Over the four days of competition at the 2011 Australian Dressage Championships there are a number national awards that are up for grabs. These trophies have been won by some of Australia’s best horses and riders which now have their names etched into the history of Australian dressage.
The Dietmar Specht Memorial Trophy is a perpetual trophy donated by the Horse Magazine is designed to encourage talented young dressage riders. Riders must be under 30 years of age on the first day of the National Championships. The winner is chosen from the best two placings of the nominated official combination in official competitions from Elementary to Grand Prix including Freestyles and G.P. Special. This trophy has been won by the likes of Kelly Layne on Amoucher and Lyndal Oatley on Weltspeil. Both of these riders have gone on to represent Australia in International events.
The Rod Barker Memorial Trophy which is also donated by the Horse Magazine is for the highest percentage score gained during the Australian Dressage Championships, excluding Freestyles. Matthew Dowsley has won this award on more than one occassion. Matthew has won many championships and had an array of fabulous horses but his most extravagant horse (both in movement and personality) was Cinderella who he competed on at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany (This horse was owned by Claudia and Francis Harper). Rumour has it that the photographers were more interested in this combination than some of the world’s best – who knows if this is true but it’s a great claim to fame.
The Crown Law Memorial Trophy which was donated by Mrs. Erica Taylor who competed on the Australian Stock Horse, Crown Law, at the Seoul 1988 Olympics. This trophy is awarded to the winner of the Grand Prix Special. Rozzie Ryan won this trophy three times on her very special horse Excellent who in 1999 won the Pacific League World Cup Final which was held in Australia.
The Australian Grand Prix Champion is the combination who achieves the best two scores in either (a) the Grand Prix (CDI-W or CDN) and Grand Prix Freestyle or (b) the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special (using the Championship point score system). In the case of equality, the highest Grand Prix score will determine the Champion. Interestingly Heath Ryan and Brett Parbery have alternated in winning this trophy in recent times. Heath won it in 2005, 2008 and 2010. Brett won it in 2006 and 2009. Will he be able to win it this year and make it ‘Even Stephens’? Both these riders have also represented Australia at a numerous events.
The Cinderella Young Rider Award is an annual award which was kindly donated by Claudia and Francis Harper in honour of their horse Cinderella. This award is presented to the combination with the best overall qualifying score from all CDI-Ys held during the year. It has only been going since 2008. In 2010, Megan Bryant and Donnabella won this award and then went on to represent Australia at the Young Rider World Cup Finals in Frankfurt, Germany.
As you can tell, these awards and trophies identify Australia’s highest achievers in dressage. It will be interesting to see which horse and rider combinations win in 2011 and what they will achieve in the years to come. The Australian Bates National Dressage Championships will the place to experience these results. They will be held at the Sydney International Equestrian centre for the 27 to the 30 October 2011. For all the results and ticketing information visit www.dressagensw.com.au/nationals
Photo © Jenny Carroll
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