Hospital case jumps back up for national title

HER noble steed is nearly as old as she is, while Jordyn Becconsall's preparation consisted of the best part of a week in hospital.
Yet the young Tauranga equestrian star didn't falter at last week's Horse of the Year show in Hastings, and her national junior showjumping title leaves her in great shape with the season finale next week.
"My name will be in the books forever now, and at least until Dannevirke next week, I'm leading the series," Becconsall said.
"I don't really mind what happens there though, because I mainly wanted to win at Horse of the Year. It was my last go and I've only ever got second."
That's only part of the story.
The 18-year-old, who works at Brookfield New World, spent five days in hospital with cellulitis, only emerging on Friday for the drive to Hastings.
She was on board her favourite mount Junior, who spends his weekdays chasing sheep and cattle around a farm on the Kaimais.
The chestnut horse started life as a rodeo horse in Australia, before Australian Olympian Ron Easy took him and converted him to a show-jumper.
He was brought to New Zealand in 2001 and Becconsall took him over in 2004. But her property in Te Puke was too flat to train him properly, so Becconsall's aunt Susan Coster grabbed him.
"She keeps him in work all week and he rounds up all her stock - he doesn't do any training, just gets picked up for the shows," Becconsall said.
Becconsall herself lived in Australia until she was seven, only learning to ride a horse when she moved to New Zealand. That common ground gives her another bond with her mount, which her mum Sandra believes has a few more years left.
"We're pretty careful with him and we only start him when we need to," Sandra said.
"We'll keep him going until he tells us he's had enough - but at the moment, that's looking a while away."
There was further Tauranga success in Hastings, with Phillip and Sally Steiner both dominating the show-hunter section and Jessica Magill sharing first place in the 1.10m showjumping.
Megan Stacey was one of only four riders to have a clear first round in the 1.40m division, out of field of more than 50 competitors.
Tauranga results:
Dressage: Musical Freestyle: Alex Hope (Wandering Star) 5.
Show Hunter: 80cm: Shannon Anderson (Step It Up) 5. 90cm: Shannon Anderson (Step It Up) 7. 1.10m: Philip Steiner (Daylight LS) 1. 1.15cm: Philip Steiner (Daylight LS) 1. Championship 1.10m: Philip Steiner (Online NZPH) 4. Championship 1.15m: Sally Steiner (Optional NZPH) 1, Philip Steiner (Daylight LS) 5. Hunt Seat Equitation: Sally Steiner (Optional NZPH) 5.
Showjumping: 1.35m: Ike Unsworth (Sereedom VDI) 5. 1.10m: Jessica Magill (The Salamander) 1=, Philip Steiner (Pep Talk NZPH) 4=. 1.35m: Ike Unsworth (Seremonie VDI) 4=. Junior Rider: Jordyn Becconsall 1. 6-year-old Horse of the Year: Sally Steiner (Hurlingham Ciao Bella) 5. Intermediate Rider 1.20m: Jordyn Becconsall 5. Amateur Rider: Tasha Brown (Holy Cow) 3. 1.20-1.30m: Megan Stacey (Shimmer Man) 6.