Thursday’s action at 4CYTE Dressage by the Sea begun with Willinga Park’s own Jayden Brown making a triumphant return to his home competition arena, claiming the CDN Intermediate II riding Chemistry (by Connaisseur out of Cendea, by Johnson TN). The pair scored an impressive 70.441%. Jayden is riding Chemistry for Kate Kyros, who is currently in Europe training and competing with her other stallion, Intro K.
Second place in the Inter II went to John Thompson and MSJ Gatsby on 67.304%, while Serena Ireland was third with Royalty R on 66.617%.
The CDN Prix St Georges went to Kaila Simms and the Desperados mare Desiree IMP, owned by Tim Reilly, on a score of 67.530%. They finished ahead of Serena Ireland riding Jennifer Rapson’s Friesian Tjibbe B on 64.147%, and then Jade Wilkinson was third riding Sharellen Gadarene on 63.912%.
In the Advanced 5.1, Robbie McKinnon scored 72.838% to record an impressive win with her own QS Sierra, by Stedinger. Brett Parbery placed second on 70.450% with the Vivaldi mare Vellvit, owned by Lia Notaras, and Serena Ireland placed yet again in this test with Tjibbe B on a score of 70.045%.
In Division A of the Medium 4.1, Lisa Martin and Villagio scored an impressive 73.681% to win the class. Lisa and Vilaggio, a gelding by Vilancio (by Vitalis), of course represented Australia at the Paris Paralympic Games last year.
Second place went to Sarah Farraway and her Fürstenball gelding Remi Furstensong on 72.639%, while Jordan Smith was third riding his mare by Foundation, Penny Hill Park Francesca.
Kaila Simms and the Totilas gelding Arnage Totil Bliss, owned by Tim Reilly, won Division B of the 4.1 on 74.097%. In second was Rebecca Rooke riding Glenda De Wit’s Anaki Park Qristal (by Questing R) on 68.333%, while Robert Schmerglatt and TS Soulmate (by HB Sinatra) scored 67.084% for third place.
In the Novice 2.1, 33 horses took to the arena – and it was Danielle Keogh and the mare CBM Presidents Daughter (by Dark President), owned by Nicole Smith, who won with an impressive score of 74.904%. Second place went to Nicole Tough and her mare Everdeen (by Escolar) on 73.943%, while Rachael Clarke and her own Tarcoola Secret Stash (by Secret) placed third on 73.173%.
With the top six all over 70%, the stage was set for an exciting 2.2. The top two placings were repeated, with Danielle and CBM Presidents Daughter scoring a huge 77.969%, and 75.860% being awarded to Nicole and Everdeen. Third on 73.594% was Sarah Wells-Smith riding her Floriscount gelding, Regal Floris Dance.
Danielle Keogh and CBM Presidents Daughter were ultimately named the Novice Champions, with Nicole Tough and Everdeen the Reserve Champions.
Danielle Keogh and CBM Presidents Daughter were ultimately named the Novice Champions, with Nicole Tough and Everdeen the Reserve Champions.
The 2025 edition of 4CYTE Dressage by the Sea marks the first without the late Terry Snow AM, who passed away in August last year. Terry took up riding in his 60s and went on to founder Willinga Park, with the unique venue giving Australian riders access to a world-class facility on home soil. It is wonderful to see Terry’s legacy living on at Dressage by the Sea – through not only the venue itself, but also the Olympic combination of Jayden Brown and WillingaPark Quincy B (who will compete today in the CDI3* Grand Prix), and horses such as the Willinga Park bred and owned mare WillingaPark Animation (by Amicelli Gold), who placed fourth in the 2.1 with Nina Boyd on an impressive 71.058%.
Competition continues today and across the weekend at 4CYTE Dressage by the Sea, with the CDI3* Grand Prix set to be a major highlight from 12.45pm AEDT.
