On Friday, Virtus Sport Para Dressage announced that Australia was victorious in the team division of the latest Virtus Equestrian Video Competition – and six Australians were among the podium placegetters across the grades.
Andrew Driffield and Waratah Majestic placed second in the II1 Intermediate A and were third in the II1 Novice A, while Sarah Sherwood was second in the II1 Novice A with Dicavalli Royal Guess A. Both riders were part of Australia’s gold medal winning team at the 2023 Virtus Global Games in France.
In the II2 division, Chloe Karsten and Wimpy Whizability won both the Intermediate B and Novice A, while Sui Watts and Kingswood Maximillion finished third in the Intermediate B and second in the Novice A. Sui was of course also part of Australia’s successful 2023 Virtus Global Games team.
Fellow Aussie Lara Stanton won the II3 Intermediate A with Dolcetto and placed third with Jurre Fan e’Gaestdyk. Lara also claimed third place in the Novice A with Jurre Fan e’Gaestdyk, just behind compatriot Bel Dabic who placed second with Kendall Park Odyessey.
Full results can be found here.
(Note: Updated 28 April following event results correction)
Expanding entries
Round one of the 2025 Virtus Equestrian Video Competition saw an impressive 69 entries across the grades, including new riders from Portugal and New Zealand.
“While the winners are still mostly familiar names, there are some new and very promising riders who are currently in the process of eligibility application but joined the competition to achieve qualifying scores towards the World Championships in July,” reads the results post published by Virtus Sport Para Dressage. “Their scores count for qualification but are not included in the ranking of this video competition.”
Round two of competition will open for entries on 1 April 2025, and will be the last chance to qualify for the 2025 Virtus Equestrian World Championships at Sparsholt, UK (21-25 July 2025).
2025 Virtus Equestrian Video Competition – Round 1 results
II1 Intermediate A
1. Kristi Zallo and Zippi de Susaeta 9Australia) – 73. 4%
2. Andrew Driffield and Waratah Majestic (Australia) – 70.20%
=3. Chris Bradley and MBF Harley Rebel (Great Britain) – 68.40%
=3. Sarah Sherwood and Dicavalli Royal Guess (Australia) – 68.40%
II1 Novice A
1. Kristi Zallo and Zippi de Susaeta – 73.5%
2. Sarah Sherwood and Dicavalli Royal Guess (Australia) – 72.75%
3. Andrew Driffield and Waratah Majestic (Australia) – 71.25%
II2 Intermediate B
1. Chloe Karsten and Wimpy Whizability (Australia) – 70.97%
2. Alejandro Espejo Lanzas and Operario VI – 68.55%
3. Sui Watts and Kingswood Maximillion (Australia) – 66.29%
II2 Novice A
1. Chloe Karsten and Wimpy Whizability (Australia) – 70.31%
2. Sui Watts and Kingswood Maximillion (Australia) – 69.69%
3. Alejandro Espejo Lanzas and Operario VI – 67.81%
II3 Intermediate A
1. Lara Stanton and Dolcetto (Australia) – 73.%
2. Danielle Curson and Tysilio Arwr (Great Britain) – 72.80%
3. Lara Stanton and Jurre Fan e’Gaestdyk (Australia) – 70.4%
II3 Novice A
1. Danielle Curson and Tysilio Arwr (Great Britain) – 71.75%
2. Bel Dabic and Kendall Park Odyssey (Australia) – 70.75%
3. Lara Stanton and Jurre Fan e’Gaestdyk (Australia) – 69.75%
Team results:
1. Australia (Andrew Driffield, Sarah Sherwood and Chloe Karsten)
2. Great Britain (Danielle Curzon, Chloe Bush and Chris Bradley)
The official results will be published in full via the Virtus Sport website (results not published at time of writing).
