Equestrian: Young horse riders show their mettle

A fresh crop of talented young riders and the emergence of an American Olympic medallist on the Kiwi scene signalled a new era in top New Zealand showjumping at Isola, Waiuku, at the weekend.

Promising 14-year-old Cambridge schoolgirl Katie McVean competed on a par with Greg Best, who won an individual silver at the 1988 Seoul Olympics for the United States.

Best, now living in Hastings, has returned to grand prix level with promising seven-year-old US import Entrepreneur II.

McVean repeated her Young Rider of the Year (under-21) success by winning the 1.35m young rider championship on Dunstan Dolly.

Best lifted expectations when his young mount sailed over obstacles to take the 1.3m Mini Prix title.

Nick Platt, of Auckland, won the Grand Prix on Silent Dancer.

The only three clear rounds put Dannevirke's experienced Maurice Beatson first in the jump-off on Duty Free. He set the fastest time, but slipped back to second spot.

Tauranga's Sally Anderson rode Wellwisher clear and despite being 5s slower than Beatson, had the lead until Platt took over.

Grand Prix horses and international riders had dwindled. Vaughn Jefferis withdrew injured, and the mounts of John Cottle and Toni McIntosh pulled up lame.

Stalwart Merran Hain completed a fine round on brilliant hunter Tregonning to win Saturday's Speed Derby. She looked similiarly poised in her Grand Prix round until colliding with the penultimate jump for a fall which put her out of contention.

A strong pony section was dominated by Northland riders Sarah Deane and Anna Trent and Aucklander Alex Sutherland.

Deane's pony Can Can won yesterday's Pony Grand Prix with a clear jumpoff round.

Trent was the only other rider to manage clear rounds to finish second and third on Scrubfire and Native Mystic Dawn.