EQUESTRIAN - Split second gives Iceman the edge

DIANA DOBSON
HAWERA dairy farmer Robert Steele won the Bomac Norwood Gold Cup on his home-bred horse Gospel by 0.1 second on the opening day of the Horse of the Year Show, in Hastings, yesterday.
Having to settle for second was long-time campaigner Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) and his home-bred My Gollywog.
Steele, known as the Iceman to his mates, produced a fabulous jump-off over the Leopoldo Palacios-designed course in this event sponsored by Kelt Capital.
Steele and Gospel - a 12-year-old gelding who was bred by Steele's father - previously won the Norwood Gold Cup in 2005.
The cup dates back to 1967 when former Olympian Joe Yorke and Challenge won it.
The names on the trophy include Olympians Beatson, John Cottle and Jeff McVean.
Yesterday six riders - Anna Trent (Auckland) on Cortaflex Muskateer NZPH, Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) on Swinger Team Thathorse, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) on JJ Freelance, John Whitaker (Britain) on Dunstan Hairy McClairy, Steele and Beatson - went through to the jump off from 28 starters.
Only a split of a second separated the top three - 0.1s between Beatson and Steele, with Wilson 0.31s behind Beatson.
Steele was naturally thrilled and the win was made all the more special because it was on a horse he had brought through the grades.
"We've had such a consistent season, it's awesome. Let's hope it continues," Steele said.
They will start in the Bell Tea Olympic Cup - the major class at the show with a prize of $500,000 - on Sunday.
Earlier in the day Britain's top female rider, Ellen Whitaker, celebrated her 22nd birthday and debuted in New Zealand in fine style, with a win on the borrowed mount Kiwi Brave in the 1.35m class.
She has been Britain's top female rider for six years and is a strong contender for the Beijing Olympics.
Her result was all the more remarkable because Kiwi Brave, who is owned by Molly Bennett (Wairoa), has been out of the ring for most of the season while her owner concentrated on her new baby.
It was a women's jump off with Whitaker, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) on Dunstan Daffodil and Anna Stephen (Martinborough) and Constantine in the race.
The five-day show culminates with the Olympic Cup on Sunday for the Horse of the Year.
The event has lured 2500 mounts and their riders.
Highlights include the return of Mark Todd (Canterbury) and Gandalf, who will ride in an invitational eventing on Saturday, and a hotly contested battle between South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.