Equestrian: McVean leads the way

The New Zealand team showed their mettle by winning the final test against Australia yesterday with the youngest competitor taking the top individual award of the three-day International Showjumping Festival at Waiuku.

Katie McVean, 15, rode Dunstan Dolly in the Hynds $5000 Grand Prix and was the only competitor to go clear in a jump-off. She also helped New Zealand to win all three of the grand prix tests in the Isola event, although the team scores were closest in the final with the visitors only three faults behind.

None of the 16 starters managed a clear in either round of the 1.45m grand prix, forcing a jumpoff between New Zealanders McVean and Catherine Cameron and Australians Andrew Lamb and Hayley Kelly after all four dropped a rail to finish on four faults.

Lamb, on chestnut gelding Harvey, was runner-up, with Cameron, on Rachmaninov, third.

Phillip Steiner rode Dionmedes as reserve for New Zealand after Olympic medallist Greg Best was forced to withdraw his horse Entrepreneur through injury.

Kelly was fourth on Medicine Man, with Steiner fifth ahead of team-mate Maurice Beatson.