The Sydney CD-LITE is underway!

The 2021 Sydney CD-LITE got underway on Wednesday at Sydney International Equestrian Centre, and across the past two days there have been some outstanding performances.

The event normally runs as a CDI, but with the absence of the required international judges due to Covid-19 restrictions, event organisers have this year run it as a CDN. This doesn’t mean the competition has been any less exciting, and with large entry numbers – including almost 30 starters in the Grand Prix today – it’s been a whole lot of fun for spectators!

The highlight of the event thus far has no doubt been today’s Bates Saddlery FEI Grand Prix CDN, won by five-time Olympian Mary Hanna riding the exquisite mare Syriana. The pair scored 73.913% to notch a narrow win over relatively new GP combination Matthew Dowsley and Santiago on 73.196%. In third place was again Mary, this time riding the talented Calanta to a score of 72.761%. Next came John Thompson and JHT Chemistry on 70.717%, followed by Michelle Baker and Bradgate Park Puccini rounding out the top five on a score of 68.587%.

Matthew Dowsley and Santiago, winners of the Inter II and second in the Grand Prix.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

You can view the full results for this class here.

The RHS Dressage FEI Prix St Georges CDN also took place today, first thing this morning on the outdoor arena. This class was won by Jayden Brown and Willingapark Quincy B on 74.167%, with Jayden also claiming second place aboard Willingapark Fusion on 72.206%. Third went to Gina Montgomery riding Iresias L on a score of 68.824%, followed by Jodie Dunstan and Hollands Ben Highlander on 68.284%, and then Denise Rogan rounding out the top five with Legendary on a score of 67.794%.

Jayden Brown and Willingapark Quincy B, winners of the Prix St Georges.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

This class was not without some controversy. The arena was a little wet in places from overnight watering, before drying out as the class went on. Those in the first section of the draw (which began at 8am), were later offered the opportunity to re-ride their tests, with some opting to do so. For this reason, the final results here are a little different to what our viewers may have seen on the live stream earlier today.

Full results from this class can be found here.

Jayden Brown and Willingapark Fusion, second in the Prix St Georges.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Both the Grand Prix and part of the Prix St Georges were streamed via Equestrian Life; these streams can be re-watched here.

In other classes today, the Widderstein FEI Intermediate A CDN went to Jenny Gehrke and Senator Nymphenburg on 69.657%.

Young riders were also in action across a number of classes.

The Assistance Dogs Australia FEI Under 25 Inter II CDN went to Charlotte Phillips and CP Dresden on 68.824%. You can read more about this combination in the April issue of Equestrian Life magazine here.

The Dressage NSW FEI Pony Team CDN-P went to Bella Plumridge riding Illawong Harvest Moon on 67.095%, while the Pages Event Hire FEI Junior Team CDN-J was won by Matilda Bills and High Heels Firfod on 67.98%.

The Agnes Banks Equine Clinic FEI Young Rider Team CDN-Y went to Dana Krause and Taittinger VDS on 67.402%. You might have heard Dana later on in the day helping out with Equestrian Life’s live stream and jumping on the commentary mic with Roger!

Round one of the young horse classes took place on the outdoor arenas.

The Trailrace 4-year-old Horses (Round 1) went to Quizzical R, ridden by Tyler Bain to a impressive score of 93.6%, while the 4-year-old Ponies (Round 1) went to Tamlyn Farm Calamity Jane, ridden by Justin Worthy with a score of 83.4%. Justin also won the Kyros Family 5-year-old Ponies (Round 1) with Freemans Lodge Divine Essence on 80.4%.

The Kyros Family 5-year-old Horses (Round 1) went to Fidibus, ridden by Alexis Hellyer to a score of 91.6%.

The Chaballo 6-year-old Horses (Round 1) went to QS Sierra and Robbie McKinnon on 87.8%, while the Dressage NSW 6-year-old Ponies (Round 1) went to RM Raspberry ridden by Michelle Baker on 76.4%.

The Equestrian NSW 7-year old Horses (Round 1) went to Valhalla and Alexis Hellyer on 84.8%.

On the opening day of the event, Matthew Dowsley took out the Inter II with Santiago on 74.735% – a performance that was clearly a sign of things to come in the combination’s Grand Prix test today!

Full results from the Sydney CD-LITE can be found here.

Competition continues tomorrow and Saturday.

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