Willinga Park Dressage by the Sea CDI4*: Day Six

Rozzie Ryan and Jarrah R, winners of the second Grand Prix CDI4*.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

By Roger Fitzhardinge

Grand Prix CDI4*

The Grand Prix was held indoors and an interesting class indeed. This competition was won by Jarrah R and Rozzie Ryan, and as always a seamless test with good marks in the piaffe and passage tours for a score of 68.652% to nudge out Rio Olympians Sue Hear and Remmington who scored 68.609%. The French judge here being the odd one out, with a fifth place compared to winning with two others and having them on the same score as Jude, Sue’s other entrant.

In third place was Sheridyn Ashwood and Ferrero Chocolate Box on 66.957% and what a good test, full of energy with more cadence and uphill tendency than we have seen in the past. With a little less tension and more suppleness, the marks will again improve as this will make it all look more harmonious.

Next was Mary Warren and MP Raphael who was not as free and swinging as we had seen last week, but still a positive 66.935% a mere 0.02% off third. Next came AEA Metallic and Dirk Dijkstra on 66.696%, followed by Sancette on 65.761%. CP Dresden and Alycia Targa were in seventh place, but were certainly left wondering as the French judge — who marked then well down last week — actually had them in first place today on 69.2%, while the Dutch judge who liked them last week didn’t this week, and had them stone motherless last! Go figure, and it’s not as if Dresden is erratic, as he always hands in a very similar test and is always confident and he is what he is every test!

The percentages were very close indeed and a great competitive class. All credit to Rozzie and Jarrah, who are always the consistent performers. It’s just a shame that the riders here are left wondering what and who to believe, as the marks and rankings seem to lack consistency with some of the international judges and jump all over the place — but still, that’s the sport and that is what happens. The panel of five judges all even themselves out over the five scores, and what would we discuss if every mark was boringly the same? Chat and discussion is a way forward and a great learning curve for sure. It will be interesting to watch the Freestyle marks and the Special. It was interesting to note that the judges used the video footage in the evening to sit and discuss their marks, and a very positive way to view the competition and realise what each judge noted and paid attention to, with the differing styles of horses and the way they went.

Remmington and Sue Hearn were second in the GP CDI4*.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Inter I

The second day of the second competition at Willinga Park saw an amazing win for Jayden Brown in the Intermediate I with the beautiful black gelding DaVinci L. This was the horse’s 9th straight win in Small Tour and none under 70%. The score today was 74.735%.

In second place today was yet again the stallion Sky Diamond for Brett Parbery, and again a few mistakes that were costly and to catch Jayden isn’t easy, even without making mistakes!!! Still a very respectable score with some real highlights in the trot. A score of 69.441%.

In third was Sheridyn Ashwood riding Ashwoods Chocolate Fondue on a score of 67.118%, with Danielle Keogh next on 66.766%. It was a great class and the one to watch was David McKinnon and Woodside Lady Loxley, but the chestnut mare managed to get her tongue when it shouldn’t be and David choosing to retire. Trust these issues to arise when they have never occurred before, and probably will never again… horses will be horses!!!! She is a very promising prospect.

Advanced

In the Advanced 5C it was the young horse and the in-form Mary Warren who stole the show, and a win to them in their first Advanced test with a cracking score of 71.714% to be ahead of Michelle Baker and Bradgate Park Amadeus who made a few costly unfortunate mistakes in this new test, that is interesting and challenging for this level. Clever riding by Michelle certainly also saved a few marks; that is where the experienced riders get an edge… it’s the attention to detail that gains the marks and knowing where the marks lay to make sure corrections fix up preparations for the next mark. In this test there is counter canter half 10-meter circles and a mark for a flying change, and despite Michelle making a mistake in the counter canter she retrieved the lead and made the mark for the flying change.

In third was Elloise Devlin and Brimstone Florente. A good test and Elloise gaining great experience from each and every test she is riding in, and so professional.

Mary Warren and Mindarah Park Ramirus were today’s Advanced winners.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

CDI-U25 Inter II

In the Under 25 CDI it was a win for the impressive imported gelding, Hedelunds Mefisto for Jemma Heran, and what a great test and smart horse for a 68.431%.

A very close second place to Sarah Farraway and Arawn, a horse previously campaigned in New Zealand with Vanessa Way. Sarah is some rider, and what a great test and percentage of 67.108%. It was interesting to see that the spectator scores had theses two horses on the same score to be equal first. The scoring systems at this show have been amazing, as is the paperless scoring where everyone can see everyone’s marks and placings and for every movement! The tests are emailed to the riders as soon as the tests are posted, so the riders see there sheet within a few minutes of the test ending.

Rosanna Relton and Four Winds Bombardier were third on 63.873%, with Claire Plenty fourth on 63.333% with the NSW horse called Queensland!

Inter B

The Inter B was a good class and won by Breanna Tillitzki on Fursten Hit with a score of 64.792%, and in second was Amerigo and myself on 63.083%, followed by Virginia Russell and Desert Star on 62.625%.

CDI-J

The CDI-J saw Jazi French for a first and second – winning on Florinzz with 65.606%, a horse that was bought by her mother Nancy who represented Australia at the WEG in Rome. Jazi is following here in her footsteps! She was second on Noblis Juelles on 65.455% and what a great ride she had on both horses. Quite an achievement! In third was Rosie Cooke and KH Arion, and fourth was Grand Sam and William David.

CDI-Y

Another great class, and full of competition was the CDI-Y where eight horses fronted the panel of judges and what a great win to Aristede and Lindsey Ware. This was the horse that was here last year winning the big Grand Prix class with Shannan Goodwin and actually was on paper a horse that perhaps could have been a WEG rep. The horse has now been sold, and lucky Lindsey gets the opportunity of a lifetime — and she has seized it with both hands, seat and leg! A score of 70.245% saw them win from Sienna Hawkins and Tallyho Something Saintly, with the American judge having them in first place. On a 66.716% was Sophie Artup and Deltry Sorrento in third and then Claire Plenty and Adloo Richard fouth with a 66.667%. Claire is doing well with this horse that was previously campaigned by Matthew Dowsley at Grand Prix.

Fifth went to Sarah Farraway and MW Rotsong, and a great forward test with plenty of energy and well put together by the talented Sarah. In sixth place the ever-jovial yet serious Tanisha Ryan and Quizzical. What a fabulous class and such centered, confident and competent riding by all the top six riders. Charlotte Waterman not having the best rides on her two beautifully expressive horses, who were a little out of sorts in the indoor today and taking over a little from Charlotte, who still sat beautifully despite not always feeling in control to be seventh and eighth.

Medium

The winner of the 4C test was Elloise Devlin and Brimstone Florente on a score of 69.936%. They managed to keep Robbie McKinnon and Silmarillion E, who have been so dominate in all their tests here at Willinga Park; today they scored 69.551%. Third place went to Niki Rose and Dudansa on 68.782%.

Paralympian Emma Booth and Zidane did an outstanding job to finish sixth in a strong field of 18 with a score of 67.244%!!

The 4C AOR went to Megan McEachern and GV Ryans Rave on 65.128%.

Grand Prix CDN

The Grand Prix CDN saw another win for Susan Elekessy and Don Rubin, and a score of 64.065%. The French judge again extremely low, and 58.5% and from him and the same test gaining a 66.3% and 67.3% for Don Rubin!! In second place was Alison Gill on the grey pony Bamborough Epic with 62.261%, and another pony Rosthwaite Tinkerbell for Pamela Bice on 62.130% third. In fourth on 62.043% was Paula Price and on True Sensation. What a close competition and the scores looking better than the first show, so you learn and get the chance to ride a few days later and take notice of the comments and try to improve, and so this is seen here.

Two shows in a short time are a serious benefit, as the scores and riders get better and more at ease with the competition arena and pressures.

What a day and what an amazing facility. Everyone still has to pinch themselves as they leave to a heated pool to head to happy hour to receive their accolades. Good sponsorship and great prize money is on offer at the CDI4* competition, the first of its class in Australia.

A feather in the Terry Snow and Willinga Park cap, and more feathers to come I have a feeling!!!