Mary Hanna and ever talented Syrianna © Stephen Mowbray

By Dana Krause

The covered arena competitions were highlighted by a huge win in the major class, the Cox Architecture Grand Prix Freestyle, another win for Syriana and the five time Olympian, Mary Hanna. Almost an identical score to her first freestyle with this mare last week, a whopping 78.320%. The inspiring music Mary compliments to Lyndal Oatley for helping with, especially the canter work. In 2nd place, JHT Chemistry for New Zealand Olympic qualified rider John Thompson, 74.520%. His music very different, almost haunting with a very serious background beat. This powerful black stallion at the age of 9 showing great enthusiasm for the sport. In 3rd an inspiring and musically exquisite for Jarrah R ridden by Rozzie Ryan. As always you could hear a pin drop during her test and of course every crescendo and phrase fitting perfectly into her choreography of complicated movements including double pirouettes and super cadenced piaffe and passage.

The Small Tour Olympics here at Willinga Park saw an amazing win to Total Recall and Jemma Heran. This beautiful gelding is by Totilas out of Isabelle Werth’s famous Weihegolds mother and was ridden in Germany by Matthias Rath before being imported into Australia by Jemma. One of his first Intermediate I’s and winning with a score of over 70%. Truly wonderful uphill flying changes full of expression and trot work elastic and cadenced. Above all the harmony between this beautiful horse and rider is truly obvious. In 2nd place was the Sir Donnerhall mare Penny Hill Park Sophie breathing down the neck of the winner for Caroline Wagner. Another truly sublime, harmonious performance in the Lewis Trucking Intermediate I. You could have thrown the top 10 horses names in the air and each time they landed you could have had a different winner. The quality of the riding and the presentations of the tests in this class was truly outstanding. What rider wouldn’t ride to their highest performance in the amazing facilities offered by Terry and Ginette Snow at the internationally famous Willinga Park.

Matilda Bills and 'High Heelz Firfod' place second with a score of 70.49% © Stephen Mowbray

In the young rider classes, what more can you say other than that Jessica Dertell blitzed every class that she was in! Jessica won the River Oak Equestrian Junior Individual test, the Lindon Farm Young Rider Individual test and the Bay Coast Roofing Under 25 Grand Prix test with three absolutely outstanding performances. At the age of 16 she is truly one for the future in the sport for Australia!

Jessica Dertell and 'Gladstone M.H.' win the class with a score of 71.667% ©Stephen Mowbray

There were many young horse first round classes today and again the outstanding performer being WillingaPark Quincy B in the 7 year old class, winning by 12% with a score of 82%. This chestnut horse, winner of the Lewis Trucking Prix St George yesterday in its first ever start is truly international and has heads turning. It was great to see so many ponies in the young horse classes. The quality, expression, training and riding of these young horses is really positive for the future of this sport.
One more days competition left here at the beautiful Willinga Park and everyone is starting to walk around feeling sad at the end of a wonderful 10 days, not only for the competition but for the friendliness for all who work at Willinga Park and of course the amazing arena surfaces supplied for everyone’s benefit (not to mention the heated pool for everyone’s use and use it has had). A very exciting day, it is a shame everyone can’t be here!

 You can find out more about the event, including draws, here.

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