartstone moved a step closer to her goal of representing New Zealand at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky later this year by winning the Grand Prix Dressage Horse of the Year title on her black stallion Whisper IV, despite suffering from tonsilitis. Hartstone's victory saw her gain a minimum eligibility score for the Games by receiving a second score over 64 per cent from an O Level judge after gaining a first score when recently winning the national champs.

However, the Equestrian Sports NZ criteria is a tougher task, requiring four minimum scores of 65 per cent. Hartstone is now considering competing at an upcoming Sydney event to improve her chances of representing New Zealand at the Games and then at the 2012 London Olympics.

Taumarunui's Michael Wakeling captured the junior 90km and fittest horse titles in the endurance section on Iti while Hamilton's Jackie Jermyn won the 1.25m showjumping event.

It was a Waikato one-two in the CIC2 eventing class with John Twomey and Highly Recommended pipping Clarke Johnstone and KS Secrets and Johnstone backed that up with third place on Incognito in the CIC3 event. Elizabeth Brown took out the novice title on Farbio, Jesse Campbell captured the Young Rider crown on Too Swish ahead of fellow Waikato rider Jessica Woods on Too Predictable while Morrinsville's Lucy Allen won the Category B pony show hunter title on Llandovery King Cole.

- © Fairfax NZ News