The Intermediate II podium on Thursday. Image: The Victorian Dressage Festival.
Stable Ground Victorian Dressage Festival gets underway
By Equestrian Life
The Stable Ground Victorian Dressage Festival got underway at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre on Thursday, with the first of four days of competition.
The BetaVet Australia Intermediate II saw the Big Tour horses in action, with Mary Hanna winning the class on Christopher Ardron and Jason York’s 10-year-old Australian Warmblood, CJP Sir Dragonfire II. The pair scored 71.127%.
Second place went to Mark Kiddle and mare Penny Hill Park Sophia, owned by Jennifer Edwards; new to Big Tour level, they scored an impressive 69.020%. Mark and Penny Hill Park Sophia recently took part in Chris Bartle’s masterclass at SIEC, which you can read more about here.
Third place went to Justine Greer and Fonzie II on 68.235%, while fourth went to Mary Nitschke and Astronomical on 66.765%. Pauline Carnovale and Corinna were fifth with 66.225%; Charlotte Pedersen and Baunehøjens Diamond Dancer were sixth on 65.441%; Heath Ryan and Hunterview Jasper were seventh on 64.412%; and Marvin Smink was eighth riding Histoire D’o to a score of 64.363%.
Young horses were also in the arena on day one of competition, with Vittorio DS for David Shoobridge winning round one of the Young Horse 5-Year-Old class on a score of 77.6%.
Second place went to Lucy Cochrane and Keystone Veuve Clicquot on 76.2%, while third went to Stuart Archibald and Vixen Storm on 73.8%.
Steph Hann and Miss Holly Golightly BHI won round one of the Young Pony 5-Year-Old class on 75.4%, while Leisha Salter and Brookside Willy Wonka finished second on 70.6%, and Kathleen Uniacke riding Jack Frost BSP finished third on 65%.
In round one of the Young Horse 7-Year-Old class, Javais Ham and Mayfield Fez finished in first place on 72.277%, while Jane Toohey and Aberdeen MI were second on 64.253%.
Competition is now underway for day two, with the humid and windy weather certainly feeling a little bit unpredictable – we’re all certainly hoping any storm activity steers clear of Werribee!
Full results and draws can be found here.
For the latest from the event, visit The Victorian Dressage Festival on Facebook.
Published 8 December 2023.
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