It was a very close result. The Australian Team consisting of Vanessa Midwinter (NSW) and Victoria Welch (Qld.) won by 1.2 points. Vanessa Midwinter from NSW was the leading rider of the class with a combined score from the 2 rounds of 129.20 points.
Vanessa also gained the highest score of any rider with 68.60% on the horse everyone wanted to draw - Mzunga; in addition, Vanessa clicked with her second mount Ikarumba, which helped in the final result.
Team mate Victoria Welch from Qld helped to secure the victory by gaining a respectable score on a young 18.1 hh black Hanovarian gelding Acapulco having his first start in elementary and to the oposite extreme riding the experienced Grand Prix horse Mt Toppa (who is currently helping to teach his owner how to ride FEI movemnents).
New Zealand riders Sara Cunningham and Amanda Goldsbury provided some tough competition to make it an exciting event.
The riders drew their horses in the first round then swapped horses with the other team; this helps to even out any advantage gained by drawing an easy horse. In the end the contest becomes who was able to get the best out of each horse on the day.
Vanessa also had success in elementary classes with 4th place in the 3:5 and 6th in the freestyle.
The team would like to thank Dressage New Zealand and their organising committee; major sponsors of the NZ Pony and Young Rider Championships The Lion Foundation; the owners of the four lovely horses that were provided for the derby; Lesley Buckleigh and Angela Toovey who also loaned the girls Dansey's Rockafella and Kings Clear to compete in the elementary classes over the weekend; Mark and Lynne King who looked after Jenny; Glennis Barrey for providing a terrific tune-up before we left Australia and the EFA through the ICDF program that allowed us the opportunity to win back the Trans Tasman Friendly trophy.
The New Zealanders are keen for a rematch - hopefully we will see a team from New Zealand at the Australian National Young Rider Dressage Championships which will be held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre in July.
Photo (Sunset at Tongariro National Park near Turangi (Lake Taupo) New Zealand) copyrighted: Astrid Appels/Eurodressage
Related Links
Taupo Dressage in New Zealand to Showcase Talent
Dressage in New Zealand: NZ Equestrian Federation