Riders set for battle of Waimate
Waimate will play host to the annual Inter Country Young Rider Challenge this weekend.
A four-strong South Island team will face up against a talented team from Victoria, Australia, during the two-day event.
The South Island team includes captain Devon van Til (Rangiora), Brittany Whelan (Dunedin), Katie Meredith (Ohoka) and Olivia Robertson (Ohoka), who are looking for a home advantage to regain the Juliet Scott Trophy.
The riders will be jumping 1.10m, with riders mounting borrowed horses, over two rounds each day, with a jump-off on Sunday if required.
The competition was last held in Waimate five years ago, after it was established by the EFA Victorian Showjumping committee in 2003.
The Australian team consists of Zoe Boulton, Kristy Haworth, Melissa Julius and Jonathan Smith.
Three of the four South Island riders will enter the competition with experience but it will be Robertson's debut.
Points are taken from the best three scores each day.
Also being held at the showgrounds is the Horse Grand Prix, which will see riders travel from the North and South Island and Australia.
West Australian rider Sarah Isbister will be making her New Zealand debut this weekend, riding Little Briton, who she recently finished fifth on at the Equestrian Grand Final World Cup Qualifier in Melbourne.
The events start at 8.30am on both Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday's Inter Country Young Rider Challenge will begin at 3pm and will commence again on Sunday at 11am.
