Katie McVean celebrates winning Horse of the Year riding
Dunstan Delphi, Hastings, New Zealand, Sunday, March 21,
2010. Credit: NZPA / Kerry Marshall.
Katie McVean produced the fairytale ending to a dream
season by riding off with the Olympic Cup for showjumper of the
year at the Horse of the Year show in Hastings today.
The 23-year-old from Mystery Creek, Waikato, swept aside
nerves and pressure to pocket the $40,000 winner's cheque
aboard Dunstan Delphi, an eight-year-old mare bred by her
father Jeff McVean.
She headed off a 19-strong field challenged by a technical
course featuring fences of up to 1.6m in height.
She finished ahead of experienced Dannevirke competitor
Maurice Beatson, who rode two horses, Zibbibo and Apollo van
Evendael, to finish second equal with himself.
McVean, who last won the Olympic Cup in 2008 aboard Dunstan
Forrest II, was left stunned despite enjoying a stellar
season in which she has won a series of prominent titles.
"It is going to be hard to keep a horse as good as Delphi.
She is just unbelievable," McVean said.
In the three-star eventing a cool head and plenty of talent
gave defending champion Jonathan Paget, of Auckland, the
edge.
Paget and Clifton Promise, who won the title for the second
consecutive year, will soon be packing their bags to for
America where they will compete in the prestigious Kentucky
horse trials next month.
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