Brougham takes open freestyle crown
Manawatu¯ rider Julie Brougham and her horse Vom Feinsten were the stars at the inaugural New Zealand open freestyle grand prix to music at Equitana Auckland.
The Australasian freestyle record holders scored 72.13 per cent, ahead of Wendi Williamson aboard Dejavu MH on 70.38 per cent and John Thompson on JHT Antonello on 70.29 per cent.
It was the last time Brougham and Vom Feinsten will perform that freestyle Down Under.
Brougham and Thompson then teamed up with showjumpers Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) and Clarke Johnstone to win the trans-tasman clash against Australia.
Picturesque park
Levin’s Donnelly Park was looking a picture for the Central Hinds at the weekend.
The Hinds opened the domestic women’s cricket season against Wellington, the first time they had played at Levin, the first Hinds game in the region since 2011 and the first first-class game at Donnelly Park in 17 years.
The Horowhenua Ka¯piti Cricket Association has been putting a lot of work into the park recently and it was put to good use at the weekend, with fans lined up along the embankment and junior grades playing at the same time.
Muliaga UK bound
Palmerston North netballer Sia Muliaga is off to the United Kingdom with the Samoan netball team.
The Palmerston North Girls’ High School shooter is in the senior Samoan squad of 12 to play two tests against Scotland and two against Wales.
Taylor’s average
A browse through the Manawatu¯ cricket records produced surprising statistics for Black Caps’ batsman Ross Taylor.
While he averages 44.27 in one-day internationals and 47.10 in tests, his average for Manawatu¯ is just 12.29.
Taylor played only eight games for Manawatu¯ before bursting onto the international scene in 2006.