Mindarah Park Raphael and Mary Warren.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
By Roger Fitzhardinge
Another perfect day at Willinga Park, where the riders are all starting to think it’s their new home! It’s like the most amazing resort, and thanks to Terry Snow and all his amazing hospitality.
4YO Young Horse – Round 1
The start of the day saw the 4YO class, sponsored by Bucas Rugs, Netier and IRT, and a great win to HV Del Piero and Robbie McKinnon. This horse is by Deniro out of the His Highness mare HV Her Highness, and a score of 83.4%.
Second place was shared today bewteen Zanna Northam’s Totalis baby, Tyger, whom she bred, owns and rides, and Nyssa TPH by Negro out of the well credentialed Medallion mare Madagascar. Nyssa was ridden by Alycia Targa. They both scored 76.6%.
5YO Young Horse – Round 1
In the 5YO class it was all quality, and a fantastic win to Willinga Park Emotion on a whopping and well deserved score of 88.6%, with a 9 for trot, a 9.3 for canter and 9 for perspective and submission. A beautiful mare who is light footed, energetic and sensitive. Brett Parbery shows her in the best possible way.
Second place went to another truly international horse in the Quarterback gelding Quincy B, ridden by Jayden Brown. What a great horse here as well and a 9.5 for the trot; it was the walk that brought it down a little, but still a fantastic horse and so beautifully ridden as well for an overall mark of 85.6%.
Edwina Hutton-Potts was third on 79.2% with the black WPH Sachi0, who is by San Amour. Another quality horse and well presented. This class was sponsored by Harvey Norman, Sheppard Electrical and CRT Milton.
Brett Parbery and Willinga Park Emotion.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
CDI-U25
In the indoor arena, it was a real battle in the CDI-U25 and another win to Jemma Heran on Hedelunds Mafisto. A great test under a difficult moment, as at the last minute the draw changed and Jemma’s warm up was cut short — but a good score on 64.487%. There were a few moments in piaffe where the rhythm was not established well enough, but a very beautiful test.
In second place were Arawn and Sarah Farraway, and a fantastic job and just a mistake in the one tempis. Talking to Sarah, she tried to warm up her horse to the time which she had done, and then with a few minutes before she was to enter was told she was on second meant another ten minutes. This was just enough to put them off their game plan, with Arawn becoming a little tired at the end of the test. A score of 64.359% was so, so close to a win!!!
All the same these two were quite sensational and what fabulous riding! This class was sponsored by Do Well, Lennock and Animal Art House.
CDI-J
In the CDI-J it was a win today for Rosie Cooke and KH Arion on 65.686%, with yesterday’s winner Jazzi French and Noblis Juelles in second on 65.392% ( cores 63.9%, 63.6% and a 69.18%!). In third place was Jazzi again with Florinzz, with a score of 64.216% and again a difference in opinions amongst the three judges. In fourth place William David on 61.961% and Grand Sam. J Sheppard Electrical, IRT and KC Equestrian sponsored this junior class.
6YO Young Horse – Round 1
In they six year olds, it was the striking chestnut in Bertone who scored 7.8 for the trot, but expressive and free in the shoulders and an 8 for the walk and a highlight in the canter with an 8.5. A horse by Benicio, and a really super horse of the future indeed and owned by the Lauren George Family Trust. An overall score of 81%. In second place was the Spanish bred gelding owned by Liza Carver and ridden by Denise Rogan, Greco. A score of 78.2%, and what a grand score for this horse that is by Grandiose MG and from Freya, a mare that Liza owned and is now a great young rider’s horse, placing well in classes here at Willinga CDI4*. Greco is all Liza Carver’s breeding, owning the parents. In third place in this class sponsored by Otto sport was Jeffrey Adams and Baby Blue on 68.65.
Jayden Brown and Bertone.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Grand Prix CDI4*
The afternoon’s programme kicked off with the Grand Prix Special CDI4* and the will to win at Willinga was evident! In the end it went to Mary Warren and Mindarah Park Raphael with a great 67.404% for this rising star. As always, a positive ride with energy and a great frame and outlook with the harmony between horse and rider exemplary. Mary has that amazing will to win and calmly goes about that job. A serious talented rider here!
In second was AEA Metallic and Dirk Djikstra on 66.66%, and again a horse with plenty of experience and well produced by Dirk, the evergreen rider and a great guy who was actually first with three of the five judges and last on the list with the judge at B. In third the lady of the dressage arena, Rozzie Ryan, and Adonie owned by the Plenty family and their daughter here competing with horses Adloo Richard and Queensland. Always the improvement seen here for a 65.702%. It was then Alycia Targa in fifth spot on CP Dresden with a 64.957% and a good job here as well.
Inter I Freestyle
The much watched challenge of the big guns in the freestyle for the Inter I, and again it was the old duo of Jayden Brown and DaVinci L winning with a huge well-earned score of 76.960% with the USA judge giving 78.55%. What a sweet horse, and so calm and positive and the effortless way he swanned through the test showed a freestyle in dressage as should be.
In second place a popular placing to Michelle Baker and Bradgate Park Puccini, who has thrived down here at these two shows; give them another week and they would be winning. Puccini owned that arena and Michelle riding to stirring and well produced, rousing music with plenty of crescendos and clarity for a 72.255%.
In third was Sheridyn Ashwood and Ashwoods Chocolate Fondue, who literally bopped his way through the test with ease. Sheridyn pumped the best the stallion could do and left not a stone unturned to gather the marks. This stallion now also needs to simply gain more confidence and ease in all his work, as the hard yards are now done.
The surprise was Brett Parbery and Sky Diamond, who wasn’t on the same page as Brett, the crowd or the Willinga support crew as he hurled marks away with some arrogance, as if he cared! Brett was being taken for a ride at times and not the ride he envisaged. Marks ranged from 9 to very low. Despite the mistakes, especially in the changes where he did “the Sky Diamond freestyle” with flair!! It was not what the judges wanted to see. No artistic marks here for twos and ones, and the six and seven tempis in the one line. Then late in front and early in front, and a bit sideways, a bit backwards or a bit forwards, so take your pick… there was one of everything that left poor Brett’s eyes rolling. Expressive yes. Talented yes… but discipline no. He is a stallion with athleticism and flair and he better be carful as his antics may create some thoughts about gender change!! What a horse, but he needs time to grow up. Teenage boys! Still a great mark (70.030%) all the same and without the antics it would have been a close call for that winning sash!
Advanced Freestyle
In the Advanced Freestyle it was the up and ever improving Bradgate Park Amadeus and the in form Michelle Baker who came out on top. Harvey Besley was in second on the newly reformed and bold horse Derreen Rock n Rolla.
Michelle attributed their win by 0.4% to the comfy socks Harvey’s girlfriend gave her, and she wore with a grimace from Harvey. Amadeus scored 69.958%. In third the talented Elloise Devlin and Brimstone Florente on 67.922% and what a score. Some interesting comments at the presentation from one judge, enough to make anyone blush! Mindarah Park Ramirus next on 67.758%, and this horse gained the overall Advanced point score winner for the two weekends!
Medium Tour Freestyle
The final Freestyle was the Medium Tour, and a win to Catherine Chittenden and Neversfelde Springbok with a 66.375%. Unfortunately a disappointing performance for the Inter B winner Breanna Tillitzki and Fursten Hit who become muddled to the music and the choreography and as a consequence made a messy Freestyle with untidy lines and the canter work disappointing. It’s a tough old class the freestyle, and great thought and a clear mind is required. Poor Breanna just got rattled and what else can you say. Put that one down to experience.
Second place anyway and a 61.24%, but with Ricky MacMillan forgiving for sure with a 64.35% and with a high mark for the artistic side and the music ending when Breanna was still on a diagonal line in extended trot. OOOOPS it happens and you just have to grin and get on. Breanna has had a good two weeks all the same and some promising work in this Medium Tour!
So ended the day and what a great day of horsemanship and dressage. The weather is amazing as is the dressage, and the ambience and the friendliness around the entire Willinga Park. It’s like a resort with international riding, not to mention the wonderful food and always a bar not too far away and a pool… heated!
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