Summer Roy & Afallons Royal Salute – Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
Vero Insurance Cat A High Points Series
Summer Roy is proof that talent runs in the genes. The 10-year-old from Gore won the Vero Insurance Cat A High Points Series aboard Afallons Royal Salute – a little pony with a big attitude who she inherited from her very successful older sister Grace.
This was Summer’s first-ever series title aboard a pony she’s been riding for just two years. She was ecstatic to win. “It is quite special because he is so special,” she says.
Summer didn’t even need to start at series finals to secure her win, coming in 2 points shy of the maximum points available.
Summer and Grace have the perfect 100-acre backyard for riding and the sisters also hunt with mum Amanda. Royal Salute may only be 12HH but thinks he is 18HH and is up the front of the hunt all day long. “He’s cool,” says Summer, who has also dabbled in a little 80cm and 90cm showjumping. “He is just cheeky but does love to jump. He is just so cute and gentle. You can feed him treats out of your mouth! I do love him.”
She didn’t start the season with the series in mind but once the successes started rolling in, they figured ‘why not?’. The pony has been part of the family for seven years.
Summer is coached mostly by Amanda but has had a few lessons too with Jeff McVean. She’s looking to do more showjumping next season and can’t wait.
Vero Insurance Cat A High Points Series:
Summer Roy (Gore) Afallons Royal Salute 70 points 1, Lily Kent (Waipawa) Ataahua Rapture 69 2, Pippa Dudding-Thomas (Pukekawa) Hollybank Wildwind 47 3, Aggie Shearer (Feilding) Vanace Rosalie 39 4, Ellie McDonald (Auckland) Wai Ora Addiction 38 5, Skyla Bellingham (Whangarei) My Gemma Bear 38 6.
Vero Insurance Cat A High Points Series Grand Final (co-sponsored by BavariaNZ): Lily Kent (Waipawa) Ataahua Rapture 1, Zara Peacock (Waipukurau) Buffalo Man 2.
For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz
Diana Dobson – 17 April 2023