By Diana Dobson
It was a special win this afternoon for Parys Marshall in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix at the Egmont A&P Show this afternoon.
“It means so much” says the 15-year-old of her victory aboard the 17-year-old Spot U Later. “To win at a premier and at my home show is pretty cool.”
It was also the second consecutive year she has done so.
This time she headed off 10 other combinations, with just three clear over Gerrit Beker’s course.
Marshall was first out in the jump-off where she was going for a clean slate but wasn’t prepared to put undue pressure on herself.
“I knew I had Emma (Watson) behind me and she is fast” said Marshall.
As it turns out, the two were extremely close, with Marshall getting the nod thanks to her 36.32 second time. Watson (Morrinsville) and Maddox Fun House were also double clear but came home a smidgen slower, in 36.53.
“The course was good out there. All the strides came up nicely. I found it quite twisty and turney, which suits Spot U Later well as it keeps him busy. It’s not so good when he has time to look around.”
It has been a good season for Marshall, who has been placed in all of her pony grand prix starts. Today was her second win of the season.
She has been doing pony grand prix classes since she was 11 and has enjoyed plenty of success with Woodmount Splash and Spot U Later.
She now has her sights set on young rider classes and notched a win in just her second start a couple of weeks ago.
“I want to do young rider at HOY so will keep working on that” she says.
Marshall, who does her schooling by correspondence to allow her to ride her three horses and four ponies full time, said she was hugely appreciative of the support of her parents Jan and Keith.
“I really appreciate all they do to allow me to do what I love” she said.
The class brought to a close three excellent days of jumping at the show.
RESULTS
Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series: Parys Marshall (New Plymouth) Spot U Later 1, Emma Watson (Cambridge) Maddox Fun House 2, Lilly Moore (Hastings) Showtym Highlight 3, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Toy the Pony 4, Luke Myers (Wanganui) Urewera Magic 5, Sarah West (Matamata) Miss May West 6.
FMG Young Rider Series: Emily Hayward (Te Awamutu) Yandoo Lady Gold 1, Drew Carson (Putaruru) Winstone V Driene 2, Blake Davis (Palmerston North) Orange County MF 3, Deanika Vink (New Plymouth) Master of Hossack 4, Nick O’Leary (Wanganui) Obeone Kanobe 5, Blake Davis (Palmerston North) Socrates De La Vie 6, Brigitte Smith (Mangaweka) Cintaire 7.
Purepine Shavings Seven-Year-Old Series: Daniel Webb (Hunterville) Cheyenne 1, Lucy Fell (Longburn) Faratona STS 2, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Letano 3, Robert Steele (Dannevirke) Delta Blue 4, Sally Steiner (Tauranga) Di Caprio CSNZ 5, Danielle Maurer (Kaukapakapa) Le Bam 6.
Mitavite Six-Year-Old Series: Kelsea O’Connor (Tasman) Centaire
East Coast Performance Five-Year-Old Series: Woodrow Hosking (Palmerston North) Toucan, Georgia Percy (Masterton) Double J Image, Shanae McKay (Levin) KDS Affair and Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Double J Kelvin =1.
Dunstan Horsefeeds and Equifibre Pro Amateur Rider Series: Emily Fraser (Palmerston North) Kiwi Sunray 1, Melanie Cooper (Stratford) Zarlo 2.
Caledonia Holdings Amateur Rider Series: Caroline Hinton (New Plymouth) Hi Ho Said Rolly 1, Caroline Hinton (New Plymouth) Winston Get Em Shorty 2, Dana Sutton (Palmerston North) Down Wind 3, Holly Bonner (Stratford) Classic Déjà vu 4, Tanya Hansen (Oakura) Zoe 5, Lara Quinn (Oakura) I Kan Do 6.
Main Events University Series: Drew Carson (Putaruru) Winston V Driene.