Day two of Hawkesbury Dressage Festival’s para dressage classes opened with the CPEDI3* Grade II Grand Prix Test B, which saw Paralympian Bridget Murphy and mare Penmain Promise (Triple Trees Prince Perfect) claim their second win of the event on a qualifying score of 68.833%. Maddison Cooke and Byalee Magic II (Richmeed Medallion) finished second with a score of 65.389%.
Bridget and Penmain Promise also claimed Monday’s CPEDI3* Grade II Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 72.189%.
The CPEDI3* Grade I Grand Prix Test B saw the sole entrants, Kylie Christian and 13-year-old Ivan Carlos (Ampere), receiving a solid score of 66.653% at what is only their third CPEDI3* competition in this grade. This combination also claimed Monday’s CPEDI3* Grade I Grand Prix Freestyle with a strong score of 69.556%.
The CPEDI3* Grade III Grand Prix Test B saw another win to Claire Graham and stallion Fürst Olli 3 (Furstenball), achieving yet another consistent qualifying mark of 68.444%. Melissa Cannon and Duchess DS (Dark President), representing Great Britain, scored an impressive 67.611%, equalling their best mark for this test.
Claire and Fürst Olli also won the CPEDI3* Grade III Grand Prix Freestyle on Monday, scoring 72.522% – finishing just ahead of Mel and Duchess DS on 71.733%
Mietta Innes-Irons was the sole competitor in the CPEDI3* Grade V Grand Prix Test B with 10-year-old German-bred gelding Sir Helmut, winning with a qualifying score of 70.175%. This combination is another proving to be very consistent at competitions, despite Sydney being only their fourth CPEDI3* start together.
Mietta and Sir Helmut shone again on Monday, posting a huge mark of 74.208% in the CPEDI3* Grade V Freestyle.
Another PB for Dianne Barnes and Tjibbe B
In the CPEDI3* Grade IV Grand Prix Test B, Paralympian Dianne Barnes and 12-year-old Friesian stallion Tjibbe B (Norbert 444) really caught the eye with the biggest score of the day. Their mark of 72.207% was not only a person best, but a seriously competitive result. This combination has now competed at three CPEDI3* events, improving their mark in both the Grand Prix A and B test at each outing.
Helen Batson and 12-year-old Oldenburg mare MSJ Tia Fortuna (Furst Heinrich x Rubenstein/Donnerhall) continue to impress and were second in the Grade IV on Sunday with a qualifying score of 67.567%, while Brooke Neville and 14-year-old Remi Bellagio (Belissimo M) were third with a qualifying score of 67.207%, another PB for the duo. Although Brooke and Remi Bellagio have run out of opportunities to achieve the required additional qualifying scores at a second event, their two 67%+ scores here in Sydney show another Australian para dressage combination with scores on the rise ahead of the Los Angeles Paralympics in just two years’ time.
Kirsty Van Loon and Nero R achieved a solid mark of 66.306% in the Grade IV to finish fourth, followed by Saskia Brown and Nouveaux Departs RPH on 63.424%; great results for these two combinations, who were both competing at only their second CPEDI3*.
Di and Tjibbe’s success at Hawkesbury continued on Monday in the CPEDI3* Grade IV Grand Prix Freestyle, where they were awarded a big PB score of 75.008% to claim their third win of the event. Second went to Helen and MSJ Tia Fortuna on 70.267%, ahead of Kirsty and Nero R on a PB of 69.792%, Brooke and Remi Bellagio on 68.792%, and Saskia with Nouveaux Departs RPH on 64.458%.
Final opportunity to qualify
Sunday marked the final day of competition here in Australia where para dressage combinations could strive for FEI World Championship qualifying scores. Marks over 67% in the CPEDI3* Grand Prix B tests counted as a qualifying score according to the Competition Criteria section of Australia’s FEI World Championship Selection Policy. To be considered for Australian team selection, combinations must achieve 67%+ in either the Grand Prix A or B tests at two CPEDI3* events and have competed in no less than two CPEDI3* events between 1 January 2026 and 15 June 2026.
Sunday’s results didn’t alter the number of combinations qualified according to the Competition Criteria, however they did see further strong scores of several qualified combinations and of course provided that all-important competition experience.
You can catch up on Saturday’s Grand Prix Test A results here.
CPEDI2* and Virtus Equestrian winners on Sunday:
CPEDI2* Grade II Intermediate Test B: Kate Nipperess and Dame Remi Wolverine, 67.348%
CPEDI2* Grade III Intermediate Test B: Amylie Hines and River Park Sienna, 64.570%
CPEDI2* Grade IV Intermediate Test B: Michele Duthy and Haluma Park Siorus, 64.462%
CPEDI2* Grade V Intermediate Test B: Heidi Ford and Rikaardt H, 63.081%
Virtus Grade II1 Test 2 (FEI Grade IV Intermediate A): Andrew Driffield and No Doubt, 56.900%
Virtus Grade II2 Test 2 (II2 Grade III Challenge III Para Foundation Test): Chloe Karsten and Riff Raff, 58.214%
Virtus Grade II3 Test 2 (FEI Grade IV Intermediate A): Jodin Bell and Hardrock Aritha, 50.900%
CPEDI2* winners on Monday:
CPEDI2* Grade II Intermediate Freestyle: Kate Nipperess and Dame Remi Wolverine, 69.534%
CPEDI2* Grade IV Intermediate Freestyle: Michele Duthy and Haluma Park Siorus, 68.867%
CPEDI2* Grade V Intermediate Freestyle: Heidi Ford and Rikaardt H, 61.108%
Catch up on the CPEDI2* and Virtus Equestrian winners from Saturday here.
