Suzanne Betts (right) receiving her Equestrian Australia Official of the Year trophy and flowers.

© John Fisher.

By Mim Coleman

Hosted by the Launceston Country Club Casino, the evening promised to be one of glamour and ceremony. The dressage community of Tasmania gathered for their night of nights. Jodhpurs, stocks, jackets and stiff competition boots were left at home and the lonely ball gowns at the back of the wardrobe were dusted off and brought to life. Wash-bays, plaiting thread and needles, colour shampoo and tail conditioner were nowhere in sight. Tonight it was about mascara, nail polish, stilettos, hair straighteners and the perfect smoky eye.

At A enter in collected canter. At X halt salute. 

The first movement of the FEI Grand Prix commenced proceedings and welcomed all of the glittering guests of the 2016 Dressage Tasmania Gala Ball.

It was a night of celebration, stories of inspiration, recognition and reward. There were lucky door prizes, silent auction items and a raffle with the first prize being 2 GOLD tickets to the Carl Hester Masterclass. Like so many sporting events, the ability to offer such amazing opportunities doesn’t happen without the generosity of sponsors. So please support the sponsors that support our sport and its riders.

The ballroom looked amazing.

© Amy Griffiths

Roger Fitzhardinge was the guest of honour and spoke beautifully about his life with horses. Roger captivated the room with his experiences, such as turning his back on an international sailing career to ride horses at the local riding school. Harking from Western Australia we heard about the multiple trips across our wide country to compete in Sydney. Not once or twice; in one year Roger did 6 return trips to compete his beloved horses. He shared with us how his string of successful horses were not expensive warmbloods but often wayward Thoroughbreds off the track who flourished under Roger’s care and guidance. His horse “Bromont” was short listed for the Moscow Olympics and “Berkerley Castle” represented Australia at the Athens Paralympics. Not to mention carrying the beautiful Nicole Kidman in the movie “Australia”. Roger’s connection to Tasmania started over 30 years ago and continues to this day as he rides the beautiful Amerigo, bred in Tasmania. Not to mention his regular clinics at Kingston Agistment. Roger distilled his epic and colourful journey with horses in the simple message that anything is possible if you just put your mind to it. It was an honour to listen to Roger speak so openly, honestly and from the heart about his personal life.

Roger Fitzhardinge and Jackie Kearney receiving her HOTY award.

© John Fischer

An awards night is nothing without the awards!

At the recent Equestrian Australia Awards night our very own Suzanne Betts won the National Official of the Year Award. Unfortunately, Suzanne was unable to attend the event in Melbourne and so tonight Suzanne was united with her beautiful award in front of her peers for who she works tirelessly in this critical stream of our sport. Congratulations Suzanne.

Whilst the only horses in the room were made from balloons, everyone was connected by their love of dressage and the magnificence of the horse. Tonight we recognise the special connection between horse and rider and the success they enjoy from their trust, friendship and respect for each other.

The TASMANIA HOTY AWARDS GO TO:

Preliminary        

Champion : Nosswick Valkyrie and Freyr Colvin

Reserve : Bloomfield Furst Pik and Montanna Broomhall

Pony Preliminary    

Champion : Phoenix Park Rebel and Jordan Gale

Reserve : Billyonaire and Jenna Hampton

Novice   

Champion : Malteaser R and Lydia Jackson

Reserve : Ballare and Jess Van der Vlist

Lydia Jackson and Novice HOTY Malteaser R

© Caitlin Radford

Pony Novice        

Champion : Sheldene Benallen and Leanne Moore

Reserve : Blue’s Point Christmas Mint and Sarah Beltz

Elementary       

Champion : Neversfelde Romany and Belinda Snooks

Reserve : Valleyview Reuben James

Belinda Snooks and Elementary Horse of the Year Neversfelde Romany.

© Trish Stagg

Pony Elementary     

Champion : Sanlirra Camelot and Jackie Kearney

Reserve : Sheldene Benallen and Leanne Moore

Medium        

Champion : Southern Lights and Kerrie Swan Bates

Pony Medium     

Champion : Boy and Caitlin Radford

Advanced        

Champion : Voltaire and Philippa Cassidy

Reserve : Just Victory and Alison Watson

Philippa Cassidy and Voltaire, Tasmanian Advanced HOTY.

© Jess Van der Vlist

FEI Small Tour        

Champion : Sir Archiebald and Meegan Daun

FEI Medium Tour    

Champion : Splendido and Lydia Jackson

Reserve : Sunbury Lodge Toronto and Miriam Coleman

Lydia Jackson and FEI Medium Tour Horse of the Year, Splendido.

© Caitlin Radford

Tasmania boasts three very active zones, and the North and North West awarded their Zone HOTY awards. The proud recipients were:

North Zone HOTY:

Preparatory    

Champion : Real Play Boy and Jenny Brocklehurst

Reserve : Thaedon Souchong and Jennifer Whawell

Preliminary   

Champion : Skase and Claire Goulston

Reserve : Merlin and Alana Fazackarley

Novice    

Champion : Falakess and Jayne Blyth

Reserve : Just Felix and Samantha McCarthy

Elementary 

Champion : Valleyview Rueben James and Kristen Pitt

Advanced   

Champion : Voltaire and Philippa Cassidy

Reserve : Nerrina Letita and Toni Furlonge


North West Zone HOTY

Preliminary    

Champion : Navarra Kallari and Carolyn Fisher

Novice       

Champion : Furstin Fine Design and Carla Townsend

Carla Townsend and the beautiful Furstin Fine Design, NW Zone Novice HOTY.

Elementary    

Champion : Sanlirra Camalot and Jackie Kearney


MC for the night Mim Coleman asked the room to reflect on the following:

Whatever your dream, whatever your goal, whatever your aspiration be sure that it is yours.

Not someone else’s.

You will know when it is yours because you will feel it, know it and believe it.

If I was to choose only one word that best describes what you need to be your own dream come true it won’t be TALENT, it won’t be MONEY, it won’t be TIME.

It is COMMITMENT.

Whatever you choose to do you must be 100% committed. The belief, determination, bravery, hard work, highs and lows will reflect your level of commitment.

I know that one day Tasmania will have an equestrian at the Olympics.

Because we all have what it takes: COMMITMENT.

The 2016 Dressage Tasmania Gala Ball would like to sincerely thank the sponsors who helped make the night a huge success:

Ninth Island Wines
Thinline Australia
Peter Williams Riding Apparel
Wings chaff
Tanja Mitton
Hamag
Sandbeck Saddle Savers
Belinda’s Natural Animal Therapies
Filly and Co Horse Gifts
Urban Horswear
Bit Bank Australia
Makers Mark Equine
Stacey Alexander Equestrian Style
Hufglocken
Horse Books.com.au
Equine Tales Horsehair Jewellery
Lydia Jackson – Kingston Agistment Centre
JC’s socks
The Complete Equine Diary
Donovan Park – Jo Pickett
Prancing Horse Wreaths
Dressage Mastery Academy – Natasha Althoff

Congratulation to Teresa Darcy and her team for pulling together a mega event and Jackie Merchant for her creative flair that added style to the night. Well done!

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