Wilson on Withese takes top honours

Hukerenui's Vicki Wilson capped off a fine start to the season by winning the IC Motors Horse Grand Prix at the Whangarei Two Star Showjumping Event at Barge Showgrounds on Sunday.
Wilson's win on Purua horse Withese came hot on the heels of five wins at the Gisborne and Hastings shows, including a first equal in the Two Fence Challenge at Gisborne competing against the elite of New Zealand horses.
But Sunday's win will rank right up there after Wilson and Auckland's Paula Mussen, riding Meersbrooke Flintstone, were the only two riders from 15 starters to emerge from the tough Graeme McPherson-designed course unscathed.
They had to jump off to decide the winner.
Both riders picked up four faults in the final but Wilson finished 1.5 seconds faster in the jump-off, and was awarded the top prize for the weekend.
Wilson said the course was testing, particularly the difficult triple.
"It was a very difficult line where we had all the trouble, it had to be ridden really carefully," she said. "Withese struggled but he tried very hard and made it." Wilson had two other rides in the final. With a tired Showtym Girl she finished fifth equal but had a fall at the triple jump on her other mount.
Whakatane's Melanie Purcell was third in the event after completing the round with four faults.
Wilson had other success at the weekend-long event, which drew more than 300 horses.
She finished third and fourth in another of the main categories, the young rider award.
It is the 21-year-old's final year in the young rider class and she has high hopes for the event this season.
"Finishing third means I've had a place in each of the young rider events I've been in so far and I'd like to win it this year, but if I don't win it I want to finish with a place," she said.
Last year's horse grand prix winner, Rachel McGregor of Auckland, won the young rider event on Saturday, riding Premium Carbo Benny Boy, with another Aucklander, Sarah Worker, on Britten, placing second.
Wilson was third on Showtym Girl and fourth on Withese, with Whangarei's Samantha Peters finishing fifth on Likable NZPH.
Meanwhile the Farmers Mutual Group Pony Grand Prix was won by Auckland's Alexa Randall, who took first and second on Melbrooke and Starlight Express respectively.
Northland's Hannah Harding, riding Lets Tango, finished third.
The defending champion in the pony grand prix, Vicki Berger, couldn't repeat that form in this year's event but she did win one of the big events on Saturday, the Gilmore Brown Pony 1.20 riding Chocolate Splash.
The Northland Real Estate Horse Mini Prix was also won by Worker, with Purcell second and Courtney Fox third.
Samantha Peters was the best local, in fourth place.
Several showhunter classes were also completed over the weekend.
Laura Madden, riding Sedbury's Paddington, won the Kiwispan Open Horse High Points 1.10m competition, with Sophie Boardman on Starcatcher in second, with Stephanie Joustra on Mandella, in third.