2019 Australian Dressage Championships Wrap Up

The 2019 Australian Dressage Championships are over for another year, and it’s now time to reflect on some of the performances across four days of competition at Sydney International Equestrian Centre!

The pinnacle event of the championships, the Grand Prix CDI-W Freestyle title, was won by none other than a New Zealander in Wendi Williamson and Don Amour MH. The Kumeu dressage rider and the 13-year-old chestnut gelding placed second in the Grand Prix CDI-W with a score of 69.03% on Friday, before backing that up with a jaw-dropping 76.18% Freestyle to win the FEI World Cup qualifier Saturday night. It was the highest GP CDI Freestyle score by any horse in Australia!

Speaking to ESNZ, Wendi explained that she had eased Donny into the Grand Prix, after he had been “disappointing” at Boneo a few weeks back and subsequently was quite sick. “He was so flat and it was just terrible,” said Wendi. Donny headed back to Brett Parbery’s where he was nursed back to full strength just in the nick of time. “We only got the final bloods on the morning of the trot up, so it was right down to the wire. Brett was so positive we would get there but I wasn’t so sure. When you have a bad run at a show you lose a bit of confidence.”

Wendi Williamson and Don Amour MH.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

But her host was right on the money. “I have worked Donny hard over the winter to improve his shape and other things but I didn’t fire him up too much in the Grand Prix (Friday) because I wasn’t sure what I was going to get. In the Freestyle I felt more confident to give him a boost. I’m not sure I expected 77s from the judges – that was just amazing.” She’s looked back at the test though and says he was very consistent with good shape and energy. “I think he deserved what he got.” The 76.18% score was a personal best for them both.

Above information courtesy of ESNZ.

Equestrian Life live streamed the Grand Prix CDI-W (read the full report from this class here) and the CDI-W Freestyle. Reflecting on the Freestyle, commentator Roger Fitzhardinge explained that Wendi is “a great test rider” and Don Amour MH is “a generous, trainable and honest horse”. Strong parts of the test were plentiful and included a lovely extended trot, a nice and quick passage and very good piaffe, and beautiful half passes. The two-tempi changes on a curving line were another highlight. It was a fluent test, and at the end Roger declared it was “going to take some beating”. It sure was!

Following Wendi into the arena in the Freestyle was Lone Joergensen and Corinna – and after their win in the Grand Prix CDI-W the day before, everyone was holding their breath to see what this combination could do next… in their very first Grand Prix CDI Freestyle! Roger explained that this horse “tries very hard”, and that is evident to see. It was a great test with lovely music, and it was only that the horse is still a little green at the level that saw them settle for second place. The extended trot is certainly a highlight, and once Corinna has a little more confidence in the piaffe and passage, this combination is going to be very exciting. They scored 73.915%, and as the highest placed Australian and with the best combined results from the Grand Prix and Freestyle, she is now our National Grand Prix Champion!

Lone Joergensen and Corinna.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Lone Joergensen and Corinna.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Third place went to the second last combination into the arena, Victorian Maree Tomkinson and DMJ Donna Elena. The pair recently won the NSW Dressage Championships at Tamworth, and they produced another strong performance here. Another horse that is quite young and new to the level, Roger explained she “is very expressive has some fantastic qualities”. The passage is very light-footed and a highlight, as is the elastic extended canter. This horse improves at every outing, and once she starts to consistently take a little more weight on the hind legs and finds a more uphill way of going, it’s going to be very exciting indeed. They scored 72.880%, an improvement on their winning Freestyle score at Tamworth of 72.510%.

Maree Tomkinson and Donna Elena.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Fourth place went to Fererro Chocolate Box and Sheridyn Ashwood on a score of 71.645%. This combination stepped out at Grand Prix level back in 2017, and they have improved ever since, with this being their personal best Freestyle score – topping their mark at the Brisbane CDI where they scored 70.080%. As Roger explains, this horse was very good at Small Tour and is now beginning to really make a mark at Grand Prix level. The horse is now becoming much more uphill, and really tries throughout the test. Highlights included great flexion and bending throughout, steep angles in the half-pass, great fluency in the canter, and the passage to extended trot… which was a movement that wowed, and something we haven’t seen before!

Sheridyn Ashwood and Fererro Chocolate Box.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Next came Fiona Selby of Boneo Park, and the lovely mare Tacita on a score of 71.565%. Here we saw new music and a new Freestyle to what we’ve seen in the past, and the music certainly suited the mare. Roger explained that there are “lots of good qualities in this mare”, with a lovely extended trot that is athletic and ground covering, a nice passage, and excellent straightness that was shown of via flying changes towards the judge at C. Overall, a beautiful smooth test, although the horse can get a little light in the bridle at times.

Fiona Selby and Tacita.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

In sixth was Riley Alexander and the Mulawa-owned Larenso, who were the clear winners of the Inter II at the beginning of the Championships on a score of 71.647%. This combination is also new to GP CDI level, and what a great performance. First out in the Freestyle, they set the pace with amazing passage and very nice two-tempis among other things. With both being new to the level there was a little lack of confidence, but as Roger explained this is an “international horse of super quality” and Riley is a seriously good rider. Their score of 71.110% was a pretty solid effort for their first CDI Freestyle. Exciting times ahead!

Riley Alexander and Larenso, 71.11% in the GP CDI-W.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

In seventh was Alycia Targa and CP Dresden on 70.945%. Riding out to Kung Fu Panda music, it was a well ridden test and Alycia rides this energetic horse tactfully, with not a mistake in sight including ones and twos on a circle! It’s a technically difficult test and this horse is very talented in the piaffe and passage, and above all they showed adjustability in every pace and every movement.

Alycia Targa and CP Dresden.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Eighth place went to Mary Warren and Mindarah Park Raphael on 70.185%. Roger explained that Mary is a very subtle rider and it’s “great to see a young rider doing so well”. The horse is impressive, with a beautiful shape – especially in the trot. The passage has improved a lot, and they also produced a top-class double pirouette in this test. Extended canter was to the max; Mary isn’t afraid to go for it and that’s great to see. Overall a very good test with great energy, however just a few little errors that crept in.

Mary Warren and Mindarah Park Raphael.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

And so the top eight all over 70%!

In ninth place was Sally Rizzuto and Diamond Star on 69.920%, the last to ride their test. Although it wasn’t the best start with a step back into the halt, the music was good, the extended trot very nice and the transitions into and out of passage/piaffe/passage were very good. The walk was a real highlight, and overall a great test but with a modest degree of difficulty they missed a few vital marks there.

Sally Rizutto and Diamond Star.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Next came Sue Hearn and Remmington on 69.825%. It a was a nice test with great music. Roger explained that highlights included good piaffe, great collected trot and a walk that has really improved over the years and is now cleverly choreographed in the Freestyle by Sue. Lloyd just took over at times, for example in the pirouettes, and towards the end he became a little lazy and long in the frame – particularly in the passage.

Sue Hearn and Remmington.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Robert Schmerglatt and Brumali scored 67.695% for 11th place.  The horse seemed to be lacking a little fitness and isn’t yet quite taking the weight on the hind legs consistently. Confident in the one tempi changes, Roger noted this was a highlight of the test despite a small mistake at the end of them. Robert has yet to get this horse performing in the way it was in Europe.

Robert Schmerglatt and Brumali.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Lesley-Anne Taylor and Amicelli Gold were next with 67.610%. Roger describes Amicelli Gold as a “super star horse with a hot temperament”, and this horse’s piaffe and passage is truly spectacular. Unfortunately the horse was struggling with the left flexion throughout this test, and everything just needed to be a little more fluent and supple. The piaffe pirouette was a real highlight and demonstrated what this horse is capable of when it all comes together.

Lesley Anne-Taylor and Amicelli Gold.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

In 13th place was Emma Flavelle-Watts and Cabaret C on 64.945%. This score certainly didn’t reflect the quality of a horse that has so much potential, however there was a moment in the test where Cabaret C decided it was all too much in the indoor and made a beeline down the long-side with her head in the air! It was a situation very well handled by Emma, who regained control and continued on with the test with a smile on her face, much to everyone’s surprise. Despite being very tricky, Roger described the horse as an “absolute quality mare” and it will be exciting to see what this combination can do when it all comes together. On the Sunday, this combination shows what they are capable off, winning the Grand Prix Special CDN on a score of 68.596%!

Emma Flavelle-Watts and Cabaret C.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Full results.

It was exciting class with lots of new faces at the level, and we look forward to seeing these combinations at future events.

Grand Prix CDN Freestyle

Equestrian Life live streamed the Grand Prix CDN Freestyle on Saturday afternoon. The winners were Marvin Smink and Haya, with an impressive 70.320%. The pair also won the Grand Prix CDN the previous day on 66.978%.

Marvin Smink and Haya, winners of the CDN Grand Prix.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Second place in the Freestyle went to Sara Price and the flashy buckskin pony Cheval De Luxe on 68.105%, third to Sally Evans and A Spider Bite on 66.235%, fourth to Paula Price and True Sensation on 65.805% and fifth to Sydney Evans and Dara Park Tequila Sunrise on 65.345%.

Small Tour

The Small Tour classes at this year’s championships were very competitive and featured some very talented combinations.

Equestrian Life live streamed the Inter I Freestyle on the Saturday, and the winners were none other than Riley Alexander and MI Sirtainly Sir on a huge 75.8%. The exciting thing about this combination is there is still quite a bit of room for improvement. The horse was a little spooky entering the arena, and could have been a little more supple to the right on the odd occasion. Roger explained that it was a seriously good test, however there is the ability to “produce some better movements in future”, and that is very exciting. In the PSG, the pair finished second on 71.529%, and they won the Inter I test on 73.529%.

Riley Alexander is all smiles aboard MI Sirtainly Sir.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Second place in the Inter I Freestyle went to Jenny Gehrke and the talented Senator Nymphenburg on 72.010%. Roger explained that this horse is a little sensitive, but when it all comes together it’s “very fancy” and overall “a super job and a great horse for the future.” The pair were also third in the Inter I on 70.5%, and on the Sunday it all came together for them when they won the Prix St Georges Stars of the Future competition on 72.118%.

Jenny Gehrke and Senator Nymphenburg.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Third in the Inter I Freestyle went to Jayden Brown and Davinci L on 71.930%. This horse is “pretty impressive” according to Roger, and produces some real “wow” moments such as in the shoulder-in. The quality of the changes is amazing, and another exciting one for the future. The pair won the Prix St Georges earlier on with 72.353%, and were second in the Inter I on 71.353%. On the Sunday, this combination also competed in the PSG Stars of the Future class, finishing second on 70.294%.

Jayden Brown and Davinci L, third in the Inter I Freestyle.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Fourth place in the Inter I Freestyle went to Katina Smith and Just Dance on 71.770%. As Roger said, this horse “does have dancing shoes” and overall this combination is “very impressive” with not a mistake in this test. Roger described this Freestyle as “very nice… straight, clear and easy to watch.”

Katina Smith and Just Dance.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

These four horses were all stand outs at the Small Tour level and it will be exciting to see them continuing to progress.

Medium Tour

The Inter A and B tests went to Lizzie Wilson-Fellows and Lets Jazzabit on 66.618% and 66.525%.

Advanced

Robbie McKinnon and Silmarillion E.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Robbie McKinnon won the 5B test with Silmarillion E on 72.613% and was second in the 5C on 71.381%. The pair won the Freestyle on 75.6%

Nicole Tough and Ferragamo were second in the 5B on 72.162% and third in the 5C on 70.667%.

Nicole Tough and Ferragamo by Furstenball place getters in the advanced.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Hope Beerling and Remi Downunder stepped up and won the 5C on 71.476%.

CDI-Y

Mary Warren and Mindarah Park Ramirus won the Team test and Freestyle on 68.922% and 73.030%, while Mackenzie Boundy and Fortune Cookie won the Individual test on 68.725%. 

Mary Warren and Ramirus, CDI-Y team test winners.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

CDI-U25

In the U25 classes, it was Lindsey Ware and Aristede who achieved a clean sweep, winning the Inter II on 70.833%, the Grand Prix on 69% and the Freestyle on 73.245%.

Kate Farrell and Luxor 118 were the runners up in all three tests, scoring 67.402% in the Inter II, 68.231% in the Grand Prix, and 70.835% in the Freestyle.

Medium

The 4B test went to Caroline Hooper and Becks Gold II on 74.955%, with Gina Montgomery and Iresias L in second on 74.279%. 

Caroline Hooper and Becks Gold II.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

In the 4C, it was Daniella Dirks and SPH Renaissance who impressed the judges on 72.265%, from Robbie McKinnon and Hollands Bend Rococo on 71.581%.

Elementary & Novice

The Elementary classes were exciting, with Daniella Dierks and the stunning Friesian Tjibbe B scoring a huge 77.292% in the 3B and 81.220% in the 3C. The pair also cleaned up in the Novice classes, winning the 2B with 79.314% and the 2C with 79.190%. A very exciting horse for the future!

Full scores from the 2019 Australian Dressage Championships across all the grades can be found here.

Article reproduced with permission from Equestrian Life & Roger Fitzhardinge