It was none other than six-time Olympian Mary Hanna who claimed the win today in the CDI-W Grand Prix, scoring 71.370% with her Australian Grand Prix Champion Ivanhoe (Desperado x Jazz).
Second place went to David McKinnon riding Viv Lipshut’s gelding Estupendo (Ziësto x Scandic), with the pair scoring 68.891%. Robbie McKinnon placed third aboard Alinta Veenvliet’s mare D’Esperanza (Desperados x Sandro Hit) on a score of 65.370%.
Rozzie Ryan and Bronze Boy R (Byalee Brair) – Heath Ryan’s former four-star eventer – placed fourth on 65.261%, while Caroline Wagner rounded out the top five with Ibicus (Apache x Mondriaan) on 64.239%.
CDI-Y Young Rider Team Test
Earlier in the day, the up-and-coming stars of the sport were in action for the CDI-Y Young Rider Team Test. Jessica Dertell and KWPN stallion Kilimanjaro (Bordeaux) won the class with a score of 67.559%, ahead of Maddison Vallender and Rubinell (Blue Hors Romanov) on 67.029%, and then Tia Rose McKenzie placed third riding Franzisco RW (Franziskus) on 65.029%.
The dressage action continues tomorrow at EQUITANA Melbourne, with the Freestyle classes for both the Young Riders and the Grand Prix. Full results and draws can be found here.
