Talented showjumper Katie McVean is through to the World Cup final in Germany in April after winning the final of the New Zealand series in Tauranga yesterday.
McVean, from Mystery Creek, defended her crown from last year in convincing fashion aboard her World Equestrian Games mount Dunstan Delphi, and took
third with Dunstan Daffodil for good measure.
"Winning the series this year is huge for me because I really wanted to go to the final," McVean, 24, said.
"She's done Spruce Meadows [in Kentucky] and the World Games, and now I feel she is ready for the World Cup final."
McVean won the overall title with 60 points, 23 clear of Tauranga's Phillip Steiner.
A total of 10 combinations started yesterday's class in Tauranga. Only McVean on Delphi and Bernard Denton of Gisborne, riding Suzuki, had clear rounds inside time to progress through to the jump-off.
But while McVean and Delphi then raced through the course in 40.91 seconds, Denton and Suzuki were six seconds slower and with a couple of rails down.
Last year McVean opted not to take Delphi to the world final - "she just wouldn't have been ready" - but is relishing the chance to go to Leipzig.
"She has a lot of her spark back now and is fitter and ready to go," she said of the champion horse. McVean plans to defend her Showjumper of the Year title at the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings next month before flying to Europe.
