Iresias L, Karizmah Billionaire, SPH Renaissance Win 2017 Australian Young Horse Championships

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2017 Australian Young Horse Championships

The 4-year old Iresias L, the 5-year old Karizmah Billionaire and the 6-year old SPH Renaissance became the winners of the 2017 Australian Young Horse Championships held at the PSI Dressage With the Stars CDI event in Werribee, Australia, on 22- 26 March 2017. In a super final with guest judge rider Nicole Wego testing the three champions, she proclaimed Iresias L the Champion of Champions.

In the 4-year old division, which was judged by Cunningham, Riexinger, and McMillan, Gina Montgomery topped the board on Sarah Hanslow's Dutch warmblood bred stallion Iresias L (by Johnson x Ferro) after scoring 87.600 points. The pair were already the clear winners of the preliminary round with 85.800% and fulfiled their role as favourites for the title in the Finals. Shanon McKimmie and Alexandra Pearce's mare Black Forest Dark Energy (by Danone I) were the runners up, following far in the distance with 74.000 points. They climbed from an 8th place in the preliminary round to second place. Danielle French and Hollands Bends Skyfall (by Sir Donnerhall x Rubinero) moved into the bronze medal position with 73.600% after placing sixth in the warm-up round.

Roberta Soster on Karizmah Billionaire Judges Hoevenaars, Schwennesen and Riexinger awarded the highest score to Roberta Soster and the Australian bred palomino Karizmah Billionaire (by Belissimo M x Jaybee Excellent) in the 5-year old division. The pair won 77.800% after spectacularly climbing the board from a 9th place in the first roun with 70.60%. Sheridyn Ashwood and her home bred bay stallion Chocolate Fondue (by Ferrero Chocolate Box x Samboo) were the silver medalists with 75.800% improving one place after the preliminary round. Holly Leach and the Australian bred HP Fresco (by Fackeltanz x Lander x Richmeed Medallion) dropped from second place in the preliminary test to a final third place with 75.700%. The pair also competed at the 2017 New Zealand Young Horse Championships a few weeks ago, where they became the champions.

After winning the 4-year old title in 2015, Rodney Martin and Andrea Beatty's Australian bred SPH Renaissance (by Royal Hit x Clintino) were back at the top and became the convincing winners in the 6-year old division with a 78.40% awarded by judges Ventura, MacMillan and Riexinger. The pair Former Austrian Grand Prix team rider Brett Parbery became the runner-up aboard Sharon McCombe's imported Yarramee Serendipity (by Sunday) with 74.100%. Former team rider Matthew Dowsley captured bronze aboard last year's 5-year old Australian champion Santiago (by Sandro Hit) with 74.000%

Rodney Martin on SPH Renaissance For years Dressage and Jumping with the Stars has been sponsored by PSI. The German horse sales company was represented at the show by François Kasselmann and their assistant trainer Nicole Wego. Nicole rode the winners of 4-year old, 5-year old and 6-year old classes and was impressed by quality and rideability of the horses. The 4-year old stallion Iresias L was crowned Champion of Champions.

Photos © Derk O'Leary

Results - 2017 Australian Young Horse Championships - Werribee

4-year olds - Round 2 (Finals)

1. Iresias L - Gina Montgomery - 87.600%
2. Black Forest Dark Energy - Shanon McKimmie - 74.000%
3. Hollands Bend Skyfall - Danielle Ffrench - 73.600%
4. Lets Blitz L- izzie Wilson-Fellows - 73.200%
5. Braveaux - Gina Montgomery - 71.600%
6. Gowrie Park Cognac - Tamara Campain - 71.600%
7. SPH Sir Oktagonal - Anne-Catherine Krups - 71.000%
8. Bangalow Creek Summer - Katrina Smith - 68.600%
9. Sugarloaf Lanouk - Hayley Gilbert - 68.200%
10. Hollands Bend Regalite - Roberta Soster - 68.200%

5-year olds - Round 2 (Finals)

1. Karizmah Billionaire - Roberta Soster - 77.800%
2. Ashwoods Chocolate Fondue - Sheridyn Ashwood - 75.800%
3. HP Fresco - Holly Leach - 75.700%
4. Almania Felix - Elliot Patterson - 75.600%
5. Bluefields Doris Day - Alexis Hellyer - 75.200%
6. Louvier - Kody McAvoy - 73.800%
7. Sugarloaf Fefe - Clarissa Bentley Bell - 73.400%
8. Freestyle MS - Linda Foster - 71.600
9. Connor - Rodney Martin - 70.800%
10. Benchmark Beckham - Melissa Van Den Berge -68.000%

6-year olds - Round 2 (Finals)

1. SPH Renaissance - Rodney Martin - 78.400%
2. Yarramee Serendipity - Brett Parbery - 74.100%
3. Santiago - Matthew Dowsley - 74.000%
4. Artes Lauries Gift - Gina Montgomery - 73.800%
5. Breitley - Rodney Martin - 73.000%
6. HV Sonnet - Cooper Oborn - 72.900%
7. Widderstein Furst Pharoah - Denise Rogan - 67.800%
8. Candiman - Shanon McKimmie - 63.800%
BC Romanov - Katrina Smith- ELI