EQUESTRIAN - North rider helps NZ win

Northlander Vicki Wilson helped New Zealand's rising showjumping stars retain the Transtasman Young Rider Shield at the Toowoomba Showjumping Championships.
The Queensland team was leading after the first day, two points ahead of their visitors, but the tables were turned on day two when New Zealand won the round, tying the two teams at six points apiece going into the final match-up. There was just one rail between the teams at the end of the first round yesterday, but New Zealand's Chloe Akers (Palmerston North) and Caroline Parkes (Gisborne/Palmerston North) both scored clear rounds, with Vicki Wilson (Whangarei) collecting four faults. Captain Tess Williams (Gisborne) didn't even need to start to secure the win. The team was the same one that won the shield in Dannevirke at Easter. New Zealand has held the shield, which is competed for twice annually, for two years.