McVean heads NZ team against Australia

Olympian Katie McVean aboard Dunstan Daffodil spearhead a strong New Zealand team to take on Australia in a two-test transtasman teams event next month. The Kiwis will take on the visiting Australians at the Equestrian Sports New Zealand Showjumping Series finals show in Hawera on March 2-4 and again at the 2012 New Zealand Horse of the Year show in Hastings on March 13-18. McVean, who this year notched her third consecutive New Zealand World Cup series victory, is ably backed by Lisa Coupe on Bates Amaretto MVNZ, Bernard Denton on Suzuki and Simon Wilson on Swinger. Susie Hayward and Andretti is the reserve. Coupe has been in fine form this season, picking up three wins and two seconds from seven New Zealand World Cup starts. Wilson is a winner of all the top New Zealand events over the years, including the Olympic Cup, national showjumping title and New Zealand World Cup series. Denton, who was the New Zealand team farrier for the 2008 Olympics, won the New Zealand World Cup final in 2009 and is often handily placed in the nation's main classes. New Zealand team for two-test Trans Tasman Teams series next month: Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) aboard Dunstan Daffodil, Lisa Coupe (Hawke's Bay/Kumeu) on Bates Amaretto MVNZ, Bernard Denton (Gisborne/Feilding) on Suzuki and Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) on Swinger. Reserve: Susie Hayward (mid Canterbury) on Andretti.