Famous Lipizzaner stallions hit Sheffield

BEVERLEY eventing ace Gary Parsonage is both excited and proud at becoming the Chair of Selectors of the Charles Owen British Pony squad.
Eventer Gary Parsonage and his horse Sligo Luckyvalier at Molescroft Grange Farm, Beverley.Eventer Gary Parsonage and his horse Sligo Luckyvalier at Molescroft Grange Farm, Beverley.
Eventer Gary Parsonage and his horse Sligo Luckyvalier at Molescroft Grange Farm, Beverley.

Parsonage, 50, has taken the role with immediate effect and will now head to the CCNP2* at Weston Park in Shropshire which incorporates the Festival of Youth from October 11-13.

Parsonage, fifth at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, has enjoyed something of an eventing renaissance on his Sligo Luckyavalier of late and is now relishing the opportunity to develop tomorrow’s British Eventing stars.

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“I’m thrilled and I’m very happy to be taking it on,” Parsonage told the Yorkshire Post.

“The juniors have a very good consistent record at European level – they are normally in the medals so it would be nice to keep that going, wouldn’t it? It would be good to keep the ball rolling. I’m proud to be taking that role forward.”

Parsonage’s major goal for 2014 will be the annual FEI Pony Europeans at a venue yet to be announced.

This year’s squad took a team and individual gold in July in Arezzo. Parsonage is hoping for more of the same and is confident that his new role will tie in well with his own eventing career.

“I’m hoping it will work in very well,” he said.

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“There are a few competitions where the ponies will be competing as well so I will be there but if I’m not competing it just means a trip in the car to be honest.

“I’m looking forward to it.

“It will be a lot of work but it will be very interesting and I’ve also got a very good team behind me.

“I’m hoping they will all help me out as I’m a newcomer.”

A former pupil of Lucinda Green and long-standing British Junior coach Gill Watson, Parsonage already spends much of his time coaching event riders as well as competing himself.

Parsonage, originally from Cheshire, is married to Camilla who is herself a former bronze medal winning Young Rider. Together the couple have two sons, aged 10 and seven.

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Hailing the appointment of Parsonage, British Eventing’s chief executive Mike Etherington-Smith enthused: “It is extremely exciting to have the calibre of someone as experienced and knowledgeable as Gary to help continue Britain’s Pony team achievements.”

• Beverley Racecourse will stage an afternoon of pony racing this Sunday.

Competition is open to members of any branch of The Pony Club who are aged between nine and 15.

Entries have been received from as far afield as Berkshire and Roxburghshire with races taking place for all pony sizes and from first timers to the very experienced.

The first race is at 1pm with admission free.

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For more information visit www.pcuk.org or contact Mrs Kate Hart 01430 422947.

• The Spanish Riding School of Vienna are bringing their famous Lipizzaner stallions to Yorkshire for the first time.

Following the success of their last UK appearances in 2012, the school will return to the UK in 2014.

And that will mean a first visit to the White Rose county with three performances at the Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena taking place on Friday, October 31 (7.30pm), Saturday, November 1 (7.30pm) and Sunday, November 2 (3pm) next year.

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This will be the first time the majestic, highly-trained horses and riders of the 430-year-old ‘High School for Classical Horsemanship’ will have performed in the north of England.

The tour will then move south for three dates at London’s Wembley Arena from November 14-16.

The show is an impressive display of classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition of the haute école.

TV presenter and British Dressage Ambassador Nicki Chapman will be hosting the event and will be joined by a variety of special guests.

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Chapman enthused: “The Spanish Riding School of Vienna very rarely perform outside of Austria but when they do they thrill crowds with their astonishing combination of grace and athleticism. I’m lucky enough to have been involved in the last two UK tours and it’s an experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

“The Spanish Riding School of Vienna has performed all over the world, and given several private performances to the Queen and other members of the Royal family but UK tours are rare and exceptional. This is an extraordinary once in a lifetime opportunity to witness these most celebrated, world renowned horses performing in the UK.”

Tickets for the 2014 Tour are now on sale priced between £20 and £65. Tickets can be obtained at www.livenation.co.uk

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