Kiwi Guard all the Way - Horse of the Year 2011

Last
was definitely best for Mathew Dickey in the Young Rider class at the 2011 NZ
Horse of the Year Show in Hastings today (Thursday).
 
The
20-year-old civil engineering student from Oakura was the only clear of 29
starters in the event – and he was the very last in the field to go.
 
Ahead
of him some rather good riders had dropped rails aplenty over a very technical
Leopoldo Palacios (Venezuela) designed course.
 
Unfazed by the carnage that had preceded him, the
Auckland University student and his chestnut Kiwi Guard flew round the course to
secure – fittingly – the Big Red Trophy.
 
An
ecstatic Dickey whipped his helmet off and hoisted it skyward in celebration –
much to the delight of the hundreds in the grandstand and around the
arena.
 
The
minor placings all carried faults, with the four faulters separated by time.
Second place went to the spunky little coloured horse Showtym Viking in the
hands of Amanda Wilson (Northland), with Rachel McGregor (Cambridge) and Kabo
Benny Boy third.
 
“I am
just over the moon,” said Dickey. “I just focused on what I was doing and what
dad and I had talked about when we walked the course. Kiwi Guard is a real fiery
red head and it all got a bit much for him in the end but he did so well out
there.
 
“A
lot of preparation goes into a class like this and to win it makes it all worth
while.”
 
Dickey, who won Pony of the Year aboard Co Calico in
2008, says the young rider title was one he had set as a goal for the season. He
finished second in the series behind Danielle Maurer (Auckland) who today
retired her beautiful roan horse Blue Rinse from the class after he
uncharacteristically dropped several rails.
 
“There were a few kinky lines out there but I liked that
course,” says Dickey.
 
He
had the luxury of having competed early in the class over his other less
experienced mount Witzcellar who had a rail and and picked up two time faults to
finish on six faults, and just out of the money.
 
“I
got a good look at the course and was certainly happy once I was clear of the
Liverpool fence (which he had dropped with Witzcellar).” 
 
It
was a big step up the black mare and Dickey says she handled it well. 
 
Nine-year-old Kiwi Guard, who is by Irish Guard, has
been with the Dickey family since he was three, and just continued to improve
over the years.
 
Dad
Phil and Dickey's sister Tanya rode him until he was about five when Dickey
graduated to hacks. He says his parents are his biggest supporters.
 
Long
term Dickey plans to continue to compete in young rider next season.
 
“Once
I am out of young riders it is into the big league,” he says. “We know our
limits and I while I want to produce my horses to grand prix and world cup, I
won't rush them.”
 
For
now he's absolutely chuffed to have his name on a trophy that boasts former
Olympians and other top New Zealand riders.
 
Earlier in the show, the in-form Logan Massie
(Dannevirke) aboard Kiwi Ludo rode a stunning clear round to take the honours in
the junior rider class ahead of Natasha Brooks (Cambridge) on Hairy
McClairy.
 
Six
went through to the jump-off and it looked as though the class belonged to the
last to go, Jake Lambert (Cambridge) as he galloped O So Happy into the last
with plenty of time to spare.
 
But
it wasn't to be and the rails came crashing down relegating him to fourth
place.
 
Massie also featured in the victorious Central Hawke's
Bay Saba Sam team who bolted in to take the honours ahead of Waikato, with 11
faults in hand.
 
It
was well worth the trip from Blenheim for teenager Nicola French. The
17-year-old beat off riders with vastly more experience to win the Level 3
dressage Horse of the Year title.
 
Her
enormous imported German gelding Don Freese packs a powerful punch in the
dressage arena, with energetic exuberant paces. Although she finished second in
both title classes, her consistency was enough to give her the overall
win.
 
 
 
Results - 
 
Dunstan Horse Feeds Big Red Trophy – Young Rider of the
Year: Mathew Dickey (Taranaki) Kiwi Guard 1, Amanda Wilson (Northland) Showtym
Viking 2, Rachel McGregor (Cambridge) Kabo Benny Boy 3, Alexa Randall (Auckland)
Chairman 15 4, Tim Myers (Hawera) Pick Me NZPH 5, Rachael Bentall (Hastings)
Kiwi Brave 6.
 
Fiber
Fresh Feeds Junior Rider of the Year: Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Kiwi Ludo 1,
Natasha Brooks (Cambridge) Hairy McClairy 2, Katie Meredith (Kaiapoi) Rio Madrid
3, Jake Lambert (Cambridge) O So Happy 4, Meg Webb (Hunterville) Abernaki Chief
5, Brittany McLaughlin (Christchurch) Suzy Fog 6.
 
Saba
Sam: Central Hawke's Bay (Logan Massie on Kickin the Clouds, Emily Fraser on
Tony the Pony, Morgan Percy on Surprise Illusion, Henry Booth on Woodmount
Splash) 8 faults 1, Waikato (Melanie Weal on Hopeful Illusion, Meg Lambert on Co
Calico, Elle Phillips on Guess One More, Kate Allen on Pioneer Jade) 19 f 2,
Auckland (Lilly Tootill on Tallyho Bandit, Hayley Lockhart on Mai Amoray,
Rebekah van Tiel on Guthrie, Olivia Robertson on Hawai Haka) 21 f 3.
 
Dressage, Level 3 Horse of the Year: Nicola French
(Blenheim) Don Freese. Reserve: Vanessa Way (Taranaki) KH Allandro

Posted by:
Anne Vallance

Horse of the Year 2011

Kiwi Guard all the Way Friday, 18 March 2011

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Kiwi Guard all the Way
Friday, 18 March 2011