Diamond Star and owner Vicki Newham.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

 

By Roger Fitzhardinge

Once again it’s that time of the year when all focus is to the two competitions within ten days at Willinga Park, Bawley Point. Dressage by the Sea is now one of the places to go. The property developed by Terry Snow is nothing short of spectacular in so many ways. The arenas and the horse facilities are second to none and every time you attend the venue it simply becomes better and better…. and that’s without any word of a lie!

The conference centre is now complete and the restaurant exceptional and the food to match. The stables are better than ever and the heated pool and amenities incredible. The camping facilities and the new accommodation units are opulent. What more can you want than the staff to be falling over backwards to accommodate and help. It’s quite something else! Terry Snow is always around to be in the mix and so accommodating and open to suggestions to what would make the property better and more rider-friendly. The surfaces are the best and there is no stone left unturned.

Judge Eddy de Wolff van Westerrode.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Away from the hum drum of dressage, it’s worth a few hours to wander through the landscaped gardens and water ways. The sculpture park is one of a kind and the diversity and quirkiness exceptional. It’s like the ultimate dressage experience and competition, yet a holiday of five star quality to boot!

Of course with the Olympics just around the corner, what better place than the CDI at Willinga to have the best crack at a great performance. The Grand Prix CDI is on today (Saturday) and a hotly contested class that will be with no doubt.

Mary Hanna will be attempting to impress the selectors with two horses, one of which is Syriana; beautiful expressive and talented, but still a little green. It will be quite some class with Rozzie Ryan and Jarrah R in for a big chance and out to prove their consistency.

Mary Hanna and Syriana in the trot up for the Grand Prix CDI.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

There are young horse classes on as well as CDI CDI-Y and a CDI-U25. The Small Tour will be a hotly contested class and there are plenty of stars here, especially with Jayden Brown now riding for Willinga. It will be great to see the Willinga team in full flight with this talented and driven rider, who has only been a few weeks at Willinga, stepping in to the shoes of Brett Parbery.

The four New Zealand riders who are here will be out to shine, and a friendly NZ versus Australia competition will be far from friendly in the arena… At least the Aussies won the jumping yesterday at Takapoto!

The weather here is perfect riding weather and despite the natural disaster with the fires, Willinga and Bawley were spared mainly due to the diligence and preventative fire measures Terry Snow implemented around this amazing property.

Shania Madden and BC Romanov are competing in the CDI-Y.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

The arena surfaces are great and the riders are all in a positive yet relaxed mode. That’s what Willinga does best… it puts you at ease and makes the riding make you feel very, very
special and the horses rise to the occasion. Who wouldn’t!!

This is a venue of exceptional quality, as are all the staff and volunteers who adore the facility and are so proud to be a part of it and show people around and generally be friendly and so helpful.

Get ready for the best two weeks of dressage!!!

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