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Day one of the NSW state Championships saw a truly great day of competition. With the temperature up to the low 30s it was a hot one but the arenas looked like there had been a monsoon through the venue but no just a hiccup with the water timers!!! The venue dry, but for the arenas, especially arena one where the Prix st George was held. The winner to Aber Hallo 29 for Brett Parbery and a score of 70.88% This could have been several percent higher as this outstanding brown stallion took exception to a large puddle that was glistening in the sun.
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A mistake at the first halt then a leap over X in the medium trot and also in extended. The four tempis were masterfully ridden through the puddle but hardly showing the softness he can! and the three tempis were a leap again and to top it off the final halt at X also hardly conventional. You wonder how it was 70%, well its easy, the rest of the test was sensational and the mistakes simply marked the percentage down. It was such a shame as this beautiful stallion showed so much expression and flair and with Brett now really getting a tune from him they are becoming a formidable partnership! Second only .088% behind was Bluefields Florino recently relocated from WA and ridden by Janina Kletke. This impressive big chestnut stallion by Florencio showed some great moments but perhaps lacks the fluency as yet in some of the canter work. Albert with Rachael Downs was third and Rachael squeezing every last mark out of him. He was tight today, but is inexperienced at this level, unlike his rider!
Fourth to Wallmeyer for Gina Montgommery and a cracking test for a 73.8% from one Judge Eductaor to win and then a 64% to be tenth with another judge educator! An overall score of 68.2% and settling at fourth. This horse made some great parts and was coinsistent throughout and there were no mistakes at all. Next to Theresa Grills and Ecclesbourne by Jaybee Alabaster then Lisa Martin and In Time the flashy dappled grey and well presented being by Royal Diamond and then Kate Farrell with the glorious Luxor 118 and an unfortunate break to canter in the half pass trot( Coefficient mark !) and a mistake in the tempis was costly but this young rider is really looking the part.
The class was strong and close, as was thought and the winner a super horse and capable of much more so that is exciting for the FEI ranks and great depth with the top ten all over 65%. The Inter I will be interesting indeed.
The novice Champion went to DP Dresden by Damsey and owned by Jane Bruce and ridden for her by Alysia Targa. They gained a first for a 70.74% and a third with a 74.3%. this horse was up in to the bridle with bell balanced paces and a great cadence and swinging power in the trot work and a really great uphill and ground covering canter ( surely the marks were mean……it was a good test and mistake free and accurate and balanced with flair!!!).the runner up was Flowrvale Florenz by Florencio and ridden so well by Kate Taylor Wheat returning to the competition arena after a year from hell in 2012 but now back in full action. This big chestnut shows looseness and swing and covers the ground easily. A realy interesting scopey horse for the future. It was interesting to see the different types in Dresden smaller compact type and Florenz taller and more length and to see the highlights that each gains from their differing natural ways and scores accordingly but perhaps a little unyielding in marks from some judges.
It was a little disappointing to see such fabulous tests and in the 2D with one judge, another judge Educator, and there was only one score over 70% and this is simply novice!!!! If they can only get one horse of 30 over 70% it doesn’t hold us with much hope for getting big scores at FEI!! Where are they going wrong? 70 is simply 7s for everything and that’s only fairly good. There were many novice tests with great horses and so well ridden its time that a few marks were let rip here. In the 2C there were 10 scores over 69% and 8 over 70%. One judge here using the marks and from 81% (Top) down to 55% (bottom).
Needless to say some fabulous horses. Blackie owned by Sue Walker and ridden by Daniella Dierks gained a second and a fouth and looked fancy especially in some of the trot work. Two solid tests and well done. Revelwood Smash It for Nina Boyd had a 5th and a 6th and this is an impressive horse by Smash Hit. Brett Parbery doing well with the impressive Fursten Friendship but for some tension in the canter work this will be one to watch. Stockharlin another import, owned by Vicky Newham and ridden by Judy Dierks is a huge horse and still developing and some great work but at times a little lazy today. Larapinta Orlando owned by Janice Usherwood and ridden by Sally Ann Quigly won the 2c with a 75.62% but a big difference here from 81.5% to 69.6% but an effortless test with expression. Some mistakes in the other novice and down the list to only manage an 11th with a 64.6%. It just showed how tough the class was with a mistake and dropping places like crazy. With Florenz, Kate made a mistake in a trot through change over x in one test, with a wrong lead for few steps and that loss of a few marks cost her places and the championship!!!!! Revelwood Aston for Zana Northam was disappointing for Zana, who had high expectations with some recent good performances. Not this day and it was tough to stay at the top and above all clean tests were required.
All in all a great competition and in the indoor saw the Inter II and a win to Heath Ryan and Utopian Cardinal with a 65.3% from Alexis Hellyer and Wacca W with a 63.3% then Mark Aurthur and Kooinda Saint with a clean test with a little lack of clarity in the piaffe and passage tour but great frame and even flowing work. Then Nadia Coghlan and Carlisle and next was Robali Razzamatazz.
The class lacked a horse with great scope throughout all the movements and with an abilty to really shine in the piaffe and passage and its these movements that are costing to the loss of marks the most. Heath, as always, rode a good solid and confident test with Cardinal having a very upward neck and the poll high but at times at the detriment of him really being always over the back. Good job all the same on this new to the ranks gelding by Regardez Moi. Wacca W doing some great work and the piaffe getting better but still not good enough to get the marks and then there are the in and out transition marks as well here to be incorporated.
There were some great pony tests and quite good fields here and the para tests getting under way with the best marking test here to Hannah Dodd and Grand Sam in the team test grade IV with a win on 69.28%
Great classes and many many good horses ….well if you go by the score ….only a few fairly good (7) horses :) and most only being satisfactory (6)!! :) Perhaps the marks could have been more forthcoming but it will happen riders just have to keep putting good tests under the judges noses until the give good marks (8) !!
Please Click Here to view the photos from Day 1
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