Equestrian: Brilliant ride by 'old hand' seals deciding test

By MERILYN CHAMBERS

The wisdom of old hand Merran Hain resulted in a brilliant ride to carry New Zealand to victory in the third and deciding showjumping test against Australia at Isola, Waiuku, today.

She rode 14-year-old Tregonning, who she has raised and trained herself, to take individual honours with the only double clear rounds of Isola's grand prix event.

Apart from being probably the most senior rider internationally at this level, Hain has proved herself the most consistently successful in New Zealand this month. The gruelling 1.6m course, produced by Olympic builder John Vallance, forced the retirement of a quarter of the 20 top riders in the first round.

Australia's Robert Agnew and Paula Hamood were the only other competitors to ride clear in the first round, but both picked up faults in the second.

New Zealand team member Sally Steiner rode well in the second round. She managed to retrieve the New Zealand position after the hosts stood to lose the series for the first time when Katie McVean on Dunstan Dolly collected eight faults in both rounds. There was a silver lining for the star young rider when she triumphed in other major Isola events and farewelled the pony ring before pursuing a berth in the Olympic team, beginning her circuit in Europe this weekend.

McVean won the Young Rider event on Watch Me and finished third on Dunstan Mumu, ahead of Kumeu's Lisa Coupe on Bush Magic.

McVean also excelled to win the Grand Prix on Watch Me before riding to an extraordinary win on Mumu in yesterday's main steed event.

The plucky skewbald mare managed to jump round in the fastest time, even though she pulled off both her front shoes during the course.

For her last pony competition, McVean, who turns 17 in May, acquitted herself well by finishing runner-up on Maximus in the pony grand prix behind Tauranga's Kathy Reid, who rode Golden Toledo to win by under a second.

Australian riders Hamood on Capone and Peter McMahon on Ambivalence excelled in the 1.3m event, taking first and second place.

Australia won the first test in Gisborne, but New Zealand drew level at Hastings.