Showtym Viking was every bit the fearless warrior today (Thursday) flying to victory in the seven year old championship at the 2011 New Zealand Horse of the Year Show in Hastings. Owner and rider 18-year-old Amanda Wilson (Northland) made the brave move to take her 2010 Pony of the Year up into hacks and has reaped the rewards. The teenager was third of four to go in the jump-off of the Coprice Seven-Year-Old Championship and fairly flew round going double clear in 29.52 seconds.

The only one to come close to nudging her was Kim Best (Otane) and IQ who dropped the last rail in the jump-off and were just 3/100ths of a second behind Wilson. “He's been going super all season, so I knew he was more than capable of taking this today – it was a matter of me lining him up well,” says Wilson. “It was a big course out there – every line was related and it was very technical. Vicki just told me get out there and go for it – ride to win...which is what I did.”

Pinto Viking got third in the national seven-year-old series and in the hands of older sister Vicki was fourth at the nationals. “He's just the most amazing pony in the world!”

Results: Amanda Wilson (Northland) Showtym Viking 1, Molly Bennett (Wairoa) Ngahiwi Cupid 2, Kim Best (Otane) IQ 3, Jamie Winning (Australia) Zenzel Z HBC 4, Ross Smith (Burnham) Quite Cassini 5, Claudia Hay (Mosgiel) Euro Sport Heartbreaker 6.