In a full field at the 2015 Australian Young Horse Championships in Werribee on 26 - 29 March 2015, Rodney Martin and SPH Renaissance took out the 4-year old championship, Maree Tomkinson and Donna Elena captured the top spot in the 5-year division, and Daniella Dierks and Solo Feliz took top honours after a ride off for the title in the 6-year old category.
SPH Renaissance Wins 4-year old Division
No less than 36 combinations rallyed in Werribee at the 2015 Dressage with the Stars to contest the 4-year old Australian Young Horse Championships. While Rodney Martin took the title with the Australian warmblood SPH Renaissance (by Royal Hit out of Oktovia) it certainly was no sure feat as the pair felt tough competition from Gina Montgomery and Georgina Foot.
Foot and the dark bay Hanoverian gelding Bellaire Cobra (by Cannavaro out of Gifted) won the first round with a strong 84.00% score, earning 7.5 for walk, 8.5 for trot and 9.0 for canter. They referred Martin and SPH Renaissance to second place with 82.60%. In the second round, Martin topped the leader board on Renaissance with 80.400% but had Gina Montgomery on the Hanoverian Aetes Lauries Gift (by Lauries As out of Remi Pinot Noir) right on their heels with 80.000%.
SPH Renaissance averages the highest overall score after two rounds and won the national title.
Donna Elena Stands Out in 5-year old Division
Maree Tomkinson and Donna Elena (by Don Schufro x Bolero) became the champions in the 5-year old division after climbing her way to the top. They were fourth in the first round with 78.200% and won the second round with 79.600%. The three highest ranking horses after round 1 and 2 were invited for the Finals in which guest judge rider Eva Möller assessed the horses and determined the overall winner.
Donna Elena earned an 8 for trot, canter, submission and general impression, a 7.8 for walk, and a 9 from Möller to take out the class with 8.13 points.
“DMJ Donna Elena was purchased from Johannes Westendarp in August while I was in Germany training with Koschels for the WEG,” said Maree. “I was not looking for a horse for myself but after seeing Donna Elena I managed to gather a group of owners together to purchase her. She has three very expressive, correct paces, and more importantly a great trainability and rideability. She has only competed twice in Germany in 4-year old classes and since being in Australia she has now won the 5-year old at Boneo CDI in January, two novice classes with scores of up to 82%, and now the national 5-year old title qualifying her for the World Young horse Champs in Verden 2015.”
Very excited with the potential of this mare, Maree says she has a super cool attitude and was very sweet and well behaved at Werribee.
“She is beautiful to ride, so soft and with a great positive energy," said Tomkinson. "We now have to start getting her stronger and more uphill, in order to work towards the 6 year old class next year.”
Training at the Hidden Valley Equestrian centre in Wallan Victoria, Maree trains solo and gets help in Germany with the Koschels whenever she can get over to Europe. “I am always trying to get Christoph to Australia but that is a work in progress," she added.
Disputed 6-year old Title Goes to Solo Feliz
The 6-year old Championship was not such smooth sailing as in the other divisions with guest judge rider Eva Möller turning round the boards and favouring the runner-up of the two qualification rounds over the winner for the national title.
Maree Tomkinson's 6-year old Australian warmblood gelding Romper Stomper (by Royal Hit) won round 1 with 79.400% and round 2 with 81.200%, each time edging out Danielle Dierks on the black Oldenburg bred Solo Feliz (by San Amour x Donnerhall x Argentan) by a margin.
In the guest judge rider final, Möller favoured the 2012 PSI Auction horse Solo Feliz. The black stallion scored 8.2 for trot, 7.2 for walk, 8.5 for canter, 8.0 for submission and 8.5 for general impression. With a 9.5 rider's score from Möller, the stallion totalled 8.32. Romper Stomper became the 6-year old runner-up with 7.8 for trot, 8.0 for walk and canter, 8.3 for submission, and 8.5 for general impression. Möller gave him an 8.5 rider's score.
In a final ride off of all three champions - SPH Renaissance, Donna Elena, and Solo Feliz - Eva also picked the 6-year old as best horse of the pack which made Solo Feliz earn the title of "Champion of Champions".
“I have previously won back to back Champions of Champions at Dressage with the stars in 2011 and 2012 on clients' young horses, but to able to do this on my own horse makes it much more personal and a self achievement not just a requirement to perform in a job," said a proud Danielle Dierks.
Dierks bought Solo Feliz at Hof Kasselmann in Germany in May 2014 and shipped him to Australia two months later.
“Solo is a very polite 6-year old stallion whose temperament on the ground and in the stable is impeccable, resembling that of a cuddly bear with many human attributes and he loves nothing more then cuddles and scratches," she said. "To ride he switches to work mode and always presents a sense of electricity and response making him highly receptive to training.”
Solo handled the 10-hour trip to Werribee all very well, and Daniella says he went above and beyond all expectations as a young horse. “He got better over the days of the competition using the atmosphere to better his performance but always stayed responsive to my aids and willing to relax after the excitement," she explained.
For 2015 the pair are set for the Sydney CDI in May focusing on the young horse classes, and Daniella will also bring him out for the first time in Medium level in April.
Maree Tomkinson was slightly disappointed that Romper Stomper, who is bred and owned by Lyn McCallum, ended up second after Möller gave him a rider's score of 8.5 in the ride-off.
“Last year he had a score of 9.5 from Helen Langehanenberg, so 8.5 was a bit disappointing; but that is dressage," she staed. "As the rider's score does not count for the World Championships, I am the first Australian rider to qualify both 5 and 6 year old horses for the World Young horse Championships in Verden!”
Tomkinson is not sure whether she'll take her youngsters to Germany. "At this point in time I do not know if we will be able to bring the horses over this year to represent our country. I would love to, but since we have just come home from the WEG it is probably not financially viable at this time. You never know, something might come up!” adds Maree.
by Sarah Warne - Photos © DSWTS
Related Links
Scores 2015 CDI-W Werribee
SPH Renaissance, Donna Elena, Solo Feliz Win 2015 Australian Young Horse Championships