Equestrian: Impressive victory over Australians

SYDNEY - The New Zealand showjumping team have carried on their impressive form of the last week with a decisive victory over Australia in the first of two tests.

New Zealand's combined score of their top three combinations was 12 faults, compared with Australia's 32.

The transtasman contest at the Royal Adelaide Show was run in tandem with a grand prix event, in which New Zealand's senior riders, Ann Wilson and Maurice Beatson, finished first and second.

Wilson, on Mitavite Imperial, and Beatson, on Duty Free, were involved in a two-way jumpoff after both went clear over two rounds.

Wilson went clear for a third time to pip Beatson, who had one fence down.

Third in the grand prix was triple Australian Olympian Vicki Roycroft, on Luna Luna, with a total of four faults, while compatriot John Patterson, riding Maamur, was fourth with eight faults.

New Zealand's third counting score in the test came from Beatson's nephew, Sam Beatson, on Primo Venturer. Their 12 faults put them fifth in the individual standings.

Chef d'equipe Jeff McVean said the test victory was all the more notable given that the New Zealand horses were jumping out of season.

They had had no competitive preparation before arriving in Australia late last month.

"From having no build-up to winning a test was awesome," he said. "We didn't expect to win, but we've got a very good team. They're pretty happy at the moment, and rightly so.

"This test was important for New Zealand showjumping and we threw everything into it."

The second test will be in Melbourne on September 24.

The New Zealanders' next competition is a World Cup event in Adelaide today.

- NZPA