Merran Hain. Photo / John Cowpland
Sarah Worker brought tears to the eyes of her horse's breeder as she convincingly won the Young Rider of the Year crown at the Kelt Capital Horse of the Year Show in Hastings yesterday.
The 16-year-old from Clevedon and her 11-year-old horse Briten edged out many fancied combinations
to take the prize.
Ringside to enjoy the win was Briten's breeder Merran Hain (Gisborne) who sold the horse to buy her racehorse Willie Smith - currently out injured but trained by Mark Todd.
And while Worker surprised many of her rivals, she had every confidence in her bay gelding despite both of them falling in the Lady Rider of the Year class on Thursday.
None of the 30 starters in the young rider class managed to go clear in the first round, with all in the first jump-off having four faults each.
Five went through to a second round, which was whittled down to just Worker and Vicki Wilson (Whangarei) on Witheze.
After Wilson stopped the clock at 33.88 with the eight faults, Worker and Briten came calmly into the arena and with style went clear in 36.74.
Meanwhile New Zealand has taken the early lead in the showjumping phase of the Tri-Nations Challenge after a tightly contested jump-off against Australia.
South Africa languished in third spot on 33 faults.
Returning Olympian Mark Todd continues to draw the crowds. He rode in a fun-filled Battle of the Sports, which he won on Tregonning.
He will ride in the eventing invitational this afternoon.
