Lots on the Line for Laurie in Las Vegas

Lots on the Line for Laurie in Las Vegas

Katie Laurie will tomorrow line up against some of the world’s best showjumpers at the Longines FEI World Cup in Las Vegas.

The 28-year-old from Mystery Creek has been there before in 2011, when she took everyone by surprise and finished sixth equal aboard the mighty Dunstan Delphi.
But this time she has extra incentive to do well – she’s riding Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark (owned by June Berrington). The lovely chestnut owned by her friend, the late Melanie Purcell, who always dreamt of competing her horse at top level offshore.

Laurie is very happy with her preparation going into this epic event. The 10-year-old gelding has been based in California and jumped well in a grand prix that saw only two clears from the 38 starters.

“We took a single fence, and he hardly even touched it, to finish eighth, so that was really good,” says Laurie (nee McVean).

“I am so excited. He is a good horse in tight, small arenas and I have been watching the last final in Vegas, as well as Delphie’s clears, to remind me of it all.”
On hand to walk the courses with her will be dad Jeff McVean, who has also competed at World Cup finals, and there will be a huge contingent of New Zealanders in the crowd.
Laurie has also had a call from the Kiwi who rode at that final too – Anna Trent said she wished she had used ear plugs on Muskateer NZPH, who finished 36th and just missed out on making the final.

“I may try those just in case we need them,” she says. “Mark is very happy and full of himself, which is great. Our preparation has been good, but a lot will depend on how he copes with the atmosphere.”

And she’s only focusing on herself.

“I am not worrying too much about the other people there. It is all about the jumps . . . you just have to beat the jumps. I am hoping he can jump a good first round, and we’ll go from there. It is very easy to stand at the practice jump and watch everyone else and just psych yourself out, when really, it all comes down to what you do in the ring.”

But that company is rich – included in the line up are Switzerland’s Olympic champ Steve Guerdat and Pius Schwizer, who while have made it to the podium in recent years, have not quite managed to secure the top spot.

American Beezie Madden is also in the mix. She was the last female champion and is a supreme competitor, as is the Californian-born three-time champion Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER). Rich Fellers (USA) and his comeback king, the amazing Flexible is another superstar, former winner Marcus Ehning (GER) is on the card, and of course, there is also the defending champion and current world number one, Daniel Deusser (GER) aboard Cornet d’Amour.

In all there are 42 combinations from 20 countries who will compete in the jumping final which gets under way Wednesday (April 15) and finisheson Sunday.

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