Dolley and Brougham Take First Steps Towards Securing 2016 New Zealand Dressage Champion's Title

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2016 New Zealand Dressage Championships

Young rider Lucarne Dolley and Grand Prix rider Julia Brougham have taken their first successful steps towards securing the title in their division at the 2016 New Zealand Dressage Championships which kicked off on 3 February 2016 at Manfield Park in Fielding, New Zealand. The Grand Prix and Young Riders classes are two divisions that work as CDI classes at this event, while all other tests are national level classes.

A group of eight young riders has gathered in Feilding to contest the 2016 New Zealand Young Riders Championships and Lucarne Dolley has clearly set the tone by acing the team championship test with a clear point advantage. Aboard her 12-year old chestnut mare Devils Chocolate, Dolley scored 66.096% for victory. They edged out Molly Lumb and the experienced, 17-year old former Grand Prix horse KH Arvan (by Anamour x Dynamit), who finished second with 64.912%. Devon Roas and the 12-year old New Zealand stationbred Busuto landed third place with 63.421%.

At Grand Prix level seven combinations are contesting the Championship but New Zealand's star rider of the moment, Julia Brougham and her 13-year old Rhinelander Vom Feinsten (by Fidermark x Weltmeyer), posted the highest score on the board in the Grand Prix. Brougham is New Zealand's number one contender for a Rio Olympics' slot and she has now added a 68.94% score to her tally. Unfortunately she needs one more 70% to make it to Rio. Her next opportunity will be the Horse of the Year Show next month in New Zealand, otherwise the rider has to go back to Australia to achieve it there before the 6 March 2016 deadline.

The runner-up in the Grand Prix at Feilding was John Thompson on the 14-year old Hanoverian gelding Antonello (by Anamour x Winnebago). They scored 66.800% and referred Wendi Williamsen on the 11-year old Hanoverian Dejavu MH (by De Niro x Anamour) to third place with 66.42%.