Aust, rider dominant

Press, 16 February 1978, Page 21

Aust, rider dominant

PA Levin Three days of show jumping came to an end at Levin at the week-end with the dominance of the Australian rider, Jeff McVean, firmly established. McVean, with his top Australian horse, Claret, captured the admiration of the crowds who had come to see the Wills show jumping competition, and also captured most of the major prizes. McVean took the main event of the show, the grand prix for A and B grade horses, his flamboyant style on Claret showing out clearly against the more conventional methods of the New Zealand riders.

The high standard of jumping was maintained in this event, even after three days of gruelling competition on the rockhard ground, and there were 11 clear first rounds. Five of these then went clear for a second time and moved into a jump-off against the clock, over a shortened course. McVean had two horses in the jump-off, Claret and Blue Gift, and he quickly set the pace with a clear round on Claret in 41.5 seconds. The next three riders, Grahame Mcßobbie (Auckland) on McLeod third, Blue Gift fourth tom on Galaxy and McVean again on Blue Gift, were unable to match this and all scored jumping faults, which put them out of the running for first place. Mcßobbie and McLeod were extremely unlucky, having a clear round in a good time until the last fence, which they put

down to put them out of the contest. Then the last competitor came out, little Nicki Becdelievre riding Justification, representing the Isola Equestrian Centre in Auckland, and the two went an immaculate round but just could not match the pace of the Australian combination and had to be content with second, with McCloud third, Blue Gift fourth and Galaxy fifth. The main event on Saturday was the Victor Ludorum, and this was won by Claico Joe and lan Campbell, of Tirau, after a jump-oiT with the three Hastings combinations of Kalahari and Murray Thompson (second), Charlie Brown and Kevin Hansen (third) and Jorrocks. ridden by Graham Hart (fourth). Results:— Saturday

Victor Ludorum: Calico Joe (I. ! Campbell, Tirau) 1, Kalahari (M. [Thompson, Hastings) 2, Charlie Brown (K. Hansen, Hastings) 3, Jorrocks (G. Hart. Hastings) 4. A grade jump: Claret (J. McVean. Australia) 1. Intrepid (D. Isaacson. Dannevirke) 2, Tom Jones (McVean) 3. Sunday

A and B grade grand prix: Claret (J. McVean) I. Justification (N. Becdelievre. Auckland) 2, McLeod (G. Mcßobbie, Auckland) 3, Blue Gift (J. McVean) 4. Open horse six-bar: Ace High (T. Wellwood. Palmerston North) I. Winchester (J. Gliddon, Dannevirke), Kalahari (M. Thompson, Hastings), Intrepid (D. Isaacson), Copper Royal (E. Ropiha, Woodville) equal 2.