Day Four of the 2011 Australian Dressage Championships

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2011 Australian Dressage Championships

Over the past three days, there have been a number of riders aiming for a personal best which in turn could see them win the class. Each level of competition has different riders and in most of the competitions it has been the same three or four riders battling for the top position. For those who were pipped at the post, Sunday was the last opportunity to stake their claim as the top combination in their respective class.

The Advanced Championship is one of these competitions. Over the weekend, Brett Parbery (NSW) on DP Weltmieser, Tor Van Den Berge (QLD) on Lauries AS and Matthew Dowsley (NSW) on Falstermeyer have had excellent rides and have ended up with only a point between them. Today’s competition was no different. All three once again had neat and accurate tests. For the Advanced 5B it was Matthew Dowsley (NSW) on Falstermeyer winning with a score of 70.488. Second went to Brett Parbery on DP Weltmieser with 70.407. Third went to Brett as well on QEB Good as Gold with 68.780 and fourth went to Tor Van Den Berge on Lauries AS with 66.748. In the Advanced 5C, Brett secured first and second place. First with QEB Good as Gold (71.930); second with DP Weltmieser (67.544). Third went to Tor and Lauries AS (67.368) and fourth to Matthew Dowsley on Falstermeyer with a score of 67.105. It certainly was a battle between three of Australia’s top male riders.

There was also a highlight in the warm up arena for the Grand Prix. Without mentioning names, a rider who was about to compete suddenly dismounted her horse, handed him to a friend, jumped the stone fence and disappeared behind it. 30 seconds later she reappeared with a look of relief. I suppose when you gotta go, you gotta go!

The Intermediate I Championship was dominated by the lady riders. First went to Alexandra Berns (Qld) on Kings Legend, scoring 68.526. Second went to Alexis Hellyer (NSW) on Waca W with a score of 66.842 and third went to Judy Dierks (NSW) on Feramo K with a score of 66.474.

Sanna makes it a clean sweep at the Bates Australian Dressage Championships

Rachael Sanna and Jaybee Alabaster are the newly crowned Australian Dressage Champions following a clean sweep of the three Grand Prix events at the Bates Australian Dressage Championships over the weekend.

Sanna, 38, and Bev Edwards 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding Jaybee Alabaster started the event in winning form taking the honours in Friday’s Australian Sports Commission Grand Prix CDI-W on a score of 69.11%.

Sanna, from Glossodia, NSW was very happy with Jaybee Alabaster despite his disobedience on the first diagonal. The pair was quick to regain composure and performed the remaining movements with precision and maturity to receive a score of 72.13% from Stephen Clarke (GBR). Clarke will be Head of the Ground Jury at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

“He was on edge,” explained Sanna, “and it wasn’t going to take much, the cameras were enough to set him off. Mistakes can happen and it is about how you recover and he did that well today. He did some of his best work and I am really pleased with him.”

Five-Star judge Gotthilf Riexinger (GER) commented on Sanna’s pirouettes. “I must congratulate her on very good pirouettes, these were 8s.”

Sanna continued her winning form in Saturday night’s Hamilton Island CDI-W Freestyle. Performing her test to Star Trek she posted the winning score of 74.13%. New Zealand’s Louisa Hill (Bates Antonello) claimed second place on 72.28% followed by Heath Ryan on Regardez Moi (71.13%).

Making it a trifecta Sanna again stole the show in the Pryde’s Easifeeds Grand Prix Special. Jaybee Alabaster this time was rewarded with a total score of 71.08%. The next best was again Louisa Hill and Bates Antonello on 67.29% and third to Heath Ryan (64.92%).

Results from all three Grand Prix classes determine the Australian Championship. This year Sanna was a clear winner. Sanna has won multiple Australian Grand Prix Championships, but this is the first on Jaybee Alabaster.

“Alabaster is now confident and powerful at the Grand Prix level,” said Sanna. “He felt awesome to sit on. He just kept improving throughout the weekend.”

With a view to the 2012 Games Sanna said she “is now working to consolidate Alabasters work and improve his confidence leading towards London.”

Sanna has been competing in dressage professionally since the age of nineteen. She is one of Australia’s most accomplished and experienced competitors, having competed in 1999 World Cup Final, Sydney 2000 Olympics, 2002 World Championships, 2006 World Championships, 2010 World Championships. Sanna is married Olympic Showjumper, George Sanna, together they run Sanna Equestrian Bloodstock, riding, training, competing, mentoring and selling showjumpers and dressage horses.

The 2011 Australian Dressage Championships has been a great experience for all those who participated. The weather was perfect, the horses were of a high quality, the calibre of judges was impressive and the riders set a strong benchmark for everyday competitors to strive for.

Like all events, it takes an enthusiastic team to make it happen. It also needs a capable Event Director to oversee all the components. All those involved in dressage are lucky to have Toni Venhaus at the helm. She has an amazing eye for detail and a calm mind to address all issues as they come to hand. Toni and her team also deserve a ribbon!