Victory for Kiwi Young Riders in Aussie
Monday, 6 October 2014

New Zealand’s young rider team have triumphed in the Trans Tasman Challenge at the Australian Youth Show in Camden, South Sydney this afternoon.

Riding borrowed horses, the team – comprising Melody Matheson (Hawke’s Bay), Emily Fraser (Feilding), Olivia Robertson (Christchurch) and Melanie Weal (Te Awamutu) – won the final two days of the three day competition to take the honours.

Chef d’equipe Richard Sunderland (Tauranga) was rapt with the efforts of the teenagers who had rallied after an opening day loss.

“The pressure was really on them these last two days,” said Sunderland. “These four girls are very good showjumping riders – each of them drew a rubbish horse at some stage, but they just accepted it and got on with it. They were a credit to themselves and New Zealand.”

After the first day of competition, New Zealand sat on 24 faults to New South Wales’ 20, but pipped the hosts by three faults on the second day, and eight in the final.

Sunderland was confident the future of New Zealand showjumping was in good hands.

“These youngsters have been trained to showjump since they were about five and it is now all starting to come out . . . it is now just going to come down to the horse power because they can all do the job very well. They just live and breathe the sport.”