from Taranaki Daily News online (dated 17mar11)

Taranaki's Olympic and World Games equestrian Heelan Tompkins has reached a new stage in her life.

The 30-something-year-old, who recently moved her base from Oakura to take up a position with Clifton Eventers Horse Farm at Muriwai, will be competing from her new base at the Horse of the Year show at Hastings this week.

Tompkins is in the process of re-building her eventing team after selling Cuzzy Bro to Britain 18 months ago and Sugoi to a New Zealander in Australia last year.

"It is always hard to see the good ones go, but you never know what is around the corner," she said.

So with both horses out of the equation she set about finding something special.

Tompkins has competed in two Olympics for New Zealand, with her best finish a seventh placing at Athens aboard the now-retired Glengarrick. She has competed in two World Equestrian Games, with her best also a seventh. Her efforts at Badminton and Kentucky have been admirable and seen her always finish well.

She has seven horses with her at Clifton and has left a few young ones at home in Taranaki.

"It's fun to be somewhere different and I always have home to go to."

Tompkins is pinning her hopes at the Horse of the Year on 17-year-old Major Difference, which is the national advanced class champion and is thriving on the different scenery at its new home in the northern area.

Strike 3, an eight-year-old thoroughbred, is Tompkins' other mount in the advanced class at the equestrian event of the year.

"I really like this horse – he's green because he is young, but he's very brave and talented," said Tompkins when heading south to Hastings yesterday.

Tompkins' new job at Clifton Farms is as a supervising manager of a 20-strong team of eventing horses.

"We've got a great pool of horses up here and it's about matching the right horses with the right events."

Tompkins is contemplating heading offshore in the winter but for now her focus is adding to her impressive eventing record at Hastings this week.

The Horse of the Year Show began yesterday.

The show involves 18 equestrian disciplines competing over 28 arenas.

The event culminates on Sunday when the New Zealand Showjumper of the Year is found.

The class carries a prize purse of $200,000, with a $40,000 cheque for the winner.

It has attracted top Australian combinations, as well as the best in New Zealand because it is also a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics.