Matthew Dowsley and TS Firestorm won their Grand Prix debut at Bowral. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
Bowral Dressage Club’s December competition showcased venue upgrades alongside strong performances and rising talent, highlighted by Matthew Dowsley and TS Firestorm’s impressive Grand Prix debut.
On Sunday 7 December, Bowral Dressage Club held its latest competition. With classes from Preparatory to Grand Prix, horses and riders of all levels were afforded the opportunity to compete on good surfaces at this constantly evolving venue.
Flanked by strong support, top-level horses, excellent facilities and competitive riders — and within close proximity to major training stables — it could be said that Bowral Dressage Club is on the road to becoming the epicentre of dressage in New South Wales.
Read more about Bowral Dressage Club: TAKE A BOW, BOWRAL – Equestrian Life, May 2025
A new clubhouse has been built at Bowral Dressage Club within the last 12 months. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
NEW CLUBHOUSE, TOP SURFACES
The club’s December competition marked the fulfilment of a $1 million grant secured under the leadership of club president Fiona David. In a remarkable achievement, the grant was obtained and a new clubhouse built within the last 12 months. While a few minor details remain to be completed, the clubhouse was opened for use at the December event.
The space already creates a feeling of friendliness, openness, and shared purpose. With high ceilings and wide glass doors that draw in the view of the dressage arenas, the competition and the beautiful Bong Bong Racecourse surrounds, it offers a genuine hub for communal equestrian enjoyment, with a wide, covered veranda to sit and soak up the action.
Improved facilities are now being delivered by riders who also donate their time to the committee, and the benefits are immediate and practical. The warm-up arena is huge, spacious, and features a beautiful synthetic surface, with Arena 1 and 2 established and Arenas 3, 4 and 5 to follow with resurfacing.
The most obvious thing about the improvements is that they have been built from the grassroots up. The committee listens to what the riders want. Every top dressage rider will travel miles to have good surfaces to ride on; that’s number one. The rest are add-ons that help create the ambience — and that is what Bowral is doing. All riders commented on the international quality of the surfaces and their upkeep.
Cheryl Smith with Matthew Dowsley and TS Firestorm, who were impressive Grand Prix winners. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
“This combination’s accuracy
and composure reflect a deep
commitment to basics…”
IMPRESSIVE GRAND PRIX DEBUT
Matthew Dowsley and TS Firestorm, owned by Cheryl Smith, enjoyed a winning Grand Prix debut at Bowral, producing a test with no mistakes — an impressive statement for any horse, let alone one so new to the level. With only a couple of Inter II starts to date, this combination’s accuracy and composure reflect a deep commitment to basics, consistency and correct strength-building.
At 11 years old, ‘Gino’ remains on an upward curve; given his size (18 hands) and the time it took for him to grow into himself, he arguably presents more like a horse still early in his true Grand Prix development.
The extended paces were a highlight, as were the straightness, balanced corners, and careful preparation into each movement — hallmarks of the discipline instilled by Matthew. A score of 71.305% for a first Grand Prix is a significant achievement and, more importantly, a reflection of a partnership built on trust. One judge, who has judged internationally, awarded them 75%.
Riley Alexander and the black mare New Star LP, owned by Christan Trainor of Glenhill Sporthorses, were second in the Grand Prix on 69.566%. Another young and inexperienced horse at the level, but what a showing indeed.
Riley Alexander and New Star LP were second in the Grand Prix. Image by Simon Scully.
Thrilled with Gino’s performance, Matthew Dowsley says: “You could ride him over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and he wouldn’t blink. No competition is likely to rattle him.”
The joy for spectators was shared: a happy owner, a healthy horse, and a rider visibly thrilled by the horse’s generosity and dependability. As Matthew puts it, it isn’t about winning — it’s about training, reliability, and the genuine feeling of control and harmony between horse and rider.
“I can’t stop grinning,” he says, and it’s easy to understand why.
Expressions of interest are now being sought for TS Firestorm; what an opportunity to purchase a talented, up-and-coming Grand Prix horse.
PRIX ST GEORGES WINNER
Matthew’s other headline ride was the De Niro mare Bradgate Park Delaney, bred by Sharon and John Potter out of a Ferro x Weltmeyer mother. Tall, jet black and powerfully conformed and proportioned — but perhaps a little plain in type — Delaney is nonetheless a workhorse in the best sense: trainable, committed, and increasingly polished under pressure.
Remarkably, Bowral was only her fifth competition. Eighteen months ago, Delaney was training at Novice/Elementary level; now she has scored 70% to win her first FEI Prix St Georges test. (Medium and Advanced starts at four previous shows resulted in scores over 70% and as high as 76%.)
Matthew Dowsley and Bradgate Park Delaney won the Prix St Georges. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
At Bowral the mare delivered a clean, mistake-free test with highlights in submission, honesty, self-carriage and transitions. Some tension crept in, and she was a little tight in the tempi changes — understandable given her limited experience. She gave every change her best forward shot (less is more!) with no mistakes, just not quite relaxing into her confidence yet.
Asked about her potential, Matthew’s response is classic Dowsley practicality:
“How do you know until you find out? On the ground she may be strong-willed,” he says, “but under saddle she is an endless stream of energy and enthusiasm — a mare who tries her heart out and never quits.
“Her talent for piaffe is quite something; she amazes me with her trainability and it’s about telling her less is more sometimes, but how good is that though, especially at this time in my career.
“I have to thank Sharon and John Potter for breeding such a fabulous mare and offering her to me, as they believed she would suit me, and they were so right!”
When you look at the talent in the Prix St Georges, there was no lack of depth, with John Thompson of Mulawa Performance no shrinking violet aboard Sicario, earning 68.015% for second place — a super young combination also new at the level.
John Thompson and Zaire MI won the Elementary 3.1 on 71.286%. Image by Kate Farrell-Thompson.
John also won with Zaire MI in the Elementary 3.1 on 71.286%, and then Greg Smith (also from Mulawa Performance) rode London MI to a win in the 3.2 with 68.625%. The Mulawa team brought three trailer loads to the competition from Berrilee, a 3.5-hour drive, to access good competition and great surfaces.
Greg Smith and London MI won the Elementary 3.2 with 68.625%. Image by Kate Farrell-Thompson.
EMILLIO SHINES IN THE MEDIUM
Another standout was the beautifully conformed imported black gelding Emillio, by Escamillo from a De Niro mother. John Potter bought him as a four-year-old online in the early hours of the morning while Sharon was sound asleep. He admits it was a little whimsical, but he was simply in the mood not to be outbid!
Emillio is now with Rodney Martin — and what a horse he is. With only around five shows at Young Horse, Novice and Elementary, they stepped up for their first Medium starts at Bowral, delivering two wins on 71.875% and 70.473%.
Rodney and Emillio were closely pushed in these tests by John Thompson and Souvenir 38 (67.500% and 68.919%). What a class and what quality.
Asked about his tests, Rodney admits he could not have been more delighted. “Emillio was a little interesting at his first few competitions, but I have to say that we have really grown as a pair now. I felt at ease in the tests, and he was really with me throughout the entire day.
Rodney Martin and Emillio. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
“He is beautiful, and I love to ride him every day. He is gorgeous and I am so impressed with the improvement we have gained in the last few months. I was really able to think about the finer points of riding the tests here at Bowral and my confidence is growing with my feeling with every ride. The way he responds and improves is so impressive and there is a lot more to come… but we are in no hurry.”
By the end of the day, Rodney and Matthew had amassed four tests for four wins — all over 70%!
TEAM EFFORT
Locals Robbie and Dave McKinnon were not competing this time, but chose to help with running the competition and dedicated time to several of their students, who were successful. The list of top riders goes on!
Bowral Dressage Club is a super venue and the positivity among riders, trainers, and the hardworking committee makes all the difference — not to mention the confidence and improvement seen across horses, riders and percentages thanks to good surfaces.
Look out for Bowral competitions and the rising talents in the area, not to mention the new clubhouse and friendly committee, who all exude passion!
Full results from Bowral Dressage Club’s December competition can be found here. EQ
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