Logan Massie celebrated his 25th birthday in style with victories at the Dannevirke A&P Show, including a win in the Equissage Horse Grand Prix.
He took every inch of his hometown advantage, heading home 19 other combinations to take his first Grand Prix victory aboard the nine-year-old gelding Intellect.
Nine came back for the jump-off over Neil Thorburn’s course with just .02 of a second separating Logan from runner-up Doug Isaacson (Dannevirke) on Elmo. All six place-getters double clear in a competitive jump-off.
“It wasn’t a bad birthday,” said Logan, who only went to the show for the day and also picked up a joint win in the Mitavite Speedi-Beet Six-Year-Old Series and a third in the 1.3m.
“I watched the others go in the Grand Prix and put down some pretty good times. I think we all took the same lines but from watching I saw places where I could make up some time. Having a big strided horse suited too. He is a big quick horse over an open track.”
Logan felt it was a good confidence-builder as they head to some of the big shows at the end of the season and good for the horse to have fun on a smaller track.
“The last few shows we have entered have had some great jump-offs,” said Logan. “Last year we were targeting bigger classes, using the Grand Prix as schooling rounds, and this year we’ve probably only done about five, because we were focused on the World Cup.”
And it was special to win on home ground. He’s been riding Intellect for two years now and says the horse just continues to get better with each outing. “He’s a big slow maturing horse.”
It’s been a big season for Logan and Intellect, with five World Cup starts, a third placing their best and finishing eighth overall in the series.
In the Country TV Pony Grand Prix six of the eight starters came back for the jump-off where all three placegetters were double clear. Winner Amelia Paull (Gisborne) and Envious Edition stopped the clock at 36.09 seconds with Lily Moore (Havelock North) and Showtym Highlight on 36.29 and third-placed Samantha Carrington (Takapau) aboard Colours of Lansing coming home in 36.93.
Results –
Equissage Horse Grand Prix: Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Intellect 1, Doug Isaacson (Dannevirke) Elmo 2, Tess Williams (Hastings) Sinatra II 3, Melody Matheson (Hastings) Illusion SSH 4, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Mandalay Cove 5, Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) McMillans Ariados 6.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Amelia Paull (Gisborne) Envious Edition 1, Lily Moore (Havelock North) Showtym Highlight 2, Samantha Carrington (Takapau) Colours of Lansing 3, Kaitlyn Freeman (Otaki) Rum Tum Tui 4, Dylan Bibby (Onga Onga) Daisy Patch 5, Lucy Buchanan (Havelock North) Redcliffs Colour Me Quick 6.
FMG Young Rider Series: Blake Davis (Palmerston North) Giggles 1, Ike Baker (Hastings) Hawkesdale Mahe 2, Ike Baker (Hastings) Vidal NZPH 3, Molly Goodisson (Havelock North) Darkages 4, Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Loose Change 5, Bailey Rutter (Paraparaumu) Henton Serenade 6.
Hinterland Amateur Rider Series: Graeme Isaacson (Waipukurau) Pokere 1, Kaleigh Kent (Otane) Double J Sponge Bob Square Pants 2, Marcus Rose (Dannevirke) Kaipara Hold UP 3, Laken Rose (Dannevirke) Velocette 4, Dana Sutton (Palmerston North) Semilly Du Pas 5, Jo Andrews (Otaki) Ecxtacy 6.
Dunstan Horsefeeds and EquiFibre Junior Rider Series: Isabella Narracci (Hastings) Benrose Rockstar 1, Ike Baker (Hastings) NW Conrado 2, Dylan Bibby (Onga Onga) Wenrose Vertigo 3, Molly Goodisson (Havelock North) Mustang’s Edition 4, Isabella Narracci (Hastings) Silver Casini 5, Alexandra Mitchell (Wellington) Sir Arthur 6.
East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series: Alex Loiselle (Ocean Beach) Evandro NZPH, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Corada, Tracy Mason (Napier) Double Down, Alex Loiselle (Ocean Beach) Eldorado NZPH =1.
Mitavite Speedi-Beet Six-Year-Old Series: Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Double J Kelvin, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Sun Flake 2, Alex Loiselle (Ocean Beach) Davinci NZPH =1.
Story: Diana Dobson
Photo: Kampic