Kerikeri-based showjumper, Sophie Burling, celebrated winning the equestrian code award at the 2013 Konica Minolta Sport Northland Sports Awards held in Whangarei on Friday, November 29.
The 18-year-old, based at Maverick Sporthorses on Purerua Peninsula, was chosen for her achievements competing on the national showjumping circuit in Young Rider Seriesclasses, and also in Horse Grand Prix, where she rides her two self-produced warmblood geldings, LR Ruegar MSH and Detailed MSH.
She was part of the winning four-rider New Zealand representative team that jumped to victory over three days in Gatton, Queensland earlier this year. The team won each daily round to conclusively take the competition over their Australian counterparts.
Since commencing competition again for the 2013-14 season, Sophie has been competing around the North Island so far, and has had placings on all her competition horses, including Grand Prix placings to 1.50m.
Her next event will by the Christmas Classic, held at the National Equestrian Centre in Taupo, and which is New Zealand's second largest showjumping competition.
