Marcela Adkins and Sharallen Charisma.

Words and photos by Geoff McLean/Gone Riding Media

The heat is on, and summer has hit Far North Queensland! The 8-9 September was the annual Atherton Tablelands District Dressage and Equestrian Associations dressage championships.

Competitors from as far south as Mackay and as far north to Cooktown started arriving at Kirribee Park, Mareeba — home of the famous Mareeba Rodeo — Friday afternoon for a 7:30am start Saturday morning. After a chilly Friday night, we all awoke to a crisp, beautiful Tablelands dawn and being Mareeba, hot air balloons overhead.

Amanda Hayes and Wendepuunkt.

The first ride in the cool of the morning was Marcela Adkins and Sharallen Charisma, a stunning grey with elegant movement in the Prix St Georges. Sharallen Charisma is by BJ Kaneto Casanova and owned by Bobbie Physic. Together they set the standard for the rest of the day. Temperatures quickly rose into the low thirties; by the end of the day, over one hundred rides had been completed.

Standout rides for the day were Paige Gibson and Tamlyn Farm Casanova by Congarinni Haliuquin (Welsh B), an elegant pony bred by Andrea Taylor (Tamlyn Farm, Victoria ) and Michelle Duncan.

Paige Gibson and Tamlyn Park Casanova.

Darcy Flanagan on both her mounts — Benjaylin Flirtatious (aka Molly) and Mithril Surad (aka Radar). Radar is typical of the quality Welsh ponies bred by Chris Milvain. He’s nicely put together with a great engine and a workman-like attitude to the job.

Darcy Flanagan and Mithril Surad.

It was then early to bed for most, knowing Sunday was going to be another big day kicking off early to avoid the heat and give everybody the opportunity to get on the road for the long trip home before it was too late.

Sunday we woke to a fog which quickly burnt off as temperatures climbed rapidly. Again it was Marcela Adkins and Sharallen Charisma who led the way in the Intermediate I. With the exception of the Freestyle and FEI classes, Sunday was round two for all other classes.

Marcela Adkins and Sharallen Charisma.

Mandy Hayes and both her mounts — Wendepuunkt and Sandros Lilly — in the Elementary picked up from where they left off on Saturday to secure Elementary Champion and Reserve champion.

Margot Warnett ATDDEA club president, even with all of her work running the event, consolidated her overnight positions to take out the official Preliminary championship on Don Gold, and the official Medium and Advanced championships on Dreamtime Idana.

Margot Warnett and Dream Time Idana.

Darcy Flanagan continued her good form on both her mounts to secure Pony Preliminary and Pony Novice championships. However, Darcy did have a down moment in her Elementary test on Benjaylin Flirtatious when she got her tongue over the bit early on, and Darcy to her credit chose to retire for the welfare of her horse. It has been a big year for Darcy; her next competition is to take Benjaylin Flirtatious to QSEC for the QLD Youth Championships, before heading south to the Australian Interschool Championships at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre in early October. 

Good luck Darcy!

ATDDEA Champios and Reserve Champions 2018.

READ THE LATEST NEWS ARTICLES HERE