Young author Fay Stirling and her pony Leather.
A short story about a showjumping competition has won a national writing award for a horse-mad young author. Twelve-year-old Fay Stirling, a year 7 student at Springbank School in Kerikeri, captured the judges’ imagination with her short story “Jumping to Conclusions” about a horse called Viking competing in a showjumping round. She won the NZ Society of Authors Northland Year 7 & 8 section, in a competition that delivered the highest number of entries the judges, Fraser Smith and Patricia Fenton, had seen.
“We were struck by the creativity and originality among the range of young authors. There were stories that were so action-packed we felt as though we were riding along with the writer, stories that tugged at our heartstrings, and others that made us laugh out loud,” they said.
Fay lives on a sheep and beef farm on the Purerua Peninsula, in the Bay of Islands. She has been riding since she was three years old, on the farm and the beach with her father John, and his horse Ranger.
She lives just down the road from Horse Rescue’s Milli Owen who has inspired her through horse camps, lessons and her gentle interactions with horses. She’s an avid reader of Stacy Gregg books and The Wilson Sisters books, which have all influenced her writing, according to mum Diana.
“Fay has a great English teacher, Sara Hittle, who encouraged and supported her entry,” said Diana.
Her story was published in the Northern Advocate and she received a cash prize.
While Fay has an obvious flair for writing, her ambition is either to become a competitive horse rider or an equine vet. You can read her story here: Short Story by Fay Stirling
Hacking across the farm are Fay Stirling with her dad John, and sisters Camilla and Alice.
Fay and Milli Owen (Driftwood Equestrian) at the beach on Trooper. Credit JM Photography.