Following her victory in the Thursday Grand Prix, Sheridyn Ashwood and the 16-year old Dutch warmblood stallion Prestige (by Silvano N x Good Times) continued their winning streak and claimed victory in the Grand Prix Special at the 2013 CDI Sydney on 3 May 2013.
The Queensland based rider and her mount scored a personal best 70.34 and were the only duo to score over 70 per cent. The next best placed combination was Rozzie Ryan and GV Bullwinkle who scored 66.72.
Ashwood is delighted to win but even more thrilled to achieve a mark with a seven in front of it. “I was in shock, I rode the horse down to the stables and the girls came in running and cheering. Then they told me I’d scored over 70 per cent and I was so excited. The score is what matters most. The test I did just then was good, but there’s so much more that I can do. I come out of the test and I’m happy but I know I still have a few things to work on,” she said.
A good size audience gathered to watch the Grand Prix Special. One of the highlights (for want of a better word) was when Utopian Cardinal ridden by Heath Ryan decided to take off for the last few strides of the extended canter. Within a couple of strides, Heath had him back in rhythm and executed a good canter pirouette on cue – pretty impressive! By the end of the day, second place went to Rozzie Ryan on GV Bullwinkle, third to Caroline Wagner on Tango V and first place was well deserved with Sheridyn Ashwood and her beautiful stallion Prestige VDL.
Saturday’s Grand Prix Freestyle is expected to attract a capacity crowd and all eyes will be on Ashwood to see if she can achieve a clean sweep. “We’re actually going to change my freestyle, we’re going to make it more difficult and more spectacular,” she said.
What’s great about competitions like the Sydney CDI is that by the second day, a number of horse and rider combinations have already proven that they are in top form and therefore have set a benchmark of the quality needed to be competitive at the different levels of competition. The question always is can the placegetters of the previous day maintain their form or will other members of the field raise the bar and give them a run for their money.
The Intermediaire I was a great example of this. If yesterday was going to be a measure on today’s performance then it would be Brett Parbery and Tor Van Den Berge battling it out once again. Guess what – It was identical! Brett on Susan Duddy’s DP Weltmieser came first, Tor and Cheryl O’Brien’s Lauries As came second, Brett on the Farrell Family’s Aber Hallo came third and Tor on Kaz Roe’s Donna Bonita came third.
As yesterday’s Under 25s Intermediaire II was so inspiring, I made sure I was there to see every horse. Unfortunately, today’s competition wasn’t quite the same. Most combinations had moments where they hit a wall - another learning curve of the road to Grand Prix. In saying that, like all tests, there was some good movements which I’m sure they were pleased with. Like yesterday, Jayden Brown on Furst Friedrich came first, second went to Megan Bryant on Northern Xanthus III and third went to Alexis Hellyer on Waca W.
Text by Michelle Cook and Scott Pollock
Photo © Franz Venhaus
Related Links
Scores 2013 CDI Sydney
Maiden Victory for Sheridyn Ashwood in 2013 CDI Sydney Grand Prix
