<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><strong>Star New Zealand
showjumper Katie McVean and her in-form mare Dunstan Delphi have ridden the
round of their lives this morning (Monday NZ time) to beat Olympic gold
medallist Eric Lamaze at Spruce Meadows in Canada.</strong></span></p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">McVean and Delphi
finished second in the 1.5m World Cup grand prix, with Lamaze and Hickstead
third, on the final day of the five-day Continental Tournament. The class, which
attracted some of the best riders in the world, was won by Will Simpson (United
States) on Archie Bunker.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Just two
combinations from the 45 starters made it through to the jump-off. McVean and
Delphi had been 41<sup>st</sup> to go in the first round, with none clear and
inside time allowed before her. Lamaze had picked up a single time fault.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">McVean, who spent
Friday in hospital with a stomach bug, says the course, designed by Olympic
designer Leopoldo Palacios (Venezuela) was extremely tough.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm">“<font face="Arial, sans-serif">The last line was
a triple bar, on a curve, into a double of water trays,” said a very excited
McVean after the class. “It was very tricky.”</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">She opted to keep
Delphi flying at the beginning of the round to ensure she had a little extra
time up her sleeve at the end to allow an extra stride – and it paid off.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">However, with just
two in the jump-off, Delphi was first out and still hot from the first
round.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm">“<font face="Arial, sans-serif">She's given so
much in that first round and was still pretty knackered when we went out for the
jump-off.”</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The took the first
of the double followed by the planks over another very light course, giving them
eight faults in 38.157. Simpson finished with four faults in 39.431.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">McVean's second
place bagged her $CAN18,000.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm">“<font face="Arial, sans-serif">Delphi is just so
full of herself at the moment, but we just can't believe how well she continues
to go – she's a star alright. It is all so exciting.”</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Delphi will now
rest for a week before starting at the next World Cup show at Spruce
Meadows.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Lamaze had to let a
$50,000 bonus slip through his fingers after finishing third. The second leg of
the $1 million CN Precision Series is the only one to have eluded him over the
years.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">McVean looks to be
well on track to secure a berth in the New Zealand team at the World Equestrian
Games in Kentucky in September.<br><br>- Diana Dobson<br>SJNZ Media Liason</font></p>
