Despite heavy rain overnight, day two of the 2017 New Zealand Dressage Championships was fine and sunny, although the warm-up arena took most of the day to dry out and left the horses looking like they’d just finished the beach races! With seven combinations contesting the 2017 Pacific League World Cup Final in Feiling, the CDI-W Grand Prix class was action packed to NZ standards.
As those seven combinations competing for CDI-W Grand Prix honours, the class was won by the indomitable 12-year old NZL bred Hanoverian Dejavu MH (by De Niro x Anamour), ridden by Wendi Williamson. The black gelding smashed the 70% glass ceiling, scoring 71.22 as did second placegetters John Thompson and the 15-year old NZL bred Hanoverian Antonello (by Anamour x Winnebago) with 70.64%.
Penny Castle is back in the running with her 13-year old Holsteiner Magnus Spero (by Lubeck x Rocadero), the pair stepping into third place, and were closely followed by Jody Hartstone and her Portuguese bred Lusitano Ali Baba (by Hostil x Invulgar). Taranaki’s Vanessa Way took fifth on the 14-year old NZL bred NRM Arawn (by Anamour x Carousel), while Abbie Deken and the 15-year old KH Ambrose (by Anamour x Winterkönig) were unfortunately held up for ten minutes upon entering the arena which may have contributed to a performance well below their usual standard (63.6%) and putting them into sixth. Bill Millar and Raukura Satori (by De Niro x Genius) finished on 62.8%.
The Young Rider victory again went to Lucarne Dolley and her 13-year old New Zealand bred mare Devils Chocolate (breeding unknown), the pair outclassing their two rivals to win the CDI-Y Individual on 67.132%. Dolley’s accuracy and preparation for the movements set her up for a very polished performance. First-timers Hannah Van der Horst and her 19-year old Clydesdale x Thoroughbred cross Moby'll Do as well as Emma Turnbull on her 15-year old black New Zealand bred Axiom (breeding unknown) must also be commended on what must be an intimidating initiation to FEI competition – they both did an excellent job, particularly Emma, whose quiet determination helped a rather overwhelmed Axiom through his test.
While three combinations contested the CDI-P Pony Individual test, only the winner moved on to Friday's Pony Kur to Music. Isabella Chatfield and her 16-year old New Zealand bred sport pony mare Prima Bella (by Davidoff x Chiltern Sunsilk) scored 63.70% for their freestyle.
Round Two of the New Zealand Young Dressage Horse competition determined which combinations made it through to tomorrow’s final, namely the following: 4-yr-old, Zoie Gray and Stoneylea Welt Princess; 5-yr-old, Holly Leach and HP Fresco; 6-yr-old, Robyn Coupe and River Park Luciana. The three 4-yr-olds in particular scored very highly with none falling below 70% in any of their tests, Zoie Gray posting 78.4 and 77.0 in rounds one and two respectively. The final will be judged by Helen Hughes Keen (NZL, FEI4*) and Katrina Wuest (GER, FEI5*).
Text by Jess Roberts, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © Libby Law
Related Links
Scores 2017 CDI-W Feilding
Williamson and Dejavu MH Make a Stand in Inter II at 2017 CDI-W Feilding
Pacific League World Cup Final Returns to New Zealand with Seven Combinations in the Running