<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Katie McVean's
determined march continued today as she and Dunstan Daffodil were comfortable
winners of the fourth round of the New Zealand World Cup series at the Christmas
Classic at the National Equestrian Centre in Taupo today (Saturday).</strong></font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">More valuable
points went to McVean for the win, making it an increasingly tough tally for the
rest of the leaderboard to catch. She now has a 16 point buffer on Ike Unsworth
(Tauranga) who had to settle for fourth place today.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Eleven started the
class, with clears coming from McVean and her fellow World Equestrian Games
team-mate Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) on My Gollywog. Ten combinations went
through to the second round, with four-faulter Robert Steele (Hawera) and his
home bred Gospel leaving everything in place, Beatson taking a rail, but
clocking a faster time, and McVean notching double clear.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Julie Davey
(Hawke's Bay) and Air Hill Myka were the only combination to go clear in the
opening round of the one star horse grand prix, giving them the honours..</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Many of the 20
combinations in the seven year old class struggled with the water jump, with
McVean and Dunstan Zasjany D winning ahead of Nigel Horton (Palmerston North)
Miss Mopsie.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Luke Dee and the
evergreen Wild Thing nailed a big and technical course to take out the pony
grand prix ahead of 27 other combinations. Four went through to the jump-off
with Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) setting a cracking pace but paying for it with a
rail. Next out was Logan Massie (Dannevirke), the series leader, who flew round
clear in 46.3 seconds and laying a mighty challenge for Dee who stopped the
clock at 43.95.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The four-day show
finishes tomorrow (Sunday). </font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The show is a
celebration for the many volunteers who have worked tirelessly on the equestrian
centre since late May. Nearly all of the work on creating the two new
all-weather arenas and extending the existing arena has been done with voluntary
time and equipment, with help also from periodic detention workers and
Department of Conservation employees.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">World class
eventing cross country designer John Nicholson (Te Awamutu) has already started
building his course for the May national three day event, as has work started on
the course for the April Pony Club Championships.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Results - </strong></span>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>World Cup (NZ
qualifying series), fourth round: </strong>Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Daffodil
1, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) My Gollywog 2, Robert Steele (Hawera) Gospel 3,
Ike Unsworth (Tauranga) NRM Seremonie VDL 4, Adrian Bruce (Gisborne) Witheze 5,
Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Kahurangi Valentino 6.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Points:</strong> Katie
McVean (Mystery Creek) 45 points, Ike Unsworth (Tauranga) 29 points, Philip
Steiner (Tauranga), Bernard Denton (Gisborne), Adrian Bruce (Gisborne) 17
points.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Horse grand prix
one star:</strong> Julie Davey (Hawke's Bay) Air Hill Myka 1, Jamie Beatson (Cambridge)
Ombudsman 2, Ike Unsworth (Tauranga) NRM Wimbledon MVNZ 3, Simon Wilson
(Waipukurau) Cortaflex Right Royal 4, Danielle Maurer (Auckland) Blue Rinse 5,
Sally Steiner (Tauranga) Annandale Laughton's Legacy 6. </font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Annandale Great
Lakes 1.2m Challenge: </strong>Kyle Timm (Clevedon) Sam I Am 1, Candice Fox (Auckland)
Larkham 2, Ella Varcoe (Auckland) Astek Incahoots 3, Rosie Commons (Auckland)
Samuel Something 4, Tayla Mason (Wellington) Hula Rock 5, Jake Lambert
(Cambridge) O So Happy 6.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Cushion Ride seven
year old: </strong>Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Zasjany D 1, Nigel Horton
(Palmerston North) Miss Mopsie 2, Mandy Geeson (Taupo) Qualine De Kergane 3,
Sally Steiner (Tauranga) Volley Of Beracah 4, Phillip Steiner (Tauranga)
Annandale Waitangi Triple X 5, Sophie Burling (Whangarei) 6.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>Barbara Thompson
Photography Pony Grand Prix: </strong>Luke Dee (Gisborne) Wild Thing 1. Logan Massie
(Dannevirke) Kickin the Clouds 2, Lily Tootill (Auckland) Tally Ho Bandit 3,
Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) Hopeful Illusion 4, Nicole Watson (Hawera) Mister
Brumby 5, Meg Lambert (Cambridge) Co Calico 6.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm"></p>
