Charlotte Conder is still basking if the warmth of the news she is now the joint winner of the FMG Young Rider of the Year crown.
The 17-year-old and Kiwi Bonus share the honour with good mate Johanna Wylaars (Christchurch) aboard Campari after a drama-filled class on Thursday at LRHOY. It wasn’t until Sunday that she found out they would share the title.
A big part of winning a major title at LRHOY is that Defender Arena presentation in front of friends, family and peers, and that victory lap – or three. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen for Charlotte but she’s still absolutely chuffed to share the victory.
The class came down to her and Johanna locked on four faults apiece after two rounds. After some confusion, it was announced there would not be a jump-off but a subsequent protest was upheld and the two riders were on Sunday jointly awarded the Young Rider title.
“It still hasn’t even sunk in,” said the teen from Ohariu Valley near Wellington. “I feel hugely relieved and glad to share it with such a great person.”
She and Johanna first met a few years ago with their ponies at an eventing camp in Taupo. Both are now well cemented as fantastic young showjumpers. “It is pretty special to win with her.”
A gracious winner, Charlotte said it was “a shame” not to hoist the Big Red Trophy but she is just glad it has been resolved.
The class itself produced plenty of emotion for Charlotte. While she walked the course, dad Jim noticed her reins were hanging by a thread so dashed off to buy new ones in time for the class. “It was all such a rush as I had been in the other ring. The course was going well but I thought I had a rail down but then heard the crowd cheer when I finished.”
She burst into tears just happy they had left everything up. “I just couldn’t believe it. He was just awesome,” she said of Kiwi Bonus – or Bully as he is known. Charlotte’s coach Jaime Campbell told her to go out in the second and do the same. She followed the instructions to a tee which left both her and Jaime in tears at the end of the round.
She’s had Bully for two years and owned him for a year-and-a-half. She was initially riding the horse for breeders Graeme and Ashley Hart.
“He is a super cool horse. I just love how hard he tries. He can be a bit of a bogan and doesn’t like being told what to do when I ride him but is a complete smooch on the ground. He has nice bit of arrogance about him.”
She likens him to a big Labrador really. I loved him the first time I rode him and kept telling dad we needed him.”
Charlotte freely admits her parents Jim and Anne are her biggest supporters and number one sponsors. “They aren’t even horsey but have come along for the ride. I am super lucky.”
She also had Captain Xtreme, Image Xtreme and Soda Xtreme at LRHOY and was happy with all of them. “They are all young but jumped awesome. It has been a great show for us.”
Charlotte and her team live on a 200-acre equestrian property that her parents have developed over the last decade.
The season has been a good one for her, with Bully placing in most of his young rider starts.
She’s currently in year 13 at Newland College and is contemplating studying sports psychology next year. But for now, she’s just happy to be out and about with her beloved Bully.
For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz
