Dressage

Para Equestrian

Virtus Equestrian

Para Equestrian and Virtus Equestrian riders shine at Hawkesbury Dressage Festival

Run by Hawkesbury Dressage Club, the popular Hawkesbury Dressage Festival is back again this year at Sydney International Equestrian Centre from 15-23 June. This year, the event hosted an international-level Para Dressage competition (CPEDI3* and CPEDI2*), as well as Virtus Equestrian classes in conjunction with the team at Carlton Performance Horses. These classes were run over the first three days of competition, from 15-17 June.

Marnie Clapham and SPH Bellissima won both the CPEDI2* Grade 1 Intermediate Tests A and B. Image by Rodney's Photography.

Amylie Hines

Published 17 Jun 2025

Sydney CPEDI: Saturday results

It was a lovely day for dressage on Saturday with some good weather conditions for sand dancing – congratulations to all riders who danced around the arena.

CPEDI3* Grand Prix Test A:

Grade 2:

1. Maddison Cooke and Byalee Magic II, 67.011%

2. Rebecca Webber and Glenayre Skyline, 62.185%

Maddison was thrilled with her test, saying afterwards: “It was incredible I’m very happy with my scores!”

Maddison Cooke and Baylee Magic II won all three CPEDI3* Grade 2 tests and were crowned the CPEDI3* Grade 2 Champions. Image by Rodney’s Photography.

Grade 3:

1. Amylie Hines and EA Exquisite, 61.278%

Grade 4:

1. Claire Graham and Fürst Olli 3, 67.361%

2. Brooke Neville and Checklist D, 61.528%

Claire Graham and Fürst Olli 3 won all three CPEDI3* Grade 4 tests and were crowned the CPEDI3* Grade 4 Champions. Image by Rodney’s Photography.

Grade 5:

1. Stuart Drysdale on Quality Street 3, 62.308%

CPEDI2* Intermediate Test A:

Grade 1:

1. Marnie Clapham and SPH Bellisima, 65.959%

“I feel like I had a relaxed test and [SPH Bellisima] listen to everything I asked of her,” said Marnie following her first test.

Grade 2:

1. Kate Nipperess and Dame Remi Wolverine, 67.895%

Kate Nipperess and Dame Remi Wolverine won all three CPEDI2* Grade 2 tests and were named the CPEDI2* Grade 2 Champions. Image by Rodney’s Photography.
CPEDI2* Grade 3 Intermediate Test A winner, Ella Newbery. Image by Jenny Carroll.

Grade 3:

1. Ella Newbery and Bloomfield Royal Princess, 62.302%

Grade 4:

1. Helen Batson and MSJ Tia Fortuna, 70.867%

2. Kirsty Van Loon and Nero R, 69.533%

3. Sarah Sherwood and Dicavalli Royal Guard, 64.000%

4. Saskia Brown and WHF Copenhagen, 62.800%

5. Lucy Coates and Jaybee Cherub, 61.467%

“I couldn’t be happier with ‘Fuji’,” said Helen Batson after her win on Saturday. “I’ve only had her for three months and due to my own injuries and illness, this is only our 11th ride together. To come to a big competition, with lots of atmosphere and compete in the indoor feels huge. She really listened to me and tried to do everything I asked; she’s just the most beautiful mare. I’m so grateful to Carolyn Welsh for letting me have her and for the super handling and training she and Charlie [Welsh] have put into her. And of course, to my super coach Emma Weinert, who has prepared her perfectly for me and works very hard to keep me on the job. There are so many people to thank for getting us here, it really takes a whole team. And after the most part of a year off, I’m just so grateful to be out competing again.”

Helen Batson and MSJ Tia Fortuna won all three CPEDI2* Grade 4 tests and were crowned the CPEDI2* Grade 4 Champions. Image by Rodney’s Photography.

Grade 5:

1. Mietta Innes-Irons and Sir Helmut, 71.905%

2. Heidi Ford & Rikaardt H, 63.571%

3. Amy Blackwood and Evermore Devotion, 63.155%

4. Alexandra Shepherd and Majestic R, 60.536%

5. Tiffany Bignold and Holligrove Sophia, 58.978%

6. Melissa Cannon and Duchess DS, 50.631%

“I was absolutely thrilled with our test and very happy with our score,” said Mietta following her first test. “I made a few costly mistakes, but we have only been together for six months. I’m excited to build our partnership and to improve our performance.”

The CPEDI2* Grade 5 Intermediate Test A placegetters. Image by Jenny Carroll.

Virtus Equestrian

Grade II1 (Grade 4 Novice Test A):

1. Kyle Chapman and Chapplehurst Mozique, 63.417%

2. Andrew Driffield and Waratah Majestic, 61.917%

3. Brooke Jones and Allan Green Jazzabelle, 57.750%

Kyle Chapman and Chapplehurst Mozique won the Virtus Grade II1 Grade 4 Novice Test A. Image by Rodney’s Photography.
Virtus Grade II1 Grade 4 Novice Test A placegetters, Kyle Chapman, Brooke Jones, and Andrew Driffield. Image by Jenny Carroll.

Grade II2 (Grade 3 Novice Test A):

1. Sui Watts and Gem Park Guess, 63.125%

Sui Watts won all three Virtus Grade II2 tests. Image by Jenny Carroll.

Grade II3 (Grade 4 Novice Test A):

1. Grace Murphie-Ryan and Pemberton Show Bizz, 69.000%

“I competed as a Virtus rider at the Hawkesbury Dressage Festival in Sydney,” said Grace after her impressive score on Saturday. “It went amazingly, with our transitions bang on, and paced correct. I left the arena really happy then found out I scored a 69%… the best we’ve ever done! I had a lot of other people when I came out who are involved with para dressage congratulating me. Being a para rider has helped a lot with my confidence, as well as meeting other people who share the same and other disabilities,” continues Grace, adding the seven-hour drive was well worth it to take part.

Sydney CPEDI: Sunday results

Day two started off quite foggy, but eventually the sun was out and gracing us with its warm rays. We saw a lot of the riders improved on scores from Saturday.

CPEDI3* Grand Prix Test B:

Grade 2:

1. Maddison Cooke and Baylee Magic II, 66.556%

2. Rebecca Webber and Glenayre Skyline, 61.778%

“I’m very pleased with the test results… lots of 7s, and we made up good results for our less impressive movements. I’m looking forward to freestyle [Monday],” said Beck Webber following her test on Sunday.

Grade 3:

1. Amylie Hines and EA Exquisite, 62.056%

Amylie Hines won all three CPEDI3* Grade 3 classes and was crowned the CPEDI3* Grade 3 Champion. Image by Jenny Carroll.

Grade 4:

1. Claire Graham and Fürst Olli 3, 65.045%

2. Brooke Neville and Checklist D, 63.784%

Grade 5:

1. Stuart Drysdale and Quality Street 3, 61.930%

Stuart Drysdale and Quality Street won both the CPEDI3* Grade 5 Grand Prix Tests A and B. Image by Jenny Carroll.

CPEDI2* Intermediate Test B:

Grade 1:

1. Marnie Clapham and SPH Bellissima, 65.833%

Marnie Clapham was very successful in the CPEDI2* Grade 1 classes, winning all three to be named the CPEDI2* Grade 1 Champion. Image by Jenny Carroll.

Grade 2:

1. Kate Nippress and Dame Remi Wolverine, 63.182%

Grade 4:

1. Helen Batson and MSJ Tia Fortuna, 71.344%

2. Kirsty Van Loon and Nero R, 67.903%

3. Saskia Brown and WHF Copenhagen, 63.495%

4. Sarah Sherwood on Dicavilli Royal Guess, 61.113%

5. Lucy Coates on Jaybee Cherub, 58.978%

Lucy Coates is a blind Para Equestrian rider, and she said following her test that she was very pleased with how her mare performed and proud to achieve three big goals: “I felt Ruby and I did really well. She was relaxed and we both achieved our goals for [Sunday’s] test, which were stay in the arena, get the right canter lead, and to achieve collection. I’m so proud!”

Grade 5:

1. Mietta Innes-Irons and Sir Helmut, 73.586%

2. Alexandra Shepherd and Majestic R, 59.949%

3. Amy Blackwood and Evermore Devotion, 59.904%

4. Heidi Ford and Rikaardt H, 59.702%

5. Tiffany Bignold and Hollingrove Sophia, 52.778%

6. Melissa Cannon and Duchess DS, 51.571%

Mietta Innes-Irons and Sir Helmut were crowned the CPEDI2* Grade 5 Champions after winning all three tests. Image by Rodney’s Photography.

Virtus Equestrian

Grade II1 (Grade 4 Intermediate Test A):

1. Andrew Driffield and Waratah Majestic, 61.767%

2. Brooke Jones and Allan Green Jazzabelle, 59.333%

3. Kyle Chapman and Chapplehurst Mozique, 54.400%

Andrew was pleased with his second test here at Hawkesbury: “It was a good ride; the horse felt better and we both felt calmer. It’s been a really good event and great to be included with the Para Equestrian riders as well at the Hawkesbury Dressage Festival. Thank you to the committee for running these events!”

Grade II2 (Grade 3 Intermediate Test A):

1. Sui Watts and Gem Park Guess, 62.312%

Grade II3 (Grade 4 Intermediate Test A):

1. Grace Murphie-Ryan and Pemberton Show Bizz, 68.200%

Grace Murphie-Ryan and Pemberton Show Bizz were very successful in the Virtus II3 classes, winning all three. Image by Jenny Carroll.

Sydney CPEDI: Monday results

Day three and it was sand dancing day, were we all enjoy dancing to our freestyles. Everybody had some great music compositions ranging from ABBA to Florence and the Machine. There were lots of smiles after completion of these tests today!

CPEDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle:

Grade 2:

1. Maddison Cooke and Baylee Magic II, 65.011%

2. Rebecca Webber on Glenayre Skyline, 63.956%

Rebecca Webber and off the track Thoroughbred Glenayre Skyline placed second in the CPEDI3* Grade 2 classes. Image by Jenny Carroll.

Grade 3:

1. Amylie Hines and EA Exquisite, 64.445%

Grade 4:

1. Claire Graham and Fürst Olli 3, 69.467%

2. Brooke Neville and Checklist D, 64.450%

CPEDI2* Intermediate Freestyle:

Grade 1:

1. Marnie Clapham and SPH Bellissima, 63.489%

Grade 2:

1. Kate Nippress and Dame Remi Wolverine, 63.601%

Grade 4:

1. Helen Batson and MSJ Tia Fortuna, 72.067%

2. Kirsty Van Loon and Nero R, 68.792%

3. Sarah Sherwood and Dicavilli Royal Guess, 64.208%

4. Lucy Coates and Jaybee Cherub, 60.842%

5. Saskia Brown and WHF Copenhagen, 59.233%

Grade 5:

1. Mietta Innes-Irons and Sir Helmut, 74.656%

2. Amy Blackwood and Evermore Devotion, 64.633%

3. Alexandra Shepherd and Majestic R, 59.333%

4. Heidi Ford and Rikaardt H, 58.692%

5. Tiffany Bignold and Holligrove Sophia, 58.675%

Virtus Equestrian

Grade II1 (Freestyle):

1. Andrew Driffield and Waratah Majestic, 52.333%

2. Kyle Chapman and Chapplehurst Mozique, 48.458%

Andrew Driffield and Waratah Majestic won the Virtus II1 Grade 4 Intermediate Test A and Freestyle. Image by Jenny Carroll.

Grade II2 (Freestyle):

1. Sui Watts and Gem Park Guess, 54.934%

Grade II3 (Freestyle):

1. Grace Murphie-Ryan and Pemberton Show Bizz, 69.600%

CPEDI3* and CPEDI2* Championships

CPEDI3* Champions:

Grade 2: Maddison Cooke

Grade 3: Amylie Hines 

Grade 4: Claire Graham

CPEDI2* Champions:

Grade 1: Marnie Clapham

Grade 2: Kate Nipperess

Grade 4: Helen Batson

Grade 5: Mietta Innes-Irons

Thank you to Hawkesbury Dressage Club and Carlton Performance Horses for hosting the first CPEDI for 2025, and to Equestrian Australian for sponsorship of the classes. Thank you to all the volunteers, stewards and judges for taking the time to help us Para Equestrian and Virtus Equestrian riders.

Full results from the CPEDI and Virtus Equestrian classes at Hawkesbury Dressage Festival can be found here.