Olympic showjumper Katie McVean has produced one of the rounds of her life to finish sixth in the speed round at the World Cup final in Leipzig, Germany, this morning (NZT).
Aboard her 10-year-old home-bred mare Dunstan Delphi, McVean jumped clean and clear in 65.67 seconds. She is ranked just six points behind Marco Kutscher, of Germany, in the standings at the end of day one.
Kutscher, aboard Cash, stopped the clock at 63.55 to head the field of 43 from defending champion Marcus Ehning, also of Germany, who is second with Sabrina.
The poles fell all around Frank Rothenberger's course, which tested riders' ability to keep a rhythm while taking tight turns to ensure a strong finishing spot in this first of the three deciding competitions.
The full field jumps again tomorrow with the top two-thirds progressing to the two-round final on Sunday.
Leading results:-
World Cup speed class, 1.55m: Marco Kutscher (Germany, Cash) 63.55 seconds 1, Marcus Ehning (Germany, Sabrina) 63.79 2, Christian Ahlmann (Germany, Taloubet ZS) 64.03 3, Gerco Schroder (Netherlands, Eurocommerce New Orleans) 65.12 4, Margie Engle (United States, Indigo) 65.62 5, Katie McVean (New Zealand, Dunstan Delphi) 65.67 6.
- NZPA
Equestrian: McVean impresses in Germany
Katie McVean. Photo / Christine Cornege
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