If you look at the qualifying scores for the 2011 Australian Dressage Championships, it‘s quite obvious who will be the horse and rider combinations to beat. Toni Venhaus, the event director passed on the top 10 ranked horses/riders based on these scores.
“Most of the qualifying scores definitely paint a picture but you can never predict the outcome. The “big event” atmosphere cannot be underestimated and surprises are not uncommon”.
The Prix St Georges Championship is always a tough class as many of the riders are seasoned competitors at this level but this year two of the top ten ranked riders are of a much younger vintage. Megan Bryant and Alexis Hellyer could give riders such as Judy Dierks and Matthew Dowsley a run for their money. Ranked at number two is New South Wales rider, Mark Arthur. Mark and his handsome gelding Kooinda Saint have been training with Clemens Dierks and the NSW High Performance squad for the past six months.
Mark is one of those rare riders that have the ability to stay calm and relaxed. He sits quietly and allows the horse to move freely. Mark just got back from Germany where he bought a new ‘youngster’ and also visited Aachen. “It’s the best show on the planet for equestrian sports”. Maybe this experience has put fire in his belly to come out on top. Either way he is definitely a rider to watch closely.
The Intermediate I is similar to the Prix St Georges in regards to the rankings but it also includes Australia’s very popular Heath Ryan on Mystery Whisper who also events at a high level.
The Intermediate II and the Grand Prix are a bit misleading in regards to the rankings due to some of our top horses having limited outings. For example, Rachael Sanna and Jaybee Alabaster which won the Grand Prix Freestyle at the 2011 Sydney CDI have just done what it takes to qualify. Although the rankings tell a story, we all know that the results will depend on the day and the months of hard work to make it happen at these very special championships.
The Bates Australian Dressage Championships run from the 27 October through to the 30th.
Text by Scott Pollock - Photo © Franz Venhaus
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