Heath Ryan and Regardez Moi, with runners-up Rachael Sanna and Jaybee Alalbaster looking on after their winning Freestyle performance at the Sydney CDI-W during the 2008 Australian Championships Photograph:Franz Venhaus

Former FEI Judge and current A level Judge Joy Charlton was kind enough to share her expert comments on today’s Grand Prix class with us. 

Hamilton Island FEI Grand Prix – CDN (National Competition)

Judges: C Peter Hollier (GER); M Jan Bird (NZL); H Cara Whitham (CAN); B Chang Kyoo Yang (KOR); E Gisela Nilsson-Harding (AUS)

The Grand Prix is conducted in two sections.  The first section is the national division consisting of 5 combinations: 

• BYALEE MAGIC - 1996 AUS Warmblood (WB) by Richmeed Medallion owned by Ann-Maree Lourey was the first horse of the class.  Precisely ridden by AUS Olympic rider Heath Ryan. Attractive type but still needs more strength in Piaffe and Passage.  61.292%  1^st place
• RANCHO ASSASSIN – 1992 AUS WB by Aachimedes owned and ridden by Sharon Carroll. An attractive combination but Grand Prix (GP) movements need to be better established.  51.125% 5^th place
• APH FAUST – 1992 AUS WB by APH Socrates, owned and ridden by 29-year-old Verity Fargo. This horse was active and well forward – a little strong in hand at times causing some mouth problems and restricting freedom in neck 57.958% 3^rd  place
• NORTHERN RINALDO – 1994 AUS WB by Falkland Victory owned and ridden by Robyn Targa.  A very obedient horse, beautifully presented but needs to show more sparkle and activity. 57.458% 4^th place
• APH TRUE SEVILLE – 1993 AUS WB by Meriville, owned and ridden by Paula Price. A stunning horse competently ridden.  The horse showed good self carriage but some minor mistakes cost them this test. 60.625% 2^nd place

Hamilton Island FEI Grand Prix – CDI-W

Judges: C Peter Hollier (GER); M Jan Bird (NZL); H Cara Whitham (CAN); B Chang Kyoo Yang (KOR); E Gisela Nilsson-Harding (AUS)

The second division of the Grand Prix was the International class:

• WHISPER IV – 1996 GER WB by Weltmeyer owned and ridden by Kerry Mack. The stallion looked very relaxed but there were a few little mistakes.  He was very consistent in his work.  A gat effort from Kerry Mack who has 2 horses in this class and who had a hip replacement in May. 58.208% 13^th place
• JAYBEE ANZAC – 1994 AUS WB by Aachimedes. Owned and ridden by Nicole Magoffin.  Not as established in his work as some combinations at this level. 59.292% 9^th place
• TANGO V – 2000 NED WB by Jazz.  Owned by Mary and Rob Hanna, ridden by Mary Hanna.  This gelding is a stunning type of horse.  Mary is recently back after spending one year in Germany training with Hubertus Schmidt.  Mary and Tango V were successfully competing on the small tour and have not long been competing at GP.  Tango V looks very established in his training.  Lovely changes, well balanced.  Very good pirouettes.  Leaning down slightly in piaffe.  Beautiful. 66.667% 1^st place
• NORTHERN ATLAS – 1996 AUS HOLST by Falkland’s Victory.  Owned by Sarah Howitt and ridden by Janice Usherwood. A very honest horse, workman like in his job. Lacks charisma and lightness of movement for this level. Kind and willing.  This is Janice’s 7^th GP horse.  58.8333%  11^th place
• HOLLYWOOD BOSTON – 1990 AUS WB/AR by Kasiber.  Owned and ridden by Dimity Lourey.  This horse is 3 years older than his 15-year-old rider! They enjoyed a better test with more precision in the movements than they did in the Inter II yesterday.  Lovely kind test. 57.000% 14^th place
• CHIARETTO – 1994 SWE WB by Chirlon 870.  Owned by Andrew and Manuela McLean, ridden by Warwick McLean. More elasticity and flexibility required for GP movements.  Lacks carrying power and pushing power and true engagement. 54.875% 16^th place
• MAYFIELD PZAZZ – 1997 NED WB by Jazz. Owned and ridden by Kerry Mack.  Some mistakes in trot work.  Canter work had good quality, better than in trot. Made one mistake in pirouette.  Carrying himself very nicely.  Sweet and willing horse. 55.875% 15^th place
• JAHNUS – 1991 BEL WB by Jaguar. Owned and ridden by Amelia Kristan.  This is a lovely horse.  For a 17-year-old this horse is incredible and so willing to d his work. Horse and rider have a rapport and Amelia brings the best out in him.  A mistake going into the one time changes.  60.000% 8^th place
• DP CHRISTOPHER – 1993 AUS WB by Salute. Owned by Susan Duddy and ridden by Rozzie Ryan.  Such a well ridden precise and accurate test but horse lacking the lightness and flexibility that you would like to see in a GP test.  Obedient with one hick-up. 62.333% 6^th place
• DUNTROON – 1995 AUS WB by Falklands II.  Owned and ridden by Sue Hearn. Some minor mistakes affecting the fluidity of the test.  Loss of balance in the pirouettes.  Showed weaknesses in piaffe.  Passage had lightness and elevation.  63.917% 5^th
• APH ROMARN -1996 AUS HOLST by Rocadero. Owned and ridden by Denise Rogan. Transitions need to be better established.  Horse showing tension causing loss of rhythm in many movements.  1st season for horse and rider in the Big Tour. 59.167% 10^th place
• OSCAR B – 1996 NED WB by Zeoliet.  Owned and ridden by Kate Taylor-Wheat.  Some brilliant work, let down by the piaffe.  Lost line in one time changes which detracted from the quality.  Super paces and lovely work.  A very good test.  65.708% 3^rd place
• NORTHERN HECTOR – 1995 AUS WB by Northern Hermes.  Owned and ridden by Blas Lago.  Good piaffe and passage (except for one mistake). Horse tries very hard.  Appeared heavy in hand at times. 61.208% 7^th place
• NORTHERN CAMPION – 1993 AUS WB/TB by Northern Congress. Ridden by Nadia Coglan. Tension in piaffe, lacking impulsion and cadence on the day which affected quality of movement.  58.708% 12^th place
• JAYBEE ALABASTER – 1999 AUS HANN by Alabaster.  Owned by Bev Edwards and ridden by Rachael Sanna.  A costly mistake in 1^st piaffe/transition/passage and again before the one time changes.  This horse has so much scope and is so fluent. Passage is good.  Incredibly elastic and flexible which shows in his paces.  Unfortunately his mistakes were very expensive. 64.042% 4^th place
• REGARDEZ MOI – 1996 GER HANN by Rubinstein.  Owned by M & H Evans and Heath Ryan. Ridden by Heath Ryan. Not always consistent in the rhythm causing many problems and swinging in the one time changes. Pirouette well centered and balanced.  Walk needs more scope.  66.167% 2^nd place

  Foreign Judge Cara Whitham (CAN) FEI O level Judge commented at the at the completion of the class, 

  "I had Heath placed first. He rode bravely, his extendeds were good his piaffe and passage were good.  His changes were a weak point.  It was a beautifully presented and a bravely presented test."

  "Tango is a super talent, very willing but with a few rough edges.  He is a real talent for the future, a lovely horse."

  "Oscar B really impressed me, he was beautiful. He needs to be better balanced in his piaffe and more clearly diagonal.  When he came into the arena he was such a nice picture I felt at ease!"

Watch a video of the Championships - courtesy of Peter Haynes

Watch Rachael Sanna and Jaybee Alabaster's Grand Prix Freestyle - courtesy of Peter Haynes