All On For Sunday’s World Cup Final

All On For Sunday’s World Cup Final

It will be the battle between three of New Zealand’s top female riders in the final of the Bayer FEI World Cup (NZ series) on Sundayafternoon at Woodhill Sands.

Three time series winner Katie McVean (Mystery Creek), who was first and second in the penultimate round at the weekend, has her two stars Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark (owned by June Berrington) and Dunstan Springfield entered, with her World Champs team-mate Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) also on two with Argento and Estina, and Susie Hayward (Canterbury) on Andretti.

Barring a complete disaster of some sort, one of the three will be toasted as the 2013-2014 series champion on Sunday evening.

McIntosh is at the top of the leaderboard with 72 points, including wins at Feilding and Taupo, while McVean and Hayward have had just one apiece but been very consistent.

McVean is in second place on the leaderboard on 67, with the 2012-2013 series victor Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) in third on 65 and Hayward fourth on 60.

Beatson won’t be at the final, opting instead to save his horses for the long trek south for the Ride the Rhythm and Canterbury and National championships later this month.

With points and a half up for grabs in the final (30 for the winner, 26 for second, 23 for third, 20 for fourth, 18 for fifth, and continuing down from there), there is plenty at stake, but working out the likely winners is tricky because just the four best rounds from each rider count.

Also entered on Sunday at the Waitemata World Cup Final Festival are Luke Dee (Ocean Beach) on Ombudsman who won the series final last year, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) on Kiwi Ludo (owned by Annette Scott and Massie), Melody Matheson (Hastings) on Cheltenham, Jake Lambert (Cambridge) on Quality NZPH and Jono Smith (Auckland) on SP Vision.

It is the first time Showjumping Waitemata have hosted a world cup final. President Emma Blair says a new and improved warm-up arena will please many competitors and compliments the excellent footing in the competition arenas. Irrigation of the grass ring is well under way and the show also has some new jumps.

It is hoped there will be live streaming on the internet, and Country TV are expected at the show as well.

The New Zealand series started in October in Hawke’s Bay, with four of the six rounds qualifiers of the 2014 World EquestrianChampionships, which are being held in France.

The series winner has the opportunity to travel to Lyon, in France, for the world final in April.

World Cup points after five rounds (best four to count): Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) 72, Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) 67, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) 65, Susie Hayward (Canterbury) 60, Luke Dee (Ocean Beach) 52, Jake Lambert (Cambridge) 34.

ends

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