In the showdown for the title of Australian Dressage Champion, Brett Parbery on Victory Salute emerged victorious last weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Horsley Park.
Parbery won the Grand Prix on Carolyn Lieutenant’s gelding Victory Salute relegating defending Champion Heath Ryan to second place going into Saturday night’s Grand Prix Freestyle.
In front of a full house of cheering fans Ryan and the black stallion Regardez Moi performed their popular test to music from “Pirates of the Caribbean” and put a sensational score on the board of 73.250%. The pressure was now on Parbery to match or raise the bar in order to ensure a win in the Australian Grand Prix Championship.
With the composure of a true professional, Parbery and his 18hh mount Victory Salute entered the arena. For all the excitement that comes with watching the flamboyant Ryan, there is a zen-like calm that comes with watching Parbery, it is poetry in motion. His timing was perfect, his horse bright and focused executing all his work elegantly on cue. At the final halt the crowd roared with approval - and the judges agreed 74.55% (scoring 81% for artistic marks from visiting British 5-star Judge Stephen Clarke) and a new Australian Dressage Champion.
"We are having a great year," said Brett at the presentation; "we are putting in a lot of hard work with our focus on Kentucky." After thanking the sponsors, owner Carolyn Lieutenant, his team and event organisers, Brett asked everyone to spare a thought for Dressage personality Lindy Wright who recently passed away, "I wanted to do this tonight for Lindy."
Ryan finished as Reserve Champion and commented after his freestyle "I did a blinder of a test and I can't believe that Brett did such an amazing job to beat me. The big aim is to get three Australian riders over 70% in international competition and we are getting there, it is just so exciting."
The Intermediate Championship was won by Jessica Greenlish (Qld) and 13-year-old Riverndell Parador. The pair won both the Intermediate I and the Intermediate Freestyle and will be another exciting combination when they step up to Grand Prix.
Photo courtesy: Franz Venhaus
Related Links
Scores 2009 CDI-W Sydney
Parbery Leads in 2009 Australian Dressage Championships
2009 Australian Championships, the Best Interstate Rivalry off the Footy Field
Previous Winners
Heath Ryan is 2008 Australian Dressage Champion
Ricky MacMillan Wins the 2004 Australian Dressage Championships