EQUESTRIAN - Wilson vaults to top at Horse of Year

Hukerenui's Vicki Wilson is the country's top showhunter after the Horse of the Year competition in Hastings.
Wilson won Showhunter of the Year riding Des Lowe's horse Moll Flanders, and was the star turn among a strong Northland contingent last weekend.
The competition attracts riders from as far as Japan, South Africa and Australia and, on Saturday, attracted about 48,000 spectators in the main grandstand.
Teenager Samantha Peters was Northland's only rider in the field for the $750,000 showjumping Olympic Cup. The 18-year-old placed 16th equal riding Australian horse Likeable NZPH, in a field of 25 which included New Zealand Olympian Katie McVean.
Northland's team of four riders in the Saba Sam pony showjumping event qualified and finished third in a field of entries from all over New Zealand.
Team members were Dargaville riders Vicki Berger on Chocolate Splash and Hannah Harding on Let's Tango, Hukerenui's Amanda Wilson on Showtym Gladiator and Molly Coutts of Whangarei Heads riding Showtym Boy.
Kate Wood of Glenbervie rode Easy Tiger to fourth place in the International FEI Advanced Eventing class, run for the first time in association with the Horse of the Year.