Shooting Star Mary Warren Wins World Cup Kur, Heath Ryan Wins 2016 Australian Grand Prix Championship

Shows

2016 Australian Dressage Championships

The 18-year old shooting star Mary Warren made history by becoming the youngest rider ever to win a World Cup Qualifier freestyle in Australia at the 2016 Australian Nationals held in Sydney on 19 - 23 October 2016. Warren and Mindarah Park Ramadan scored 71.00% in the kur for victory. Heath Ryan became the overall winner of the Grand Prix division and was crowned 2016 Australian Grand Prix Champion.

Mary who was very understandably emotional at the presentation, completed a HSC math exam on Friday along with her dressage tests. She placed 8th in the CDI-W Grand Prix and 4th in the CDI-Y on Mindarah Park Raphael on Friday. On Saturday she placerd 3rd in the CDI-Y Individual test.

“I am ecstatic. I was shocked to hear the score and even more shocked to hear the placing but he is just getting better and better. I am so fortunate. He was really good in the changes. I felt I could just sit back and he would just do the job." When asking her how she feels about making history in the sport tonight she says "I am a committed person and this is just the dream. It is an outstanding way of representing Australia.

German judge, Henning Lehrmann said of Mary's test : "She did a really good job. I would say it was a test without mistakes. The highlight was the extended walk. She had a really good choreography that was difficult enough. She showed changes every second stride on the circle and then she changed directly every stride. The music was nice."

Just before the break, Warren, who is from NSW, opened the leader board with the first over 70% score and just didn't let anyone get close to here and from there, kept the lead in the competition until the end.

In the second part of the competition, Deon Stokes, who won Thursday's PSG, offered an enthusiastic performance with the Oldenburg stallion Royal Oak II, owned by Kate Barton, obtaining 69.975%. But next rider, Robbie Mckinnon (Soster), riding her cute chestnut gelding, Robaldi Razzamatazz, who performed strongly and scored 70.475%, placing her second of the temporary leaderboard. Heath Ryan and Utopian Cardinal were second last entering the arena after, after winning Friday's Grand Prix CDI-W. Heath is a performer and loves the thrills of Freestyle, always carefully tuning his performance with a powerful soundtrack. The combination did a great job, scoring 70.500%, that was very close to Robbie's score but just enough to place him second of the overall leaderboard.

"It is my first time judging in Australia. I really appreciated it very much. Everyone is very friendly and the organizing team is very good. I get the feeling they try to do the best for the riders and the horses and that is the most important to see. I am impressed." Henning Lehrmann, further shares.

Heath Ryan Wins 2016 Australian Grand Prix Championship

The Australian Grand Prix Champion is the combination that achieves the best two scores in either the Grand Prix CDI-W and Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W or the Grand Prix CDI-W and the Grand Prix Special (using the championship point score system). Heath Ryan was crowned this year's champion scoring 67.440% in the Grand Prix and 70.500% in the Freestyle on mount Utopian Cardinal.

Judy Dierks and Diamond Star win the Grand Prix

Judith Dierks stepped-up to claim the Grand Prix Championship at the Australian Dressage Championships after winning Friday’s Grand Prix CDI-W, held in the indoor area at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. She scored 68.82% with her gelding Diamond Star, owned by Vicki Newham. Second, was Heath Ryan riding the 12yo gelding Utopian Cardinal in 67.44% (owner Anthony Thornhill) and third was Heath's wife, Rozzie scoring 66.84% with the warmblood she owns, Jarrah R

Danielle Dierks Wins Inter I Freestyle

Daniella Dierks, daughter of Judy Dierks - who we both interviewed together on the first day of competition - was absolutely "over the moon" with her still young, Solo Feliz who won his first Freestyle Saturday with a strong score of 70.583%.

"I was a little worried, not so much that he couldn't do it but more that when you bring on the young horses and they start picking up their game and they start going up the levels, they have to start experiencing things like freestyles. The most important thing for me was he coped with it, didn't get a fright. It was important that the first one to come, as he will have many more, was a good experience for him. And over that, winning the class ?! I couldn't have asked for more really."

Young Riders Thrive at Australian Nationals

On the last day of competition at the 2016 Australian Dressage Championships, the highlight for the young Australian riders was the FEI Grand Prix under25 CDI Freestyle and the Young Rider CDI-Y Freestyle.

Mary Warren had an unforgettable moment on Saturday night, winning the Grand Prix CDI-W Freestyle at only 18 years old, on Mindarah Park Ramadan, against some of Australia's legendary riders such as Olympian Heath Ryan, Judy Dierks, Rozzie Ryan or Susan Elekessy. She performed very strongly again on Sunday morning with her second horse, Mindarah Park Raphael who is actually the oldest son of the stallion she rode the day before.

"It is pretty special to win both classes. Yesterday hasn't really sunken in yet. I went straight to sleep last night, I was so tired. I didn't think this would happen. I am ecstatic." This Young Rider CDI-Y Freestyle class had been Mary's goal this weekend and she came to the Champs expecting to do good in the class. "We had a few floaty moments with Raphy on Friday and Saturday but today he felt much better. Still not what he can do but it is getting better. He internalizes a bit and shuts down. I am working on bringing his confidence out and hopefully, he can show what he can do. The next 12 month will be interesting for him."

Katharine Farrell and her 14-year-old Hanoverian Luxor, backed up their strong result in Friday and Saturday's Under 25 Tests (in which they scored 66.210% in the Inter II and 68.279% in the Grand Prix), with another promising performance in the Freestyle which resulted in a score of 71.450%. "I have had a wonderful competition. I am really pleased with how we've gone. I wasn't expecting to do so well in all three tests. It is a big honor and I love this show. I have been coming here for many years, it is always a real pleasure. I am so happy with my horse and proud. We have come such a long way together."