Wall Challenge Goes Jointly to McVean and Raymont

Bricks tumbled, not records in the GJ Gardner Homes ‘Wall Challenge” at Ride The Rhythm under the roof at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium this evening.

With an impressive $70,000 up for grabs if anyone could clear the seemingly insurmountable 2.21m, clearing the New Zealand record by 8cm, six combinations put their fears aside for the record attempt.

There were some brave efforts, but at the end of the day, the honours belonged to Australian Billy Raymont on Stardom and Katie McVean on Dunstan Zehrenland (pictured) both clearing an impressive 1.95m.

All six combinations made it through the first round, clearing the wall at 1.75m, much to the delight of the crowd. In the second round, the competition heated up with Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) on Schimmel Warrior, and Ross Smith (Burnham) on youngster Cesann stopping at the 1.80m wall, ending their chances. McVean on both Dunstan Zehrenland and Dunstan Delilah, Raymont on Stardom, and fellow Australian Tyrone Latham on Rsb Swift however all soared over.

When it came to the third round, the wall was set at 1.95m. McVean was first to go on Dunstan Zehrenland, who put in another gutsy effort going clear. Latham was next, dropping the wall and his chances, followed by Raymont and Stardom, who blew the crowd away with another clear. McVean and Dunstan Delilah were last to go, with the youngster trying hard, but failing, taking just one block.

With just the two combinations left, the wall was raised once again to 2.05m, just 9cm short of the New Zealand record currently held by Allan Goodall and Scud. You could hear a pin drop as both McVean and Raymont gave it a shot, the crowd willing them over, but neither made it clearly, giving them equal honours at 1.95m.

“She was amazing. She is really brave and as honest as they come, but even I didn’t think she would jump that high. I have jumped a care before so I knew she would try,” McVean said of Dunstan Zehrenland.

Raymontwas also stunned by Stardom’s performance. “He was super. I have never done one (a puissance) on him before, and even I haven’t jumped one for a long time. He’s always been pretty brave, but I came into that last fence questioning whether he would actually jump it. If he did stop it would have been his first one.”

Both praised the competition, one that’s hardly contested in this neck of the woods anymore.

Earlier in the day Christchurch teen Steffi Whittaker notched up her seventh Grand Prix win of the season in the $5000 Pony Grand Prix.

The competition continues with the second section of the $50,000 McMillan Equine Feeds Super Grand Prix, followed by The Hollies.

Story: Annie Studholme  Photo: Kerry Marshall/Kampic