Pony riding career has fine ending

Amanda Wilson's last year of pony riding has been a season to treasure.
The 17-year-old from Hukerenui won the Pony of the Year at the 2010 Kelt Capital Horse of the Year Show in Hastings on Saturday.
In a beautifully-ridden round, she guided her coloured 6-year-old pony Showtym Viking to a  victory in a jump-off against three other combinations.
It was her fifth grand prix win of the season and included taking the national showjumping title, an achievement made all the more special because the gelding only learnt to jump last winter.
Ahead of her in the jump-off, Cambridge's Jake Lambert and Soul Sister had already recorded a cracking pace, bolting round in 32.71.
Then came Hawke's Bay's Claudia Porter on her  roan Tallyho Bandit, who took a rail early in the piece, finishing on four faults in 35.67.
Then it was Wilson's turn. She  hurtled around the course, going clear and stopping the clock at 32.45. The showy little chestnut Sweet Addition in the hands of Queenstown's Olivia Robertson was one of the main threats to Wilson's title. The combination clocked the fastest time of the class in 31.94 but, importantly for Wilson, took a rail at the second to last fence.
"This is absolutely the perfect way to finish, he is one of the best ponies in the world to me," an ecstatic Wilson said afterward.
When older sister Vicki jumped the pony she knew immediately that he was something special. He had been brought to her for schooling but they ended up buying him - and don't regret the decision now.
"Winning the Pony of the Year is just something I just wouldn't ever believe would happen to us," Amanda added.
In the premier stakes Hawke's Bay rider Julie Davey aboard Air Hill Myka took the class by just 0.08s  ahead of Australian Jamie Winning on Congo Z.
In a large class that included some quality combinations, like Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) on Corofino II, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) on Once a Warrior, Daniel Meech (Hastings) on Winston Darco V, Claire Wilson (Waipukurau) on Tipsey and Catherine Cameron (Dannevirke) on Kahurangi Tardak, just four went through to the jump-off.
The 20-year-old Winning was out first on her big bay Congo Z and did a clean steady round, stopping the clock at 42.41s. Meech and Darco were unlucky at the first of the double and took the second as well, bagging eight faults.
 Taranaki took the New Zealand Pony Club team of the year crown after a  jump-off round from team captain Shannon Seaver.