Wiltshire-based Toby Fry added his name to the Horse of the Year Show roll of honour tonight by winning the Leading Pony Showjumper of the Year 2019. Showcasing an impressive double clear, 15-year-old Toby showed no fear as last to go in the seven-rider jump-off riding Zucan V. The Leading Pony Showjumper of the Year is the biggest junior course at HOYS and is fiercely contested by some of the country’s top under 16-year-old riders, many of whom have made their way up the British ranks.
Tatiane Mauree took the lead early on with a time of 41.06 seconds. Knowing that it was a tough time to beat, Toby took some very risky turns with an even tighter turn back to the 1.45m vertical. With the crowd riding every fence with him, spectators were on the edge of their seat as he galloped down to the last fence. Seeing the clock stop on 39.09 seconds Toby was on cloud nine as the realisation hit that he was the 2019 Champion.
Speaking of his round, Toby commented: “I knew 100% that he had it in him to win today. I had seen what everyone else had done and I knew I’d have to take some risks and trust him to go clear. I could hear the crowd cheering after each fence and it just made me more determined. I think that being last to go made me even more hungry for it. It was all or nothing.”
Toby follows in his father, Jamie Fry’s, footsteps, who also once won at Horse of the Year Show in 1986 when the show was held at Wembley. Toby continued: “It means everything to win here at HOYS. My father won here and he is a huge inspiration to me.”
It was an emotional moment for Jamie to see Toby win as he is no longer able to ride himself following a bad riding accident in 2014 where he injured his foot. Jamie adds: “If that hadn’t have happened then Toby might not be where he is today; I would still be riding, and I wouldn’t have put all of my efforts into the boys pursuing their dream.”
Listen to Toby Fry and his father Jamie Fry’s interview here:
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/HOYS19_Toby_Fry_Leading_Pony_Friday.mp3
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2019, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk
Leading Pony Showjumper of the Year, Toby Fry riding Zucan V © 1st Class Images
