Equestrian: Teenager and veteran lead the field for World Cup final

The nation's best showjumpers are in Auckland this weekend chasing honours in the New Zealand World Cup final.

The final is the culmination of a 10-event series which started in October in Gisborne.

At the top of the table are Kumeu teenager Lisa Coupe and veteran Maurice Beatson from Dannevirke, but with points-and-a-half up for grabs in the final, any one of the top nine riders could win.

Leading the series is 18-year-old Coupe, who manages to juggle schoolwork and horses and do well in both fields. She has just gained a B bursary. Examinations meant she missed two world cup rounds, but she has been consistent in the six she has started in.

"I try not to get nervous or excited about it all," she says. "I'm just trying to keep everything normal and prepare the best I can."

Just behind her is Beatson, who is considered New Zealand's elder statesman of showjumping and is a master when it comes to winning big events. He has more than 100 New Zealand grand prix victories to his credit and has represented New Zealand at Olympic level as well as winning the Horse of the Year title four times.

He has won the qualifying series before and represented New Zealand in the final.

Tauranga's Sally Steiner and Dannevirke's Doug Isaacson are both in touch with the leaders, sitting in third equal spot going into the final, with Gisborne's Merran Hain QSM in fifth.

Last year's final round and series winner Molly Savill from Wairoa will be looking to repeat her good form.

Former Olympian John Cottle and his grey stallion Telegraph have really started to click in recent shows and he is always a tough competitor to edge out.

But the rest of the 18-strong field may find young gun Katie McVean the true test of their skills.

The 17-year-old from Matangi, who won the 2002 British Young Rider Championship, has had only two world cup starts and won both.

McVean's experience in the ring belies her years, and with her sights firmly set on an Olympic berth at Athens, she will settle for nothing less than a top effort.

Venezuelan Leopoldo Palacious, considered the world's top course designer, will be setting the course.

Showjumping New Zealand chairman Trevor Gregory says it is a real coup to have him here for the final.

Many of the riders competing are on the long list for the Olympics.

The winner of the series has the opportunity to go to the World Cup final in Italy in April.

Tomorrow's final at midday is part of a three-day show at the indoor Ti Papa Equestrian Centre which started yesterday.