Samantha Felton awarded rider's scholarship

Samantha Felton hopes to make the New Zealand Olympics Eventing team.

Samantha Felton from Hamilton has been awarded the $5000 AMP People's Choice Scholarship, after receiving a $5000 AMP Regional Scholarship in association with Rothbury Life - to help her achieve her dream of making the New Zealand Olympics Eventing team.

All nine of AMP Regional Scholarship recipients from around New Zealand became eligible for the People's Choice Scholarship once they were successful in securing the Regional Scholarship for their respective regions.

The public were able to cast their votes by texting the name of their favourite People's Choice Scholarship contender, with Samantha winning the majority of the public votes.

Samantha, 25, says she wants to represent New Zealand on the world stage in Three Day Eventing, which is one of the few sports in the worlds where men and women compete against each other on equal terms.

AMP managing director Blair Vernon says the talent, dedication and courage of the 2017 AMP Scholarship applicants meant it was extremely rewarding as well as particularly challenging to choose this year's talented recipients.

"This year AMP will provide up to $200,000 to help inspirational and gifted New Zealanders of all ages and from all walks of life who have the courage to chase their dreams - whether it's a desire to start a new business, launch a community-focused project or to represent New Zealand at the Olympics, we can help turn their dream into reality," he said.