Young rider returns triumphant

Kerikeri showjumper Sophie Burling has returned home following the resounding success of the national Young Rider jumping team in Queensland.

Ms Burling was a member of the winning four-rider team, selected by Equestrian Sport New Zealand, to represent this country in the Transtasman competition for Young Riders. The ESNZ Young Rider Series is for under-21, jumping to a height of 1.45m.

The Kiwi team trounced the Australians, 3-nil.

A New Zealand Young Rider team had not beaten the Australians on their own turf for seven years.

The team travelled to Gatton in Queensland where they rode borrowed horses in six rounds over three days. There was a good mix of horses, with some very experienced rides, right through to those not so experienced in the ring. The rules dictate that no rider can ride the same horse twice and the Australians were not allowed to compete with their own horses either, so all riders were presented with some interesting rides and a different horse each day.

Ms Burling, 18, put in solid performances and jumped clear rounds for the first two days, helping consolidate New Zealand's strong performance.

This was the fourth time she has represented New Zealand in showjumping and her second time internationally, having competed once before in South America.

After competition, Ms Burling stayed to visit several New South Wales sporthorse breeding studs and to check on progress of a leased mare carrying a foal she will import to New Zealand after it is weaned.

Ms Burling runs her own small breeding operation in Kerikeri where she also trains and competes horses to Grand Prix level, all over the country and teaches other riders.