Star Black Sticks' striker Honor Dillon will swap her hockey stick for horsepower at Masterton over Labour weekend. The versatile sportswoman will be contesting the Wairarapa show jumping championships at Solway Showgrounds Dillon, 23, the partner of All Blacks first-five Daniel Carter, debuted for the New Zealand women's hockey team at theChampions Trophy tournament in Argentina in November 2004 after starring for the Canterbury Cats in the national hockey league. In May of this year she was part of the Black Sticks side which met the United States and scored two goals in the opening match of that series. Originally from Wellington, the now Canterbury-based Dillon has earned herself a reputation on the hockey field as a fast, aggressive player with a penchant for scoring goals. But her hectic hockey schedule hasn't stopped Dillon from also making a name for herself on the show jumping scene and she is touted as one of the country's most promising talents there as well. At Solway she will participate in the 1.10 metre and a.1.20 metre show jumping events as well as competing in the show hunter classes.. To the uninitiated show jumping and show hunter may look pretty much the same but there is one vital difference, while the forme is ultimately a question of speed over the obstacles, show hunter is all about style. In the United States, in particular, the show hunter classes are proving increasingly popular and they have also made good ground in New Zealand where they are considered an essential skill for any young rider looking to follow in the footsteps of the Mark Todds, Blyth Taits and Wairarapa's own Tinks Pottinger and Catriona Williams. The Solway event runs from Saturday, October 22 through to the Monday and promises three excellent days of quality horse sport.Entrance for spectators is free.
