Equestrian: Fairytale finish as McVean wins jump off

Katie McVean learned she would ride Seremonie VDL only on the day of the show. Photo / Christine Cornege

Katie McVean provided a fairytale finish at the NZ Horse of the Year Show in Hastings yesterday when she won the $200,000 Bell Tea Olympic Cup, beating Australian Jamie Kermond in a nail-biting jump-off.

McVean, the defending champion, rode the 11-year-old imported NRM Seremonie VDL - owned by Mount View Sport Horses' Wendy and Richard Keddell - and flew in from Europe just for the show.

It was her third Olympic Cup victory, and within an hour of hoisting the trophy, she was back on a plane to prepare for a World Cup show in Holland later in the week. Eighteen started the class, with just 11 with 12 faults or fewer coming back for the second.

As the faults mounted for the Kiwi riders it started to look increasingly like the Showjumper of the Year title, and the $40,000 winners cheque, would be crossing the Tasman with any one of the eight Australian combinations.

Last to go was Australian 21-year-old Danielle Butcher aboard Twins Big Higgs, who produced the only clear of the round, but picked up three time faults for her caution.

Best performed of the Kiwis in the first round was McVean on Seremonie, sitting on eight faults. Ahead of her were Australians Butcher on three faults, Billy Raymont on Stardom and Jamie Kermond on Colthaga with four apiece, and Julia Hargreaves aboard Vedor on five.

The second round saw McVean go clear with just a single time fault, as did Raymont on the NZ-owned Nicalette NZP.

Butcher, in her first season in the big time, had three rails down and picked up four time faults knocking her out of contention.

When all faults were tallied, Kermond on his grey Colthaga and McVean aboard the grey mare Seremonie were tied on nine faults apiece, forcing a jump-off.

McVean was out first and looked to be on track until three from home when she took a rail. Kermond watched her go and came out with a steady clear in mind - it looked like the cup was transtasman bound ... until the last fence.

McVean says she couldn't believe she'd won.

The Olympian had found out she was riding the horse only on her return to New Zealand on the first day of the show.