Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe. Image by One Eyed Frog Photography.
Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe win Victorian Dressage Festival Grand Prix
By Equestrian Life
The Stable Ground Victorian Dressage Festival continued Friday, with hot, humid and windy conditions making things a little trickier than the opening day!
The FEI Grand Prix was the last class of the day and fortunately in the indoor arena, and it was Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe who claimed victory with a score of 70.978%.
Just behind them in second place was Jessica Dertell riding Cennin, with the pair scoring 70.065%. It was a busy day for Jess, as she was also first and second in the FEI U25 Grand Prix with Zanzibar and Syriana, scoring 69.41% and 67.923% respectively.
In third place in the FEI Grand Prix was Michelle Baker and Bradgate Park Puccini on 68.891%, while Justine Greer and Fonzie II were fourth on 65.978%, and Mark Kiddle with Penny Hill Park Sophia rounded out the top five on 65%.
The FEI Inter A was won by Amy Bachmann and Genuine River on 67.57%.
The Prix St Georges was a large and competitive class, and it was Rozzie Ryan and the beautiful MSJ Nemo who claimed the win on a score of 72.696%. Justine Greer and Bloomfield Sekuona were second on 71.814%, while Karen Blythe and Sonic K were third on 71.079%. Rounding out a 70%+ top four was Megan Keir riding Revelwood Queens County, scoring 70%.
In the Pony Prix St Georges, Bella Plumridge and Illawong Harvest Moon claimed victory on 66.961%.
The FEI Junior Team test was won by Olivia Gillespie and Amsterdam with a score of 69.747%.
Para dressage
Para dressage riders were also out in force across a number of grades on Friday. The Grade V Intermediate A was won by Claire Skerman and Regal Quickstep on 66.369%, while the Grade V Grand Prix A went to Mietta Innes-Irons and Elfenzauber on 64.872%.
The Grade IV Intermediate A went to Kylie Christian and Bellaire Cannavaro on 69.267%, with the pair also winning the Grade IV Grand Prix A on 70.834%.
The Grade III Intermediate A saw Emma Booth return to the competition arena and claim a win riding Regal Wolks Magic, with the pair scoring an impressive 73.413%. They then contested the Grade III Grand Prix A for another win on 68.167%.
In the Grade II Intermediate A, the ever-consistent Maddison Cooke and Byalee Magic II won with a score of 69.035%, with the pair later also winning the Grade II Grand Prix A on a score of 68.88%.
Medium & Preliminary
The Pony Medium classes saw quite large fields, as the Australian pony dressage scene continues to grow. The 4.2 saw Allysse Smith and Freemanslodge Divine Essence winning on a score of 68.581%, while the 4.3 went to Grace Lawes and Carwyn Versace on 69.039%.
The Preliminary 1.2 and 1.3 both went to Heather Currie and Furst Elegance with big scores of 75.893% and 73.438%, while the Pony Preliminary 1.2 went to Lyla Woolston and Loriot Skyes the Limit on 72.411%, and the 1.3 went to Chloe Salter riding WP Gold Class on 69.063%.
Young Horses & Ponies
Classes for the young horses and ponies also continued Friday. Round two of the Young Horse 7-Year-Old class saw another win to Javais Ham and Mayfield Fez, with 69.872%.
Round one of the Young Horse Six-Year-Old class went to Lucy Cochrane and Keystone Furstin Class with 82.6%, while the Young Pony Six-Year-Old class was won by Nicole McOwn and Daluxe BHI on 78.4%.
Round two of the Young Horse Five-Year-Old class went to Thursday’s winners, Vittorio DS and David Shoobridge, scoring 86%, while Steph Hann and Miss Holly Golightly BHI again won the Pony division on 73.4%.
In the first round of the Young Horse Four-Year-Old class, it was Kerry Mack’s Mayfield Vibrance, ridden by show jumper Megan Joyce, who won with a score of 82.6%. Toni Webb and Freeman’s Lodge Global won the Young Pony division, scoring 77%.
This year’s festival is the biggest ever held, with over 300 competitors and 25 trade stands, alongside 50 volunteers and an extensive team of officials. Competition continues today and Sunday!
Full results and draws can be found here.
For the latest from the event, visit The Victorian Dressage Festival on Facebook.
Published 9 December 2023.
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