Equestrian: Cottle triumph clinches trip to Las Vegas

John Cottle and Telegraph on their way to victory yesterday. Picture / Dean Purcell

John Cottle and his 11-year-old grey stallion Telegraph outlined their showjumping class yesterday in Auckland, winning the New Zealand series World Cup final round and the five-round series.

They beat 12 others over a challenging course at the Ti Papa Indoor Equestrian Centre.

With no clear rounds during the first round, the three four-faulters - Cottle, Gisborne's Merran Hain and Cambridge's Catherine Cameron - went through to a jump-off.

Clevedon's Cottle was first out, cutting corners on his way to a clear round in 33.32s. Hain and Tregonning were next to go and also managed a clear round in 34.10s.

That left the pressure on Cameron and her first-time World Cup starter, Kahurangi Tardak.

The combination had won the big 1.35m jump on the opening day of the three-day show, prompting Cameron to put the big dapple grey in as a late starter.

They had a steady start in the jump off and also went clear but came home in 34.64s to finish third.

Cottle said he was disappointed Telegraph had not gone clear in the first round, taking a "lazy rail".

"He was a little distracted in the first round but jumped fantastically in the jump-off."

The series win means Cottle and Telegraph will now start planning a trip to Las Vegas in April for the World Cup final, with the world championships in Aachen, Germany, next year the long-term goal.

Before then, he captains a New Zealand team to Australia today for a two-test series, including the Australian series World Cup final.

Husband and wife Simon and Claire Wilson of Waipukurau and late call-up Robert Steel, of Hawera, make up the rest of the team.

Wairoa's Molly Bennett had to pull out from the team this weekend after her horse NRM Kiwi Brave was injured.

- NZPA