Saturday at the 2025 Regency Floats New South Wales State Championships, held at AELEC in Tamworth, dawned another beautiful sunny day with gentle breezes.
The Horse Bit Emporium Grand Prix Special was the class that drew the most attention. It became a two-horse battle between Jayden Brown with WillingaPark Quincy B and his second ride D’Esperanza. Quincy was ultimately a convincing winner 72.943%, ahead of D’Esperanza on 69.929%. Quincy continues to mature as a true Grand Prix horse, showing self-carriage, elasticity, engagement, and scope. Although Jayden has had limited opportunities to ride Specials with Quincy due to international commitments, the combination looked every inch the finished article.
Jayden Brown’s thoughts afterward were telling: “Quincy feels increasingly secure in the Grand Prix work, while D’Esperanza, though also talented, still requires polish.
“Quincy and D’Esperanza gave me incredible rides in the Special. Quincy was a little tired after the Grand Prix, as he hasn’t competed for over 12 months, so I was over the moon with how he performed. D’Esperanza also gave me an incredible ride. A little communication mistake in the passage kept the score under 70%, but it is a great start for such a short time with her.”
The result meant Jayden claimed the Open Big Tour Championship and reserve title, and also received a $1000 prize from Horse Bit Emporium for the highest score achieved in either the Grand Prix or Grand Prix Special.
Third place went to Breanna Tillitzki and BZ Raphael on 62.539%, while Emma Flavelle-Watts on Scarlatti Mio VSR finished on 60.482%; both unfortunately had errors of course. A hesitation in the piaffe transitions as well as the 2% deduction for the error of course proved costly for Emma, but the talent of both horse and rider remains evident. Breanna’s progress with Raphael over the past year has been impressive, even with an error of course affecting her score.
Novice classes stand out
The other standout class of the day was arguably the Novice, which attracted strong numbers — sixteen horses in the Open division. Many combinations scored over 70% in this division, demonstrating excellent schooling and riding.
The top performers included the six-year-old gelding Furst Sir owned by Rebecca Skinner and ridden by Caroline Hooper, winning on 73.516% in the 2.2. This extremely elegant bay is imported and by Fürstenball. He has been brought along steadily and shows amazing confidence and submission, and an elegant look with diminutive Caroline showing great harmony indeed. This pair are well and truly ready to step up the grades now. Close behind in the 2.2 was Emma Flavelle-Watts on Belrock Delilah with 71.954%; a smaller brown horse with outstanding fluency in the canter, great flow and rhythm in the walk and trot work, and a steady and maintained frame. A great novice test. Denise Rogan on Frealyn was third with 71.485%. The Novice 2.2 proved tightly contested, with judges split on the winner — one placing Denise first, another preferring Emma. Another horse over 70% was Rebecca Rooke on Milfield Wynchester, fourth with 70.078% — a lovely chestnut gelding by Windermere.
In the Open 2.3, six combinations score over 70%. The winner was Denise Rogan on Frealyn with 73.072%, ahead of Caroline Hooper and Furst Sir on 72.429%. Third went to Rebecca Rooke on Milfield Wynchester on 71%, then Rachael Clarke on 70.858% with CJP Qudos — this young black horse with strong potential also impressed with elegant movement and good schooling, and indicates readiness to step up to higher levels.
The overall Open Novice Champion was Caroline Hooper and Furst Sir, and the runner up was Denise Rogan with homebred Frealyn. Frealyn is by Fürstenball from CP Freya, a liver chestnut mare that Denise previously trained up to Grand Prix and now is still competitive with a young rider at CDI competitions. Denise has had a time out with some fairly major injuries and to see her back competing is so wonderful. A lady with great talent and even bigger determination and guts. Much applause and congratulations from all on such a great weekend, also competing in the Open Intermediate II class earlier at the event with a favourite, Greco, and she was very pleased with his work and just easing him into that level with a good talent for all the movements.
The AOR Novice Champion was Tess Gunn and Ego Joly, while the Pony Novice Champion was Broadway De Luxe for Justin Worthy.
Serena Ireland and Tjibbe B impress in the Advanced Freestyle
In the Open Heavenly Horse Designs Advanced Freestyle, Serena Ireland took the win on the expressive, big-moving black Friesian stallion Tjibbe B, owned by Jenny Rapson, with two of the three judges awarding them first place. Serena’s test featured excellent music, an expressive trot, and extended canter work that showed cadence and reach. Alycia Targa on Zoolander TPH placed second with 70.008%, while Caitlin Scott, riding the beautiful black horse Furstenglanz with notable expression, came third on 67.175%.
The AOR Advanced Freestyle went to Alana Richards and Revelwood Noble Knight on 65.967%.
Katina Smith and BC Chilli Pepper named Open Small Tour Champions
In the Small Tour classes, sponsored by Hawkesbury Equine Veterinary Clinic, Sally Rizzuto and Quarterland won the Open Inter I Freestyle on 69.775%. Quarterland is staring to gain more cadence and lift in the collected work and there is still more in the tank with this forward-going gelding and elegantly ridden by Sally. Robyn Smith on the big bay and big moving Lord Larry was close behind on 69.042%. Larry, as he is known, is starting to really settle into his work now and is looking much more confident. The pirouettes are starting to show the promise he is capable of. Always pleased with his work, Robyn was quietly confident about his future. Katina Smith placed third with BC Chilli Pepper, this time with 69.033%, keeping the scores tight across the board. It was interesting to see that Katina had two first places from three judges but still ended up third! One day all the judges will agree about this horse’s talent.
That being said, Katina Smith and BC Chilli Pepper were the overall Open Small Tour Champions, ahead of Sally Rizzuto and Quarterland.
Sarah Hanslow and Revelwood Florentine won the AOR Inter I Freestyle and was named AOR Small Tour Champion, while Isobelle Muller claimed the Pony Inter I Freestyle with Dynomite and was named Pony Small Tour Champion.
In the Medium Tour, Megan Keir and Revelwood Queens County scored 65.090% to win the Equestrian NSW Inter B. This is a combination growing in confidence, and it won’t be long before their work becomes more confident and established.
Para & Virtus Equestrian
Grace Murphie-Ryan and Pemberton Show Bizz won the Virtus II3 Novice Freestyle, while Kyle Chapman and Chapplehurst Mozique won the II1 division.
Felicity Weal and her mare FTF Florita won both the FEI Grade III Novice Freestyle (68.067%), while Stuart Drysdale and Amalfi 20 won the Grade V Grand Prix Freestyle, and Brooke Neville and Checklist D won both Grade IV Grand Prix Freestyle.
Despite the excellent weather, the atmosphere was slightly subdued due to a smaller spectator turnout. Nevertheless, the quality of horses and riding was outstanding, demonstrating the depth of talent present at the championships.
Championships wrap up with Hannah Rockwell claiming the Open Grand Prix Freestyle
The final day of competition at Tamworth delivered another day of excellent sport, with strong classes, close results, and a showcase of both developing and established combinations.
Judging freestyles is not so easy with both a technical section and an artistic section worth 50% of the marks each. It could perhaps be a better way to judge if the phases were judged separately: the technical phase by a judge with headsets on so as not to hear the music, and the artistic judge just doing the artistic side with judges that are experts in music, choreography, and interpretation.
The Horse Bit Emporium Open Grand Prix Freestyle belonged to Hannah Rockwell and the sparky bay gelding Baumann’s Diorella. Their test was dynamic, earning 70.375%, 72.325% and 72.375% for a combined 71.692% and the win. “Small but mighty” describes Diorella perfectly. Serena Ireland with Royalty R took second on 69.417%.
Katina Smith and Rever Toujours again scored well to win the Rodney’s Photography Open Medium Tour Freestyle on 65.992%; this combination was also named the Open Medium Tour Champion ahead of Megan Keir and Revelwood Queens County, who won the Inter A and B tests but did not contest the Freestyle. The AOR Medium Tour Champion was Georgie Cham and Immenhof Scout.
Two Preliminary titles for Courtney Larard
In the Ocean Underwriting Open Preliminary classes, Courtney Larard with Warrawee Bulgaree impressed, with the attractive brown gelding showing scope and quality. A very well conformed horse with a great front; with more engagement and hence a more uphill look, he has a great future. This combination won the 1.2 on 72.143%.
In the Open 1.3, Rachael Clarke with CJP Qudos won on 73.229%, ahead of Courtney and Warrawee Bulgaree on 70.834%. Rachael’s black gelding by Quarterhit has been consistently successful, also placing in the Novice, and with four quality horses in her string, Rachael is becoming increasingly prominent.
The Preliminary Champion title went to Courtney and Warrawee Bulgaree, with Rachael and CJP Qudos named the reserve. Both showed excellent rideability and confidence, setting themselves up well for future classes.
Courtney Larard also claimed the Weel Family Pony Preliminary Championship with Farleigh Olivia, while the Central Hospitality Group AOR Preliminary Championship went to Leeann Olsen and Da Vinci Hit.
A showcase of depth and talent
Overall, the NSW State Championships were a showcase of depth and talent. The standard of horses, the strength of the riding, and the presentation of tests were outstanding. Tamworth provided excellent facilities and surfaces, which supported strong performances across the board.
The standout of the show was undoubtedly Jayden Brown with WillingaPark Quincy B, whose presence in the warm-up, the arena, and the results confirmed them as the combination to beat at Grand Prix. Jayden’s accuracy, harmony, and polish set a benchmark for others, yet many combinations across the grades also demonstrated skill, progression, and promise.
New South Wales dressage has clearly matured in depth and quality. With the Nationals on the horizon, and several key combinations yet to reappear after, the stage is set for thrilling head-to-head competition at the next level. It’s an exciting time for the sport, for riders, and for spectators who value the growing harmony between horse and rider and the beauty of dressage in all its forms.
The only disappointing thing was to see the lack of entries at this state championship event! Many classes did have very poor numbers, leading to the event offering non-championship classes to make the competition viable. It is a wonder why? Was the venue too far away (even though the facilities are wonderful and great surfaces)? Too expensive with the current cost of living? It’s difficult to say, but perhaps many are saving to showcase at the Nationals in October.
