EQUITANA NEW ZEALAND – OPEN HARRISON LANE JUMPING GRAND PRIX & ATEED DRESSAGE FREESTYLE
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Friday night’s New Zealand Open Finals is the best of the best from Australian and New Zealand in jumping and freestyle to music dressage – with an open crown up for each.
It’s an elite list of combinations taking part in the Harrison Lane Jumping Grand Prix, including three-time Australian Senior Showjumping Champ Jamie Kermond and his compatriot Jess Brown who was shortlisted for the 2016 Rio Olympics. They will take on some of New Zealand’s finest in Olympians Maurice Beatson, Katie Laurie and Clarke Johnstone, the current holder of the Olympic Cup Lily Tootill and a raft of others.
They’ll be challenged by Lex Peddie’s 1.5m course, set in a smaller arena with slightly narrower jumps. This makes for edge of your seat competition that will come right down to the wire.
As well as individual honours, there is the trans-Tasman crown to be decided, with the four team members the last to go in the draw.
The ATEED Dressage Freestyle to Music will see former Australian National Dressage Champions Rozzie Ryan and Brett Parbery go head-to-head with New Zealand Rio Olympian Julie Brougham, New Zealand’s first-ever FEI World Cup dressage finalist Wendi Williamson, current Dressage Horse of the Year title holder Abbie Deken and current New Zealand National Dressage Champion John Thompson, amongst others.
It’s always captivating to watch, and this line-up includes some true stars of the freestyle world.
Again, there will be that trans-Tasman rivalry between the Australian and the New Zealand riders to spice up the competition. The home crowd will have to be right behind both jumpers and dressage riders to ensure the victories!
Check out Rozzie and Brett last time they competed at EQUITANA in Melbourne 2016 in the video below!
