Local stars shine on the world stage

A MASTERTON born and raised professional horse rider has finished strongly at one of the world's toughest three day equestrian events.
Joe Meyer, 35, originally of Masterton but now UK based, finished tenth out of 90-odd riders at the Badminton Horse Trials last weekend.
The Badminton event is one of the world four toughest and most prestigious tournaments on the calendar, encompassing dressage, cross country, and jumping events.
The cross-country events attract up to 250,000 spectators, making it the largest paid entry sporting event in the UK.
Joe's mother Gay Meyer said he plies his trade in England and Europe where there is enough competition for him to make a living from, and also test himself against some of the worlds best.
She said not only is Joe from here, but his horse Snip, who he rode at Badminton, is also a Masterton product, bred up at the Meyer's Mamaku Stud - where that other quite famous horse Charisma hailed from.
Joe is a member of the squad of six New Zealand riders who will compete at the world championships to be held in Germany in August, and Gay said he also harbours Olympic ambitions and would have competed in Athens had his horse been uninjured.
"He says he'll come home to New Zealand after the London games."
He is obviously highly regarded in New Zealand, and was this year awarded the annual Charisma Trust Scholarship, which is handed out by the New Zealand Equestrian Organisation to the rider most likely to succeed overseas.