Maree Tomkinson has taken the first step towards claiming the title of Australian Dressage Champion for the second consecutive year after winning the CDI-W Grand Prix at the 2013 Australian Dressage Championships in Sydney, Australia, on Friday 25 October 2013.
Last year’s defending champion was the last to go in the Grand Prix and the crowd waited eagerly to see her and her mare Diamantina’s first performance at a major event in almost a year. Judges awarded the combination a score of 67.96% which moved them into first position ahead of Sheridyn Ashwood and Prestige VDL who obtained a score of 67.77%.
The battle for the top three was tight with third placed Rozzie Ryan and GV Bullwinkle scoring 67.36%.
Tomkinson was pleased with her performance but had been hoping for more of an improvement on the score she achieved last year.
“She can piaffe now quite clearly but she’s still a young horse so things will just get better," she said. "She’s an amazing horse and I’m very lucky to have her and I thought the test was a lot better and I think she has improved a lot. I’m very lucky to own a beautiful horse that gives me and all my team an enormous amount of pleasure. My Young Rider (Morgan Duell) won the CDI-Y this morning so it’s been a great day for us,” Tomkinson said.
The Grand Prix was the last competition of the day at the Championships. Half way through the field, Queensland rider Anjanette Harten riding UQG Alladin did a very consistent test, scoring 66.809. This was enough to put her in the lead. Next combination to enter the arena was four time Olympian, Mary Hanna, on her 2012 Olympic mount Sancette. Although the test was full of energy and scored some high marks for particular movements it wasn't strong enough to take the lead. As usual it wasn't till the last five competitors that things changed. Rozzie Ryan and GV Bullwinkle owned by Olivia Bunn came third, scoring 67.362, second went to Sheridyn Ashwood on the powerful stallion, Prestigie VDL scoring 67.766. The final combination, Maree Tomkinson onboard the flash moving Diamantina IV, managed to secure first with a score of 67.957.
Intermediaire I
The second Small Tour competition, the Intermediaire I, was held in the indoor arena. Yesterday’s winner of the Prix St Georges, Janina Kletke, was not entered in this class, which meant the placings would be different. If you look at recent history of the Small Tour classes, on numerous occasions, it has been a battle between NSW rider Brett Parbery and QLD rider Tor van den Berge. This year it was slightly different as two of Australia's female riders managed to squeeze pass Brett and secure second and third place. Tor van den Berge won on Lauries As (owned Cheryl O’Brien) with a score of 69.553, second went to NSW rider Robbie Soster on her effervescent gelding Robali Razzamattazz (68.921). Third went to Victoria Welch on her big impressive grey gelding, Glogau (68.868) and fourth to Brett Parbery on the Farrell's stallion Aber Hallo 29, scoring 68.079.
Young Riders
The 2012 Australian Young Rider Champion Fern Wright (VIC) returned back to defend her title onboard her spunky Welsh Cob, Kamber Pryderi. This didn't eventuate in this year's Young Rider Individual Test CDI-Y. The competition was tough and a lot of these young riders had obviously been working hard over the last year.
This year the Champion was Victorian rider Morgan Duell on Florinzz, scoring 68.070. Second went to Queensland rider Rossana Relton on Four Winds Bombadier with a score of 66.798 and third went to another Victorian rider, Victoria Stuckey on Mayfield Miracle scoring 66.579 - only 1.5 points the difference between the top three.
Photos © Franz Venhaus - Julie Wilson
Related Links
Scores 2013 Australian Dressage Championships
Hellyer and Kletke Win First FEI Classes at 2013 Australian Dressage Championships
