Sporting briefs

Melissa in top ten: Marlborough’s dressage ace Melissa Galloway and Windermere J’Obei W danced their way to 10th place in the FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia over the weekend. Fifteen of the world’s best progressed through to the Grand Prix Freestyle, Melissa and ‘Joey’ scoring 73.807%, with Swede Patrik Kittel taking his first ever World Cup Final crown aboard Touchdown on 81.661%. Earlier, Melissa placed 11th in the Grand Prix to earn a place in the freestyle. “I am just counting my blessings,” said Melissa, “that I am here with a sound, happy, healthy horse who always gives his all for me every single day … to think we just finished 10th in our first World Cup Final is unreal.”

Rowing selection: Marlborough Girls’ College rower Grace Straker, pictured,  has been selected for the under-18 South Island team in the eight and the pair. Former MGC rower Brooke Harper, now at Rangi Ruru, was also named in the SI team. MGC coach Joe Bennion was named as the girls’ sweep coach for the SI U18 squad.

Golden girls: The Marlborough Girls’ College water polo team followed up their third placing at the recent South Island champs with victory in the national division two final in the Waikato, beating St Margaret’s College in the title decider. MGC player Poppy Clark was named division two MVP for the tournament.

Tennis team fourth: The Matt Hair-captained New Zealand women’s tennis team ended the Billie Jean King Cup tie in Changsha, China on a high, claiming fourth position and retaining their position in the Asia/Oceania Group I. New Zealand defeated India 2-1 on the final day, the victory meaning they joined India and South Korea with three wins and two losses. However, because of an inferior win/loss record on countback, New Zealand ended up fourth on the table, while South Korea joined China as one of the two teams to win promotion. Chinese Taipei and Pacific Oceania were relegated but New Zealand will stay in Group I for next year, an impressive outcome for the newly-promoted team, giving them something to build on for 2025.