Katie McVean and Dunstan Daffodil - Photo Libby Law

Defending Bayer World Cup NZ series champ Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) proved too strong taking the honours in the final leg at the Waitemata Showjumping New Year’s Festival.

The course designed by highly-rated Canadian Peter Holmes jumped well, despite rain forcing it to be moved onto the sand arena after the grass was deemed to wet to compete on. Although down on numbers, the class proved extremely exciting, yielding some stunning performances. 

Riding Dunstan Daffodil, McVean was one only two combinations to post double clears winning on a time of 39.76 just ahead of Lisa Coupe on Bates Amaretto (Hawke’s Bay) second on 41.48.

South Islander Ross Smith, who had the made the long journey up from Christchurch, finished third with the stunning eight-year-old stallion Quite Cassini just having one time fault in the first round, while NZ representative Sam McIntosh (Cambridge) rode Witheze into fourth having picked up a single rail in the second round, with Tessa Williams (Gisborne) on Craighaven Nitro fifth on 8 faults.

Young rider Bridget Hanson (Ocean Beach) impressed finishing sixth with Nicalette NZPH on 8 faults at just her first world cup start.

Holmes was thrilled with the results saying all horses jumped extremely well in the trying conditions over an international standard 1.50m track. He felt the sand surface was fantastic.

The win gives McVean a huge advantage heading into the final at Tauranga in February, with the top five rounds to count.

The JLT Bloodstock Pony Grand Prix went to Christchurch’s Becky Harkerss on Brooklee Smallchange (Below) holding off a dominant field of North Islanders.

Results:

Bayer World Cup NZ Series - Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Daffodil 1, Lisa Coupe (Hawke’s Bay) Bates Amaretto 2, Ross Smith (Christchurhc) Quite Cassini 3, Sam McIntosh (Cambridge) Witheze 4, Tessa Williams (Gisborne) Craighaven Nitro 5, Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) Nicalette NZPH 6.

Cathay Pacific 1 star Horse Grand Prix - Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Springfield 1, Daniel Meech (Taupo) Argento 2, Rosie Commons (Auckland) Glendara Chandon 3, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Iron Mark 4, Samantha Peters (Whangarei) Likable NZPH5,  Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) I Reckon, 6.

STH pro am rider - Lydia Quay (Taranaki) Kaipara Double Dee 1, Amy Sprague (Whangarei) Casali 2, Carissa Mccall (Auckland) Lilco Calivin 3 , - Tracey Dazell (Auckland) Lipeto 4,  Zoe Shore (Ashburton) Olympia NZPH 5, Melissa Marriner (Karaka) Spiritus MVNZ 6.

Iverquantel Amateur rider - Courtey Fox (Auckland) Bush Magic 1, Kimberley Winks (Taraniki) Elle Supre 2, Olivia Gibson (Auckland) Telestory 3, Rosie Richards (Miranda) Firthview Dakota 4, Chanel Hargrave (Auckland) Ngahiwi Lenny 5, Rosie Richards (Miranda) Homegrown 6.

JLT Bloodstock Pony Grand Prix - Becky Harkness (Christchurch) Brooklee Smallchange 1, Emily Fraser (Takapau) Tony the Pony 2, Rebecca van Tiel (Auckland) Guthree 3, Emily Fraser (Takapau) Tiger Tell Ls 4, Rebecca van Teil (Auckland) Homeland Hero 5, Tegan Newman (Kerikeri) Watch Me Move 6.

Cushionride seven year old - Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Springfield 1, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Lights Out 2, Amanda Roy (Otago) Rumours NZPH 3, Karen Riddle (Waikato) Littoria ws 4, Melissa Marriner (Karaka) Appleton 5, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark 6.

Open horse 1.4m - Ross Smith (Christchurch) Quite Cassini 1, Lisa Coupe (Hawke’s Bay) Bates My Ocean Wave 2, Edward Bullock (Auckland) Vin Rouge 3, Sam McIntosh (Cambridge) Witheze 4, Lisa Coupe (Hawke’s Bay) Bates Armaretto 6.

Giltrap Audi young rider - Tim Myers (Hawera) Pick Me NZPH 1, Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) Nicolette NZPH 2, Josh Barker (Tauranga) Anubetha 3, Mathew Dickey (Taranaki) Kiwi Guard 4, Rosie Commons (Auckland) Glendara Chandon 5.

Goldengrove five year old - Megan Linderman Cohen (Clevedon) LC Talent, Josh Collins (Ocean Beach) Turn it Blue NZPH, James Cole (Auckland) Blue Lagoon =1.

KiwiSpan junior rider - Rosie Commons (Auckland) Samuel Something 1, Hayley Morris (Oxford) Kai Pai Kiwi 2, Abbi Robinson (Kerikeri) Super Model 3, Tessa Ranger, (Waikato ) Pioneer Oio 4, Natasha Brookes (Cambridge) Waitangi Jet Stream 5, Elle Phillips (Hamilton) Little Miss Pete 6.

Mitavite six year old - Vicki Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Levado, Bridget Hansen (Ocean Beach) Shakespear NZPH, Natasha Lammers (Whangarei) Ngahiwi Altitude.