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Hot competition at the 2025 LuxeHorse Victorian Youth Dressage Championships

Future stars of the sport were out braving the summer sun at the recent 2025 LuxeHorse Victorian Youth Dressage Championships.

Dana Krause

Published 14 Jan 2025

Despite the heatwave settling over Werribee Park, combinations put their best hoof forward for the 2025 LuxeHorse Victorian Youth Dressage Championships (9-12 January).

Before we delve into this year’s results, it’s important to recognise that events such as the VYDC would not be possible without the invaluable support of sponsors, event organisers, officials, judges and volunteers. The VYDC in particular holds a special place in fostering camaraderie among young riders. It is truly heartening to see these young riders – the future of our sport – come together to support and celebrate events like these. 

Here are the 2025 Championship results:

FEI Medium Tour Championship

The Eloquence Equestrian Medium Tour Championship was won by Jessica Dertell and the young stallion, Kilimanjaro. Whilst the pair were the only combination in the championship, they produced three consistent tests at this level with 60.196% in the Intermediate A, 64.775% in the Intermediate B, and 64.992% in the Intermediate A/B Freestyle. It’s exciting to see Jess with a future Grand Prix horse in the pipeline!

Jessica Dertell and Kilimanjaro won the FEI Medium Tour Championship. Image by One Eyed Frog Photography.

FEI Young Rider Championship

The Biolink Probiotics FEI Young Rider Championship was won by Lucy Coventry and Quizzical with 63.677% in the Team Test, 65.343% in the Individual Test and 65.958% in the Freestyle. Reserve Champion went to Audrey Lyons riding Fursten Hit.

FEI Small Tour Championship

Dallas Mills and Redwood Desire won the Victorian Dressage Club & Westernport Victorian Dressage Club Small Tour Championship with two consistent scores of 67% in the Prix St Georges and Intermediate I and 70.442% in the Intermediate I Freestyle. Reserve Champion was Charlie Welsh riding Precieux Zilzie with scores of 65.637% in the Prix St Georges, 64.657% in the Intermediate I, and 68.167% in the Intermediate I Freestyle. Third overall was Ava Halloran and Good Time, fourth was Madelon McDonald and F1 Soliloquy, and sixth was Lucy Peters and Sahara Storm.

Dallas Mills and Redwood Desire, winners of the Small Tour Championship with two consistent scores. Image by One Eyed Frog Photography.

FEI Junior Championship

Emma Hutchinson and Freshman R won the Tatura Dressage FEI Junior Championship. The combination won both the Team and Individual tests with scores of 65.252% and 67.01% respectively, and were second in the Freestyle with 68.825%. Reserve Champion came down to a countback, but it was Sebastian Fong and Avella Fratellino who were successful with two seconds and a third across the three classes. Third overall was Zali Mills and Royal Diamond Jubilee, who won the Freestyle with 69.192%. Fourth overall was Olivia Jackson riding Woodleigh Rockstar, fifth was Morgan Cockerell riding Ibn Ky Gold Rudh, and sixth was Bianca Griffiths riding Glyndower Brea Galahad.

FEI Childrens

This year, the committee elected to run all FEI Childrens test and split them across two championship titles: the first being for the FEI Childrens A and B tests and the second being for the FEI Childrens Team and Individual tests. These tests are a great way for young riders to start to understand how the FEI system works. Additionally, all the Childrens tests have an emphasis on riding and position, and across all tests there are judges marking the riders solely on their position and seat, effectiveness of aids, precision and general impression. The A and B tests are at approximately Novice level, whereas the Team and Individual tests step up to Elementary level, offering riders from 10-14 years the opportunity to test themselves and their training in a restricted age group.

Amelia Maree and Sunny Morning R achieved a clean sweep in the FEI Children’s Team Test (68.300%) and Individual Test (69.982%) to secure the Horseland Childrens Team & Individual Championship. Reserve Champion went to Abbey Restall riding Urodel Du Texier, with scores of 68.275% and 62.824% respectively. Third overall was Olivia Roberts riding Chapel House Gwilym, fourth was Kathryn Bartlett riding Yarrumdoc Debutante, and rounding out the top five was Billie Bellet riding Silkwood Eclipse.

Liza Smith and Nawarrah Park Dita Von Teese were incredibly consistent across the FEI Childrens A and B tests, with scores of 69.125% and 69.197% respectively. These scores produced two blue ribbons and the overall James Abernethy Photography FEI Childrens Preliminary Championship. Reserve Champion went to Jude May and Flowervale Bollinger with scores of 63.25% and 67.036%.

FEI Pony Championship

Abby Weel and Reitlands Obama won the Carol Haynes FEI Pony Championship. The pair won all tests with 4% separating them from second in the FEI Teams Test (finishing on a score of 68%). Reserve Champion was Shayleigh Joblin riding Grenwood Romeo with a highlight score of 67.95% in the Freestyle. Third overall was Tess Baker riding Hilkens No Kidding, and fourth overall was Morgan Cockerell riding Monteith Brunton.

Preliminary Championship

The Future Farms Preliminary Championship saw super tight competition with three combinations all finishing on equal points for the overall Championship. Ultimately Jessica Dertell and Regal Floris Dance were crowned the champions with a third place in the 1.2 on 70.982% and first place in the 1.3 on 76.875%. Reserve Champion was also claimed by Jess, this time riding Orochata who won the 1.2 with 73.393% and then was third with 73.542% in the 1.3. Third overall was Taleisha Snell riding Antari with a second in the 1.2 with 71.786% and second in the 1.3 with 74.167%. Fourth overall was Jessica Dertell again riding Jamison FF, fifth was Charlotte Richardson riding Yondella Fonzarrelli, and rounding out the top six was Lindsey Ware riding Florencia 1.

Similarly, the NRG Preliminary Pony Championship came to a countback with the overall champion being Maddi Growcott riding Matuvu Noelle with a win in the 1.2 on a score of 75.714% and second in the 1.3 with a score of 72.5%. Reserve Champion was Caitlyn Porter riding Argyle Diamond with a second in the 1.2 on 74.732% and first in the 1.3 with 72.813%. Third overall, was Amelia McDougall riding JKE Arlington, fourth was Jessica Payne riding Murraydale Park Toy Boy, fifth was Maddison Bosworth and Jeremiah Park King Copper, and sixth was Chloe Bourke riding Accacia Park Happy Dazzle.

Novice Championship

Despite just missing out on a title in the Future Farms Preliminary Championship on countback, Taleisha Snell claimed the QA Electrical Novice Championship with Antari. The combination scored no less than 71% across all four tests! In the 2.2 they were third with 72.188% and first in the 2.3 with 73.143%. Reserve Champion went to Jessica Dertell riding Regal Floris Dance with a win in the 2.2 on a score of 73.75% and fourth in the 2.3 with 71.929%. Third overall was Jess again riding Orochata, fourth was Molly Farran riding Kohinoor Rock My World, fifth was Arielle Stella riding Ellanbrae Leskara, and rounding out the top six was Sara Leitch riding Athena Van Francesca.

The JNK Novice Pony Champion was Lily Diss riding Dance On Air BHI. The pair won both tests with scores of 73.438% and 71.357% respectively. Reserve Champion was Caitlyn Porter riding Argyle Diamond with a second in the 2.2 with 71.563% and third in the 2.3 with 69.5%. Third was Billie Bellet riding Silkwood Eclipse, fourth was Sebastian Fong and Mithril Herakles, fifth was Olivia Roberts and Chapel House Gwilym, and sixth was Arielle Stella and Bamborough Juene.

Elementary Championship

The trip down from New South Wales was definitely worth if for Philipa Crawford and Spyderman SW with the pair winning the Federation Bulk Elementary Championship. This combination was second in the 3.2 with a score of 68.063% and first in the 3.3 with 67.5%. Reserve Champion was Nichola Payne riding Zelda of Ebony Park, placing fourth in the 3.2 with 66.375% and third in the 3.3 with 66.22%. Third overall was Sara Leitch riding Athena Van Francesca, fourth was Clancy Grant riding Lamperds Ducati, fifth was Abbey Restall riding Urodel du Texier, and sixth was Kelsey Josephs riding Indian Hills Hazel.

Natasha Moody and Penmain Rumor Has It won both Elementary Pony tests to secure the Carol Haynes Elementary Pony Championship. The pair produced two super scores of 68.313% and 69.391% respectively. Reserve Champion was Sebastian Fong riding Bookra Marilyn Monroe with a second in the 3.2 with 65.75% and fifth in the 3.3 with 65.488%. Third overall was Grace Riddell riding Our Victor, fourth was Dallas Mills riding Sorella Sunrise, fifth was Mietta Lumsden riding Double TT Debonair, and sixth was Tess Baker riding Hilkens No Kidding.

Medium Championship

Jessica Dertell and Daminia LP won both the Medium 4.2 and 4.3 with scores of 68.176% and 71.154% to claim the overall Sabble Farm Medium Championship. Reserve Champion went to Philipa Crawford and Spyderman SW, making it a very successful combination for the pair. Third overall was Jasmine Haynes riding Fleur de Cherie, fourth was Jasmyn Beesley riding Mr Jackson, fifth was Montanna Maud riding Bally Mount Fancy That, and sixth was Rosemary Heagney riding Sancho RW.

In Equine Sports Massage Medium Pony, Shayleigh Joblin riding Grenwood Romeo won the Championship with 61.014% in the 4.2 and 63.526% and in the 4.3. Reserve Champion was Ebony Linford riding Kaisers Goldfinger with a second in the 4.2 on 60.811% and a second in the 4.3 with 62.372%.  

Advanced Championship

Jess and Daminia LP continued their success claiming the Unicorn Videos Advanced Championship. The pair won the 5.2 with 68.158% and were second in the 5.3 with 67.365%. Reserve Champion was Olivia Gillespie riding Nottingham GP for third in the 5.2 with 64.408% and first in the 5.3 with 69.527%. Third was Charlie Welsh riding Ellanbrae Felton Gold, fourth was Emily Yeoman riding Bloomfield Royal Winston, fifth was Eliza Hebiton riding Revelwood Olivia, and sixth was Cleo Billings riding Welfs Applause.

Caitlyn Porter and Paradise Valley Cocktail were the only combination in the Lara Tweedie Advanced Pony Championship, nonetheless the two produced two great scores of 64.737% in the 5.2 and 67.906% in the 5.3.

Interschool competition

Westpoint Ford generously sponsored all the Interschool Preliminary Classes from Primary to Senior and all levels were hotly contested!

The Primary Preliminary Championship itself came to a countback, and it was Edith Rode and Ironbark Jester who were ultimately successful with scores of 66% in the 1.1 and 70.715% in the 1.2. Not to be outdone by his sister Abbey Restall – who had a very successful VYDC – Ned Restall also secured a Reserve Championship riding Champion Lucy with scores of 64% in the 1.1 and 71.518% in the 1.2.

In the Westpoint Ford Intermediate Preliminary Championship, the ponies took the lead with Amelia McDougall and her pony JKE Arlington claiming overall Champion with 73.1% in the 1.1 and 68.482% in the 1.2. Abbey Restall claimed the Reserve Championship with her pony Hawkesbury Park Poetry, achieving scores of 71.5% in the 1.1 and 70% in the 1.2.

The Senior Preliminary Championship was won by Annabelle Richardson riding Merricks Fiore with scores of 73.1% in the 1.1 and 69.465% in the 1.2. Reserve Champion went to Bianca Griffiths riding Just Marco Polo with scores of 68.6% in the 1.1 and 65.982% in the 1.2.

Oliver Tweedie won the Werribee Mazda Primary Novice Championship aboard Manawai Artiste with scores of 62.116% in the 2.1 and 61.251% in the 2.2.

Lily Diss riding Dance On Air BHI won the Werribee Mazda Intermediate Novice Championship with scores of 66.923% in the 2.1 and 70.704% in the 2.2. Reserve Championship again went to Abbey Restall riding Hawkesbury Park Poetry with scores of 64.327% in the 2.1 and 68.947% in the 2.2.

Jessica Langley riding Don Inverno won the Werribee Mazda Senior Novice Championship with scores of 70% in the 2.1 and 71.094% in the 2.2 The Reserve Championship went to Elise Young riding Harney Park Chile Girl with scores of 66.731% in the 2.1 and 68.438% in the 2.2.

Jessica Langley riding Don Inverno won the Werribee Mazda Senior Novice Championship. Image by One Eyed Frog Photography.

Participation classes 

The Participation Preliminary Championship went to Natasha Moody and Springside Serrano, while Annabelle Richardson was named the Reserve Champion riding Merricks Fiore.

The Participation Novice Championship went to Sara Leitch riding Athena Van Francesca, with the Reserve title going to Taylor McMaste and Adloo Reeba.

Para Equestrian

Seasoned campaigners Maddison Cooke and Byalee Magic 2 won both the FEI Grade II Grand Prix A and B Tests with scores of 63.362% and 65.584%.

In the FEI Grade IV, Darcy Macaulay won both the Grand Prix A and B tests with Parklands Faltango (66.181%) and Mellizo Park Chocolate Royale (66.217%) respectively.

Full results can be found here.