Tootill Off To Hong Kong

Lily Tootill has earned herself a silver fern after qualifying for the World FEI Children's Classic Challenge in Hong Kong in the new year.

The 14-year-old from Auckland will compete against another top 15 riders from around the globe who have qualified from their various regions.

Tootill has already ridden for New Zealand a number of times, including winning both individual and team gold at the FEI Children's Challenge in Noumea in 2009.

She is over the moon to have made the final, but knows it is going to be a big ask at the international event.

In qualifying, Tootill and her lovely grey Millbrook almost finished the four full round challenge with a clean slate... but took the last rail of the last fence in the final round over a tough Irish-designed course at the Wellington Horowhenua Championships in February.

Children 12 to 14 years from all over the world jump exactly the same course, with the results collated to find the top 16 to compete against each other at the final where they will all ride borrowed horses. The event runs from January 10-15, 2012.

New Zealand is the first country in the world to hold its Children's FEI challenge. Historically Kiwis have done well at the prestigious event, with Katie McVean winning it many years ago, and strong representation from siblings Luke and Mick Dee, and Jake and Meg Lambert.

Tootill's effort comes on the back of some solid results – she was runner-up in the 2011 Pony of the Year and won the 1.25m championship at the 2011 New Zealand Horse of the Year Show.