Saturday saw the beginning of the Freestyle competitions, with the Small Tour, Advanced and Para Equestrian combinations all getting the chance to dance. It was also the Grand Prix Special for the Big Tour horses, the second test for Medium Tour, and the Grand Prix for the Under 25 riders. In addition, up-and-coming stars of the future were on show in the Elementary and Young Horse classes.
Another win for Mary Hanna in the Big Tour
Following on from Friday’s victory in the Grand Prix, Mary Hanna and 11-year-old KWPN gelding Ivanhoe I (by Desperados out of Pirouette ID by Jazz) secured first place in the FEI Grand Prix Special today with an impressive average score of 70.766%.
“The Special saw a good percentage and win to Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe,” says Roger. “Again, a great highlight was the passage, and a very harmonious test. This horse seems to be developing better and better engagement and swing, and is learning to better carry the weight behind.”
Alison Gill followed in second place aboard Wendy Lorincz’s 19-year-old pony Hilkens Denali (by Dreamcatcher out of Shamila, by Black Boy), finishing with a score of 67.830%.
“It was a truly splendid performance by Alison and Denali in second, with highlights in the piaffe, the tempi changes, and the pirouettes,” observes Roger. “If this horse was 16.2 hands, I’m sure he’d be scoring in the 70s! It’s difficult with ponies, as they must take twice as many steps in the extended trot to get across the diagonal or in half pass. Hard work! All the same, there was not a mistake to be seen throughout the entire test.”
Jodie Dunstan rounded out the top three riding 14-year-old Hollands Bend Highlander (by His Highness 2 out of Hirtenqueen, by Sunny-Boy), achieving a score of 65.383%.
“In third place, climbing the ladder and looking towards developing the potential this horse has always shown, was Jodie Dunstan and Highlander. Again, fabulous highlights in the piaffe and passage tour, showing a great ability to collect and carry the weight.”
Medium Tour showcases future GP stars
Today was the Intermediate B test for the Medium Tour horses, and it was Emma Flavelle-Watts and her horse Scarlatti Mio VSR (by San Amour out of World Lady O, by World Diamond O) who topped the competition with a score of 69.405%.
“Again, this class showed great promise, potential, and good riding. The horses in here are very close now to Grand Prix,” says Roger. “The winner today showed a fluent and effortless test. This horse did not really start his career until he was six years old. He shows great elasticity and fluency in all the paces, with fabulous flying changes today. A very well-deserved percentage, and a horse that we truly look forward to seeing in Grand Prix.”
Yesterday’s Inter A winner Victoria Luxford followed in second place aboard Revelwood Animation (by Ampere out of Richmeed Lara, by Lanthan), finishing with a score of 67.865%, and Megan Keir rounded out the top three riding Animation’s half-sister, Revelwood Queens County (by Quando-Quando out of Richmeed Lara, by Lanthan). This combination scored 65.973%.
“Another great test for Tori and Animation, this active and very expressive mare by Ampere. She has always shown huge potential, but with a fiery attitude. They seem to have developed a great rapport and harmony now, and the ease of this mare is looking great.
“A very young horse at this level, third-placed Queens County is another Revelwood horse; the late Amanda Shoobridge would have been very proud to have been able to see these two horses reaching this level with ease. Queens County was actually started by Amanda. Megan has had this horse since she was at Medium level and was very successful with her at Small Tour. Piaffe and passage is yet to really establish the strengthen the carrying needed for the expression, but it will come and there is no question this combination will shortly be hitting the Grand Prix ranks.”
It was a close race for the Medium Tour Championship, with Victoria and Revelwood Animation named the Champions just ahead of Emma and Scarlatti Mio VSR.
“The scores were very well deserved at this level. This class is intended as a bridge between Small Tour and Big Tour, and it has certainly gain popularity. It is a great introduction to Grand Prix,” concludes Roger.
Small Tour horses shine in the Inter I Freestyle
Robbie McKinnon and SPH Fortino secured first place with an impressive score of 77.695%.
“Robbie won in fine style, with fabulous Freestyle music from Elvis Presley. Fortino showed really good positivity in all the paces, with great flying changes. Of course, the highlight is the harmony between this horse and rider,” says Roger of the winning combination.
Susan Elekessy and Callum Park Damascus were second on 74.635%, and then Romany Sanna and SPH Renaissance were third on 74.010%.
“In second was Susan with Damascus, a beautiful chestnut gelding with plenty of bling by De Niro, out of a mare who has produced many Grand Prix horses, including CP Dresden. This big scopey horse has got plenty of fuel in the tank and has been brought along slowly. He shows great expression and really fills the eye when he enters the arena,” says Roger.
“SPH Renaissance is a horse bred by Andrea Beatty and has been well campaigned, winning four-, five- and six-year-old classes when ridden by Rodney Martin.”
Young riders to the fore in the Under 25 Grand Prix
The FEI Under 25 Grand Prix was won by yesterday’s Under 25 Inter II winners, Bridgette Dalmau and Bon Jovi MH (Bonifatius out of St.Pr.St Welkanje, by Weltmeyer); the pair scored 66.615%. Amy Bachmann followed in second place riding SWS Debutante (by Dancier out of SWS Divinity, by Don Frederico), finishing with a score of 65.538%, while Astrid Grov rounded out the top three aboard BML Silhouette (by Starnberg out of a Regardez Moi mare), achieving a score of 65.128%.
Astrid has travelled all the way from Western Australia for the Nationals. “A very elegant rider and a lovely black mare that shows plenty of potential,” says Roger of the combination.
Advanced Freestyle a thrill to watch
The Advanced Freestyle went to Tia Rose Mckenzie and Revelwood Franzisco on 78.375%. “A very big score for Tia, rounding off a very good competition for this combination,” says Roger.
Second place went to Serena Ireland and Tjibbe on 75.433%, and then Rochelle King-Andrews and Challenger Florian finished third on 74.367%.
“An outstanding performance indeed from Serena and Tjibbe, full of ambition and purpose. The big black Friesian stallion showed huge paces and an amazing ability to extend and collect in the most uphill manner. It was an absolute crowd pleaser with fabulous music, and they certainly fulfilled all the criteria that anyone would want to see in a Freestyle. One mistake in the tempi changes to the left, but otherwise a faultless test with forward and flexible half passes in canter and trot.
“Florian is not as big and impressive in terms of movement compared to Tjibbe, but this horse was beautifully ridden by Rochelle with great harmony and obvious rapport between horse and rider. Great rhythms and tempos, this horse is starting to really develop good collection and extension.”
A small but classy Elementary field
In the Open 3.2, it was Deon Stokes and Karizmah Bel Air who topped the leaderboard with a score of 72.792%. Sally Rizzuto followed in second place aboard Sir Donnertanz, finishing with a score of 72.417%, and John Thompson rounded out the top three riding Sicario, achieving a score of 70.292%.
The Open 3.3 saw Harvey Besley and Keep a Secret (by Secret) claim first place with a score of 70.081%. Deon Stokes followed closely in second place aboard Karizmah Bel Air, finishing with a score of 69.634%, and Robert Schmerglatt rounded out the top three riding Glenhill Venezio, achieving a score of 68.943%.
Deon Stokes and Karizmah Bel Air were named the Open Elementary Champions, while consistency paid off for Danielle Keoghn and Fomancier; fourth in both tests, they were named the Open Elementary Reserve Champions.
“Only fourteen horses were in the Elementary field, which is surprisingly low for the Nationals,” notes Roger. “The Elementary is a class where it’s easy to make little mistakes and it’s difficult to find places to catch up. As a consequence, with a very close competition, the positions change around considerably. However, Deon certainly shone on the Palomino to be a clear Champion.”
The Pony 3.2 held went to Kylee Chandler and Brazen Rock with a score of 67.375%. Justin Worthy followed in second place aboard Freemans Lodge Gigabyte, finishing with a score of 67.125%, and Jessica Sharp rounded out the top three riding Kingsfield Arlington, achieving 64.042%.
In the Pony 3.3, Kylee Chandler and Brazen Rock once again shone brightly, securing first place with a score of 68.577%. Justin Worthy followed in second place aboard Freemans Lodge Gigabyte, finishing with a score of 67.398%, while Alison Gill rounded out the top three riding Glenhill Mr. Hollywood to a score of 66.992%.
Kylee Chandler and Brazen Rock were named Pony Elementary Champions, while Justin Worthy and Freemans Lodge Gigabyte were the Reserves.
Para Equestrian combinations dance
Today was Freestyle day for the Para riders. The Grade II Grand Prix Freestyle went to Maddison Cooke and Byalee Magic II on 69.444%, while the Grade V Grand Prix Freestyle was won by Chelsea De Jonge and Don Dancier on an impressive score of 72.033%.
Kellie Tinworth and Augustine KT achieved first place in the Grade I Intermediate Freestyle, with a score of 52.833%; Brooke Neville and Checklist D claimed first place in the Grade IV Intermediate Freestyle with an impressive score of 69.092%; and in the Grade V Intermediate Freestyle, Sandi-Leigh Norris and Finch Farm Cosmique Cavall secured first place with an outstanding score of 73.075%, ahead of Heidi Ford and Rikaardt H on 69.883%.
Kirsty Van Loon and Nero R achieved first place in the Grade IV Novice Freestyle with an impressive score of 74.383%.
Young Horses shine in Qualifiers
The Four-Year-Old Young Horse Qualifier went to Greg Smith and his horse, Atlantis MI on 75.200%. Nichola Paff followed in second place aboard Pacific Touchstone, achieving a score of 71.400%.
The Five-Year-Old Young Horse Qualifier went to Deon Stokes and MP Phoenix Rising on 90.600%, ahead of John Thompson and Aber Fashion Mi, who achieved a strong score of 81.600%. Victoria Luxford and Carool Savoir secured third place with a solid performance, garnering a score of 79.000%.
“When a rider is on fire and on song, they certainly make their presence felt – as did Deon Stokes with the mare MP Phoenix Rising. This combination outshone everybody by a long way, with great rhythm and tempos, and a fabulous hind leg in the canter. A whopping score and a beautifully ridden test; a true young five-year-old,” concludes Roger.
Results and draws from the Australian Dressage Championships can be found here.
Live stream schedule (times may change):
Sunday (20 October)
10.00am – Howden Equine FEI Intermediate A/B Freestyle
11.45am – Eloquence Equine FEI Under 25 Grand Prix Freestyle
1.00pm – Equestrian NSW FEI Grand Prix Freestyle
Tune in live and free here or watch on replay via ClipMyHorse.TV.
