Bawley Point certainly put on four days of magnificent weather for Dressage by the Sea at Willinga Park. The facilities provided at this magnificent property are completely and utterly world-class. An inspiration of the late Terry Snow, whose presence at this competition was indeed missed.
It goes without saying that the surfaces are of the very best quality, as are the stables; every aspect of this facility is of exceptional quality, right down to the heated swimming pool for all to use!
Willinga Park is situated in the hills overlooking the most beautiful beaches at Bawley Point. The whole vibe is somewhat of a five-star holiday resort, and with everybody living on-site or very near, it shares a very friendly attitude. As with any event nowadays, it’s not cheap to enter – but you certainly get quality for your entry fees at this venue and the competition and the strength in many of the competitions was outstanding. Everyone was looking forward to a feast of dressage at probably one of the most prestigious competitions in Australia.
The classes included young horses and then Novice to Advanced, with most of the classes having many on the reserve lists. There were national (CDN) FEI classes as well as international (CDI) FEI classes, and of course the highlight was to be the CDI3* Grand Prix, which was won by Ivanhoe and Mary Hanna with the score of 68.522%.
Highs and lows
It’s often difficult to get a handle on judges and scoring, and in many tests – especially the CDI3* Grand Prix – the international judges certainly didn’t hold back in giving low marks at times. With the sport a little in the doldrums for sure and certain at the moment, the judge at E could only manage to find four horses of the 12 in the CDI3* Grand Prix to mark over 60%. There was an extremely sombre and sad feeling amongst not only the Grand Prix competitors, but for everyone associated. The wind was certainly knocked out of everyone’s sails.
There is no question at all that there’s a definite need for improvement with all the Grand Prix horses, but when FEI judges are flown to Australia and are very well looked after we hope to feel there is sense of interest in improving the sport here and also providing some positivity along with constructive criticism.
In the CDN Grand Prix, it was a similar story and some large discrepancies in marks lower down in the field. For sure, many horses need improving but to absolutely slam negative marks, in my opinion, is of no benefit to any person; judges, coaches and riders were shocked to see these marks. To think that only five horses made it through to the Freestyle in the CDI3* class was somewhat staggering!
Young stars shine
Despite this somewhat damping attitude there were some outstanding riding and tests ridden, most noticeably the standard was high in the FEI Pony, CDI-J, CDI-U25 and CDI-Y.
Maddie Vallender won all the CDI-J classes with the expressive, tall chestnut mare Rubinell (by Blue Hors Rominov), with scores over 70%. When you talk about world-class riders, Maddie is actually ranked number six in the world on the FEI CDI-J rankings.
On Sunday, Maddie won the CDI-J Freestyle on 75.4%, with Angelina Thompson in second on 70.492% with Arnage Royal Edition (by Royal Hit), and Shiva Wiedemann third on 70.317% with Hollands Bend Regalite (by Royal Classic).
Maddie also placed very highly on the liver chestnut gelding Ronan R (by Regardez Moi) in the CDI-U25 with good percentages. Hannah Rockwell and mare Baumanns Diorella (by Dankeshon), along with Maddie and also Bridgette Dalmau with Bon Jovi MH (by Bonifatius), shared the top three placing in all the CDI-J tests with quality riding being well rewarded.
On Sunday, the CDI-U25 Grand Prix Freestyle saw a win to Bridgette with Bon Jovi MH on 69.615%. Maddie and Ronan R placed a close second on 69.12%, while CDI-U25 Grand Prix winner Hannah was third here with Baumanns Diorella on 67.445%.
While the CDI-Y Team and Individual tests were dominated by Jess Dertell and Kilimanjaro with very impressive scores, it was Tia Rose Mckenzie and Franzisco RW (by Franziskus) who won the Freestyle on Sunday with 69.85%. Jess and her stallion by Bordeaux placed second on 68.933%, while Ella Jacobs and mare Kalahari (by Kaiserkult) placed third on 66.675%.
This CDI-Y class was full of talent and outstanding riding. The stallion Kilimanjaro certainly is a striking and elegant horse. Jess rides him extremely well but being a stallion, he can get distracted and loses his focus on his work. With more experience I’m sure the marks will become much higher. Tia’s horse Franzisco RW is a very powerful and elegant moving horse with plenty of knee. He shows good changes and outstanding extended paces. These two horses will be really ones to watch for the future.
In the CDI Pony, it was Abby Weel who stole the show, nearly winning all the tests being almost 10% in front of the others. Her beautiful bay pony REitlands Obama is so attentive and honest. Her percentages were well into the 70s and the way that Abby rides is quite amazing for a 14-year-old. Corners, lines, transition, submission… all in such a good way. She certainly looks absolutely the part and having been overseas recently competing at P.S.I. in Hagen, Germany her experience is showing. This a truly up-and-coming rider.
Abby and Reitlands Obama again proved unbeatable in the CDI-P classes, winning Sunday’s Freestyle on 70.108%. Second went to Tess Baker and Hilkens No Kidding (by Nemax) on 63.042%, while Sophia Coombes was third with Bamborough Jonas (by Thistledown Wicked) on 57.667%.
The most beautiful chestnut pony with plenty of bling, ridden by the diminutive Milla Greenaway, is SPB Robert Redford (by Movie Star).The CDI-Ch Team Competition again went to this combination with a score of 75.575%. Isla Oxley and Enbarr (by Heathmont Echo) were again second on 73.2%, while Amelia Maree placed third in this test with Sunny Morning R (by Starnberg) on 70.35%.
Further results from Sunday at Dressage by the Sea
The CDI3* Grand Prix Special on Sunday saw the win going to Breanna Tillitzki and BZ Raphael (by Regardez Moi) on 65.128%, ahead of Alinta Veenvlient and Desperanza (by Desperados) on 64.383%, and Sue Hearn with Eminent (by Santano) on 64.383%.
Matthew Lord and Remi Vigneron (by Viscount) scored 68.87% to win the Intermediate A/B Freestyle, ahead of Pamela Bice riding Wealth (by Welfenadle) on 63.805%, and then Amanda Jakins in third with 62.565% aboard Artes Lauries Gift (by Lauris AS). The Medium Tour classes didn’t used to have big numbers nor quality horses, but there certainly was at this show!
The CDN Intermediate I Freestyle saw Justine Greer and Bloomfield Sekuona (by Sezuan) step up and claim the win with a score of 72.008%. Second went to Susan Elekessy and her own Callum Park Damascus (by De Niro) on 71.258%. Sallly Rizzuto also cracked 70% to place third with Quarterland (by Quarterback) on 70.008%.
The Elementary 3.2 also took place Sunday, with another impressive win going to Divine 18 for Robbie McKinnon. This mare is by Devonport and owned by Steph McDonald; a score of 73.563% was certainly enough to ensure this combination secured the Medium Championship.
Second in the 3.2 was Gary Lung riding Kate Wescombe’s Friesian stallion Durk Fan Oostenburg (by Alwin 469) on 71.563%, while Nicole Tough with her own mare Everdeen (by Escolar) placed a close third with 71.313%. Nicole managed to narrowly claim the Reserve Champion title over Gary via a countback.
Young Horse classes full of quality
The young horse classes were full of quality and in the four-year-old class, it was the black stallion Remi Braveheart, by Bon Coeur and ridden by Matthew Lord, who won both tests on 85% and 86.8%.
The five-year-old classes over the two rounds were very interesting indeed. Robert Schmerglatt and Total Impact CBM was 12th in one test on 74.5% and first in the second test on 86%… a marked difference between the two sets of judges. On the other hand, Rachael Clarke’s wonderfully elastic moving Tarcoola Secret Stash by Secret was first on the first day with 82.7% (7.9, 8.5, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5) and fifth on the second day with 73.2 (7, 8, 7.2, 7, 7.4). It is quite amazing that these five-year-olds that really didn’t change a lot between one test and the other can score such different marks. There was a lot of comments in regards to this class and the differences in choosing the up and coming young horses. It was confusing to say the least!
In the six-year-old classes it was between MI Toto by Toto Jnr with John Thompson for second and a first, and then for Alexandra Vodermair and Exact by Esacmillo also for a second and first. Then Carool Secret Service for Amy McKenzie for third and fourth. The places the six-year-old class was very very similar in both rounds.
In the seven-year-old class, both rounds were won by Cooramin Despacito by De Niro with Brett Parbery riding. John Thompson on Sicario was second and fourth in the two rounds. This is a very attractive black stallion by Secret. Penny Hill Park Francesca for Jordan Smith was third in both rounds.
Sunday’s winners:
7 Year Old Young Horse (Second Round): Brett Parbery and Cooramin Despacito (by De Niro, bred by Heather Cooramin and owned by Brett Parbery/Boambolo Pastoral Company), 72.079%
6-Year Old Young Horses (Second Round): John Thompson and MI Toto (by Glock’s Toto Jnr, owned by Julie Farrell), 75.6%
5-Year Old Young Horses (Second Round): Robert Schmerglatt and Total Impact CBM (by Total Hope, bred and owned by Christine Crawford), 86%
4-Year Old Young Horses (Second Round): Matthew Lord and Remi Braveheart (by Bon Coeur, bred and owned by Cheryl O’Brien), 86.8%
National classes
Sunday also saw several additional national-level FEI classes, allowing competitors to gain further experience in the competition arena at a world-class facility and on a world-class surface. The CDN Inter I went to Allissia Curry and Fererro Chocolate Box on 64.461%; the CDN Grand Prix Special went to Susan Elekessy and Callum Park Geneva on 63.440%; and the CDN Grand Prix went to Linda Krogh on Jigsaw with 61.92%.
That’s a wrap
Despite amazing facilities and wonderful dressage, riding and horses, there was a little twang of uncertainty with the judging. It is difficult to get a handle on where the sport is going when the judging and the results are sometimes so mixed, with percentages up and down… who do you look to for advice? Which judges do we believe are correct and follow and which ones do we wonder about?
Thanks to Willinga Park and all who organised this enormous event. It is beyond imagination, with so many horses and so many tests, draws etc… it’s a mammoth task!
Well done to all involved in Dressage by the Sea and thank you Terry Snow for this amazing facility.
Full results from 4CYTE Dressage by the Sea can be found here.
