Aristede and Shannan Goodwin looking very focused.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Willinga Park at Bawley Point is quite the most amazing Equestrian Development Australia has seen. The mastermind behind the venture is Terry Snow, owner of the Canberra Airport and passionate equestrian supporter. The architect who is pulling it all together is Chris Millman from Cox Architecture in Canberra.
Dressage By The Sea was a CDI three star and saw over 150 entrants with classes from young horse classes and national classes through to the elite Grand Prix test, being the second last qualifying competition in Australia before the team for The World Equestrian Games is to be selected.
Brett Parbery and Raphael Salah the French Judge.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
In the 4 year old class it was Escala W, by for Amanda Shoobridge with a whopping 87% who took out the first round. A stunning bay brown mare with fabulous rhythm and carriage in all paces. Second went to Remi Don Quixote Don Fredrico with a 81.2% for Sarah Farraway. In the second round it went to Remi Furst Hit by Furstenball with Mel van den Berge on a 81.2% improving by 5% from the first round. Amanda and the beautiful Escala RW who went down 7% despite a very similar showing. It is still a wonder why the judges are changed from one round to the next but that’s for the powers to be and for us to wonder why!!!
In the five year olds it was the glorious black stallion Braveaux for Gina Montgomery who won scoring 90.2%. He is by Bordeax and was imported from Germany. He gained a 9.3 for perspective (General impression). Second for owner Inger Sutherland was Fairbanks Flo Rider by Fidertanz and ridden by David McKinnon on 82.6% a big jump down but a beautifully balanced and strong moving gelding. A really powerful horse and Braveuax elegant and light as a feather. Both great types. In the second round it was Flo Rider who turned the tables winning on 79.4% for David McKinnon from this time Maybel Matilda by Jive magic and shown by Nina Boyd. Gina’s stallion was not at all brave and Braveaux decide the centerline past X was forbidden territory. He was overawed by the arena and atmosphere and went over the twenty seconds allowed when a horse won’t get on with the work and so that was the end of that. It was good to see that when Gina was allowed to make a turn off the centerline to the edge then he was away and totally fine. The timing to be scared was not helpful for sure but what can you say. A great horse for the future and still only not even five.
In the 6 year olds it was BC Sangria with Katina Smith who won on 74.2%. This black gelding by Sandro Hit shows plenty of scope and expression and with the highlight score he canter of 7.7. In second place was the palomino Kazmah Billionaire and ridden by Danni Wallis. This gelding is by Bellissimo M and scored 73.8%. They were also second in the second round as well on 75% with a super horse in Bluefields Hondouros by Hofrat winning with a 78.2% for the talented Heather Curry. A truly well balanced and honest sound mover in all three gaits. A great trainability and very steady on the bit and to the collection an extension. All the way from South Australia to compete at the Willinga Park CDI and looks the part in all ways.
The CDI junior saw all three classes won by Angus Fripp and Foxwood Rossi. A combination that shows some good work but a few tension problems in the flying changes stopped the higher marks but a great test and what a good rider with a good elegant position and effective. The other two in the classes were William David on Grand Sam and Germyn St for Sophia Redenbach. Both horses looking a little green and lacking roundness and collection for this level but all the same a great experience and chance taken up.
In the Young riders it was quite the real deal in relation to close and serious competition with the three CDI Y classes being won by different riders. The team test went to Quizzical and Tanisha Ryan on 64.75% second to Coldstream Sturmisch and Sydney Evans 64.71% and third to Zero Degrees and Alistair Schramm from QLD64.61% so as is seen so so close. In the Individual test s it was Zero Degrees 0n 66.59% first with Quizzical on 66.26% second !!!!! In the freestyle it was Deltry Sorrento with Sophie Artup winning on 67.92 the Quizzical on 67.67% and then Zero Degrees on 67.17%. It was easy to see the keen rivalry between the riders and they were all so focused and it really was a great competition.
The Medium national classes saw the champion going to the enormous brown gelding Neversfelde Kipling for Jim Collin with a win and a third. A beautiful type and Jim making the work look easy and fluent and gaining a 71.98% in the 4.3 !! Great talented horse by Furst Love. Others to be prominent in the extremely tough filed were the likes of Delandro for Heather Currie a correct and great modern type of mare, and MW Shockwave for Katina Smith along with Fermento for Leslie Anne Taylor but win in one round and 11th in the other. It was a good field and good watching the younger ones coming up through the ranks.
In the Advanced the star was the stallion Sky Diamond a stallion by Sir Donnerhall and ridden by Brett Parbery for a cracking 74.87% and a 68.57% to win both tests. This stallion has really expressive paces but at times his attention to outside the arena detracts from the consistent concentrated work that he can do easily. He is young but what a super talent he is looking now to become. Senator Nymphenberg for Jenny Gehrke was in the mix with good placings. This leggy mare has amazing trot but still the canter could be more expansive with a more elastic hind leg but what a horse and well produced by Jenny. Woodside Lady Loxley by Lord Loxley and ridden by David McKinnon for sure catches the eye. Being a bright dainty chestnut with plenty of poise and activity and bred and owned by Mark Dowling this mare is a pocket rocket but at times lacks the softness over the topline as yet.
In the Prix St Georges it was a class held in the beautiful indoor arena and was won in fine style by the bay gelding Bradgate Park Puccini and ridden by Michelle Baker and a massive score of 72.4%. This 8 year old is indeed impressive especially in the extended paces and t eh transitions. He makes it all look easy. Look out big tour as he is hot enough to do it in such a fluent way and with plenty of engine. Bloomers Simply the best was second for Gordon Pratt but looked a little unsettled at times but again he is about to step up to the next level so no doubt a little more pressure in preparing for Piaffe and passage so some tension seen. All the same a generous test and he was also second in the Inter I. In third was a super test handed in by the huge brown gelding, Jaybee Cavalier who really made a foot perfect test and one judge having them rewarded and in first place and proof of the consistent paid off with again a great test in the Inter I to be the winner there with Bradgate Puccini in to third with a bit of tension and a few uncharacteristic mistakes in the airy outdoor arena.
The new medium tour saw some good horses but this level is for young horses starting the piaffe and passage and the one tempi changes and the steeper half passes and there is no time in these tests to rest as the movements come thick and fast and a win to a pony Dara Park Tequila Sunrise and Sydney Evans and a consistent test with no huge highlights but all in the right way, with Cougar and Tor van den Berge second but many mistakes and Virtuel I for Denise Rogan playing it safe in third. Amerigo was interesting in he gained a first FRA a second MEX a third Vic (63%) a fourth NZL and a fifth Qld(57%) All the horses made mistakes and the marks reflected this and mostly correct but despite the lower percentages where they were deserved these horses also deserved some good marks in the mix as they made some good parts. All somewhat talented but green and inexperienced, but a good level to get experience and find their feet. It was for sure a hard test to judge as the horses are just not consistent….Interesting all the same.
READ PART 2 OF ROGER'S REPORT HERE.
VIEW THE PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE EVENT HERE.
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