College sport: Reigning equestrian queen at 13

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

Massey High School student Courtney Wood just loves to horse around.

The 13-year-old has been at Massey for only three months, but it was no surprise that she won the top individual award at the North Island secondary schools equestrian championships.

She has eight years' riding experience and her bedroom walls are covered with more than 50 pony-club ribbons.

Wood's parents own a horse business at Riverhead, which means she has easy access to the showjumping fences and dressage arena. The Kumeu track gives her cross-country practice.

She won the title on her 12-year-old mount Gun, whom she describes as by far the best horse she has owned.

"My first pony, BJ, was really naughty. He would buck regularly," she said.

But that didn't upset Woods, who was 11 at the time.

There were other "naughty" horses in the nine or ten she has ridden, but she said that coping with their bad behaviour was part of the learning experience.

Wood is fresh from fifth place at the national pony club championships in the 16 years and under age group. She won three events - dressage, cross-country and showjumping - with just 17 penalties.

In the secondary schools competition, Diocesan defended their team title, despite a strong challenge from Whangarei Girls High.

Whangarei led after the first day's dressage, but Diocesan won the title comfortably with clear rounds in the cross-country and show-jumping.

RUGBY


Defending Northland secondary schools champions Kaitaia College began their 2001 campaign in style with a 13-try demolition of Otamatea High School.

The Otamatea side were stepping up a level into the first division and found the going tough, conceding 75 unanswered points.

* St Peter's College, have plenty of silverware to protect when the season kicks off on Saturday.

St Peter's are the Auckland premier 1A defending champions, the New Zealand schoolboy title-holders and also hold the Moascar Cup.

SOCCER

Liston College and St Peter's College go head-to-head today with both teams vying for a place in the senior schoolboys premier competition.

The winner will meet Auckland Grammar on Saturday when the competition starts in earnest.

Both schools are equal with one point after drawing 2-2 in their first meeting.

WATERPOLO


Avondale College made a splash at the New Zealand secondary schoolgirls championships in Wellington, winning the title for the first time in the school's history.

The West Auckland school came from behind to defeat North Island champions Sacred Heart Lower Hutt 4-3.

Sacred Heart led for most of the match, but Avondale remained in touch and Leah van Leeuwan slotted the winner to secure the title.

Auckland champions Rangitoto College were no match for Wellington Girls College, going down 0-4 in the playoff for third and fourth place.

More than half of those named in the New Zealand secondary school girls squad are Aucklanders.

Avondale were rewarded for their effort in the final with five girls selected, including the player-of-the-tournament, Rynne Lowrie.

Westlake Boys High School won the boys' section last month.

THIS WEEK

* Today:

North Harbour: golf teams competition.

* Tomorrow:

Counties Manukau: equestrian - dressage.

* Friday:

Auckland: premier basketball.

* Saturday:

Auckland: premier 1A/B rugby, premier grade soccer, netball.

Counties Manukau: premier rugby.

North Harbour: premier rugby, premier netball.

* Monday:

Auckland: squash.