Miss Coruba - A Classy Dame

Miss Coruba - A Classy Dame

By Diana Dobson

It was a mighty Myers quinella in the premier pony class at the Kelt Capital Horse of the Year Show in Hastings today (Saturday).

Charlotte Myers (Hawera) won her second Pony of the Year crown on the showy little grey Miss Coruba, with cousin Timothy Myers (Patea) second on his pocket rocket My Dreamworks.

The thousands around the ring had to wait a while for the first clear round of the pony class but then they came in a rush.

Vicki Berger (Dargaville) and Chocolate Splash notched the first, followed by Charlotte Myers, Bailey Marshall (Inglewood) on Spyro, Alexa Randall (Auckland) on Millbrook and Timothy Myers.

Amanda Pottinger (Wairarapa) and Hopeful Illusion took a rail and picked up a time fault but then it was back to the clears, with Brittany Whelan (Dunedin) on the very pretty Repia's Super Blonde and Logan Massie (Dannevirke) on Kickin the Clouds.

Fourteen came back for the second round which quickly sorted out the final pecking order.

Only three went double clear - the two Myers cousins and Berger.

First out was Berger and her nine-year-old pony. Dropping three rails they paid for their speed with 12 faults.

Then came Charlotte and 11-year-old Miss Coruba, slicing into corners and everything seemed to be going strong until the last. Down it came, bagging her four faults and stopping the clock at 40.18 seconds. Next came cousin Timothy who rattled the first and took two, collecting eight faults in 42.60.

He figured it wasn't so bad losing to his cousin, saying at least it was the Myers name on the trophy. The family also have strong racing connections.

Seventeen-year-old Charlotte Myers won the Somerset Fair Cup for Pony of the Year in 2007 and finished second in 2008. This is her last year in ponies and she says it is the perfect way to go out.

Last night she won the pony six bar clearing 1.55m on Miss Coruba, was in the winning Taranaki team with Timothy in the Saba Sam Shield, and tomorrow (Sunday) will probably start in the speed class.

She and her very proud father had carefully picked just what classes they were to enter, with the pony of the year very much the goal.

Earlier in the afternoon, New Zealand consolidated their lead in the tri nations, winning the round and taking a bonus point for the three clear rounds. The international competition between New Zealand, Japan and South Africa concludes tomorrow (Sunday).

The show also winds up tomorrow with the Bell Tea Olympic Cup for New Zealand Showjumper of the Year. The field has attracted some of the best from both sides of the Tasman, including half the Australian Olympic team and top international riders like Samantha McIntosh who has just returned to ride for New Zealand after nine years with Bulgaria.

Results -

NZ Horse and Pony Magazine Pony of the Year: Charlotte Myers (Hawera) Miss Coruba 1, Timothy Myers (Patea) My Dreamworks 2, Vicki Berger (Dargaville) Chocolate Splash 3, Bailey Marshall (Inglewood) Spyro, Alexa Randall (Auckland) Millbrook, Brittany Whelan (Dunedin) Repia's Super Blonde =4.

Tri nations (day two): New Zealand 12f, c. South Africa 20f, 13f, Japan 21f, 20f. Points heading into the final day: NZ 7 points, South Africa 3 points, Japan 3 points.
ends

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