Hard work pays off for talented teen and pony

Isabelle Jameson and Darvell Jade with their accolades from the North Island Showjumping Championships.

Parua Bay teenager Isabelle Jameson won the highest individual prize at the North Island Showjumping Championships in Cambridge.

The 13-year-old Whangarei Girls' High School student recently won the Vinnie Challenge Cup, beating 180 other challengers.

The Vinnie Cup is given to the top individual pony club rider in the North Island.

Isabelle's mother, Nicky, said their family is incredibly delighted in their budding star.

"We're extremely proud of Isabelle. She does everything herself. I drive her around and do what I can but she looks after the ponies herself and trains herself," she said.

"She's had her pony, Darvell Jade, for three years and works incredibly hard at her sport.

The work ethic she has is incredible."

Her team, Whangarei Pony Club, finished fourth overall in the 30-team competition won by Tuakau.

Other Northland-based teams that competed were Wellsford (sixth) and Bay of Islands (28th).

Isabelle spends a lot of time with her horse, taking a big personal responsibility in her wellbeing and care.

The Year 10 student is balancing her studies with training for the sport she has been involved in for the past five years.

Nicky said Isabelle's industriousness in both facets of her life are helping her become successful.

"She's very diligent. Before school she feeds and grooms her ponies and after school she trains for hours," she said.

"She takes Jade and the other ponies and does pair work, takes them to the beach, gets them into the water, and then does more work afterwards.

Isabelle Jameson took home the Vinnie Challenge Cup from the North Island Showjumping Championships. Photo / Tania Whyte

"She's been working hard for over five years since she came here from England.

"Isabelle has been working with her coach, Samantha Peters, right from the start and Samantha is very proud of how well Isabelle is doing."

Isabelle isn't the only talented athlete in the family, with brother Freddie being the Under 11 Squash New Zealand champion.

Older sister Maddie, 18, was a surf lifesaver at Ocean Beach.

Next on the agenda for Isabelle is the Horse of the Year show in the first week of March and she will be taking Darvell Jade with her.

Isabelle has been selected to represent Northland Pony Club there, and is hoping to do well both in the teams' event and as an individual.