Australian Olympian Peter McMahon has won New Zealand's most coveted showjumping trophy.
McMahon and his big flea bitten grey mare KS Genoa today jumped double clear to take out the Olympic Cup at the horse of the year show in Hastings.
It was heart-stopping stuff as 25 of the best combinations from both sides of the Tasman did their best on a Leopoldo Palacios-designed course.
Only two went clear in the first round and both were Australian, Jamie Winning on Vangelo Des Hazelles and McMahon.
Last year's winner Katie McVean, of Waikato, and Dunstan Forest II dropped a rail as did Robert Steele, of Hawera, on Gospel.
Twelve combinations went through to the second round when clears were a little more prolific, with Germany-based Waikato horsewoman Samantha McIntosh and Lindberg des Hayettes joined by three Australian combinations.
McMahon was the last to go and while he rubbed one fence, nothing fell, giving him victory in the $750,000 class.
The winner's cheque for the 27-year-old former diesel mechanic-turned professional rider was $150,000.
McMahon, who had to have reconstructive surgery on his collar bone after breaking it at the 2008 Olympics, paid tribute to his wife Michelle Lang-McMahon, herself a former world championship rider.
KS Genoa, a 14-year-old Holsteiner mare, is schooled on a lunge rein and walker, with McMahon only getting on for a couple of practice fences before going into the arena.
"She's best that way," he said of the sometimes rather difficult mare.
BBC equestrian commentator Michael Tucker said the course and the money on offer were setting new standards.
"Leopoldo [Palacios] knows the world standard and he set a course worthy of the money and most definitely one of the biggest courses seen here," he said.
"His course today showed the ones who keep cool under pressure and the horses with scope."
New Zealand continued its domination of the tri-nations, winning the final day and taking the leg.
The New Zealand team to compete in South Africa in the second leg next month is Robert Steele, of Hawera, Dannevirke's Maurice Beatson, Ike Unsworth, of Tauranga, and Simon Wilson, of Waipukurau.
Leading results:
* Olympic Cup for NZ showjumper of the year: Peter McMahon (Australia) KS Genoa 1, Wendy Schaeffer (Australia) Koyuna Sun Set, Julia Hargreaves (Australia) Copabella Haymen, Samantha McIntosh (Waikato/Germany) Lindberg des Hayettes and Robert Steele (Hawera) Gospel 2 equal, Team That Horse Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) Right Royal, and Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Forest II 6 equal.
* NZ speed horse of the year: Anna Stephen (Martinborough) Constantine 1, Wendy Schaeffer (Australia) Koyuna Sun Storm 2, Jacqui Wright (Taukau) Cheekie Boy 3, Bridget Hansen (Havelock North) Monamie NZPH 4, Team That Horse Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Apollo van Evendael 5, Edward Bullock (Pukekohe) Wesserwolf Tane 6.
* Premier stakes one-star: Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Delphi 1, Becky Allen (Australia) RSB Jacana 2, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Kiwi Relic 3, Melanie Purcell (Whakatane) Billistic 4, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Kahurangi Tardak 5, Sue Thompson-Brown (Hastings) Air Hill Myka 6.
* Tri-nations, final round: New Zealand 1, South Africa 2, Japan 3. Final: New Zealand 1, South Africa 2, Japan 3.
* Three day event three star: Jonathan Paget (Muriwai) Clifton Promise 1, Anne-Marie Styles (Papakura) As You Like It 2, Anne-Marie Styles (Papakura) Opera Groove 3, Kate Wood (Northland) Easy Tiger 3.
