Heath Ryan and the 13-year-old black Oldenburg licensed stallion Regardez Moi (by Rubinstein x Consul x Donnerhall) were crowned Grand Prix Champions at the 2008 Australian Dressage Championships in Sydney, Australia.
The Championships which were held 23-26 October at Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Horsely Park attracted a good crowd. It was a full house on Saturday night for the crowd pleasing Grand Prix Freestyle.
Ryan, 50, who represented Australia at this year’s Olympic Games on Greenoaks Dundee narrowly won the National title from Sydney 2000 Olympian Rachael Sanna. Sanna was riding the rising-star Jaybee Alabaster, a 10-year-old Hanoverian stallion by Alabaster x Glorieux, owned by Bev Edwards of Queensland.
Mary Hanna won the Grand Prix on the amazing new import Tango V, a Dutch warmblood gelding by Jazz, but could not maintain consistency in the Freestyle. Rachael Sanna finishing just 0.105% behind Ryan in the Grand Prix Freestyle and went on to win the Grand Prix Special. It was a count-back on points which gave Ryan aboard Margaret Evans’ stallion the overall win.
It was also an outstanding performance by Queenslander Tor Van Den Berge who dominated the Prix St Georges and Intermediate I competitions on his two rides Fisherman’s Friend and Florett. Van den Berge won 7 classes over the course of the Championships and will clearly be one to watch on the Grand Prix tour in the near future.
“It is an exciting time for Australian Dressage,” commented Event Director Toni Venhaus.
“We have some very talented combinations looking towards the World Championships in Kentucky in 2010 and the London Olympics.”
Foreign Judge Cara Whitham from Canada was in agreement “Australia has some outstanding young horses which bodes well for 2012.”
Related Links
Scores 2008 CDI-W Sydney
Heath Ryan and Greenoaks Dundee Win 2005 CDI Sydney Grand Prix
Heath Ryan in Australian Team after Withdrawal Ricky MacMillan