Ally Carson’s season just keeps on getting better. The 15-year-old from Putaruru and Tony the Pony this afternoon headed home a hotly-contested Farmlands Pony of the Year class at the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings.
Last month, the classy combo also won the national pony championship title.
Twenty-four started the class with 10 coming back for the second round, with just three leaving their slates clean.
First out was Carson who looked on track to post a speedy clear round until the troublesome last fence, and the Bostock planks came tumbling down leaving her with four faults in 43.59 seconds.
Next out was former Pony of the Year winner Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) aboard the grey she has recently sold, Kabo Silver. When the first fence dropped, she hit the gas, knowing she needed a super time to take the win. It wasn’t to be, and she finished with eight faults in 45.1.
Last to go was Olivia Dalton (Auckland) aboard Simply Samantha HH who took the second of the double and also stepped up a gear to try and better the time. However, two rails and a time of 48.05 saw her finish in third place.
Carson, who is coached by Duncan McFarlane and Helen McNaught-McFarlane, was ecstatic.
“It feels amazing,” she said. “Just amazing!”
She’s had the 14-year-old bay pony, who was bred in Australia for polo, a season-and-a-half. Carson was also fourth equal aboard Tiger Tale LS.
“Everyone had high hopes for us because we have been going so well this season.”
Carson was also on the Waikato team to finish second in the prestigious Saba Sam Shield.
Mathew Dickey (Taranaki) and Quango won the NRM Premier Stakes with a double clear round, taking away the Tom Gadsby Memorial Trophy.
Rio hopeful John Thompson has drawn first blood in the chase for the Dressage Horse of the Year crown with a super win in the Virbac CDI FEI Grand Prix Special.
Riding JHT Antonello, Thompson scored 69.896%, with Wendi Williamson
(Kumeu) aboard Dejavu MH just a smidgen back in second on 69.854%. Abbie Deken (Taranaki) aboard KH Ambrose were another snip back in third place with 69.083% and Julie Brougham (Palmerston North) on Vom Feinsten fourth on 68.938%.
Tomorrow is the second and final class to count towards the overall title, the GJ Gardner CDI3* FEI Grand Prix Freestyle to music, which carries more points than the special.
Clarke Johnstone heads to Europe with a second Eventing Horse of the Year crown to his credit.
He and Balmoral Sensation cruised to victory in the CIC3*, coming home to finish the three disciplines on 36.3 penalty points, adding 0.8 time faults to their dressage score.
Andy Daines (Kumeu) and Spring Panorama came up to take second place on 52.3, with Abby Lawrence (Te Puke) and Pseudonym coming in for third on 53.3.
“I am very pleased with how he has performed,” said Johnstone of his horse. “He just cruised around the course.”
They fly to Europe later this month to step up their campaign for Rio.
In the 2*, Dannie Lodder (Papakura) and Call Me Al finished as she started, at the front of the field with Aleisha Collett (Waikato) aboard Mi Focus second.
The week long show draws to a close tomorrow with the awarding of the Olympic Cup for Showjumper of the Year and the Dressage Horse of the Year crown.
Results –
Showjumping, Farmlands Pony of the Year: Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tony the Pony 1, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Kabo Silver 2, Olivia Dalton
(Auckland) Simply Samantha HH 3, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Fun House, Steffi Whittaker (Canterbury) Moonlight Glow, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tiger Tale LS and Olivia Ahlborn (Napier) Aorangi Ragtime =4.
NRM Premier Stakes: Mathew Dickey (Taranaki) Quango 1, Clarke Johnstone
(Matangi) Quainton Labyrinth 2, Tegan Fitzsimon (Canterbury) Alacazam MH 3, Melody Matheson (Hastings) Landenfeld 4, Maurice Batson (Dannevirke) Mandalay Cove 5, Jaime Campbell (Albany) Socrates De La Vie Z 6.
Eventing, Land Rover CIC3*: Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) Balmoral Sensation 36.3 penalty points 1, Andy Daines (Kumeu) Spring Panorama
52.3 2, Abby Lawrence (Te Puke) Pseudonym 53.3 3, Katharine Van Tuyl (Palmerston North) Double J Sunshine 55.5 4, Sarah Young (Tokoroa) SS Galaxy 57.9 5, Danielle Wheeler (Clevedon) One Cool Dude 64.9 6.
Hansen Product CIC2*: Dannie Lodder (Papakura) Call Me Al 42.4 1, Aleisha Collett (Waikato) Mi Focus 47.2 2, Juliet Wood (Whangarei) Waitangi Pinterest 47.8 3, Ashleigh McKinstry (Taumarunui) 48.9 4, Abby Lawrence (Te Puke) Indy RE 51.4 5, Donna Edwards-Smith (Te Kauwhata) Varadero 53.8 6.
