Equestrian: Robertson claims Norwood Gold Cup

Olivia Robertson on Ngahiwi Cisco. Photo / Warren Buckland

Olivia Robertson won the Norwood Gold Cup at the Farmlands Horse of the Year Show in Hastings.

The 21-year-old full time rider steered her Gisborne bred horse Ngahiwi Cisco to a classy clear in the hotly-contested jump-off.

Seven of the 30 original combinations came back for the against the clock jump-off.

Robertson (Christchurch) was second to go on the 12-year-old gelding and set the stage with tight turns and a big gallop into the last, leaving everything up in 51.65 seconds.

No one could match her - several gave the time a good nudge, but paid for it with rails.

Closest to Robertson was Te Awamutu teen Emily Hayward-Morgan who was flying around the course and looked well on track to steal the lead until the last, which came down giving her four faults in 48.56 to take second place aboard AP Ninja. The horse, who was initially bred to race, was super economical around the shortened course.

Filling third place is New Zealand's only onshore based high performance eventer Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) aboard Quainton Labyrinth who also had four faults in 50.61.