Hollands Bend Francis, Vittorio DS, Glenhill Vivid, Ellanbrae Felton Gold Win 2024 Australian Young Horse Championships

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2024 Australian Young Horse Championships

The 4-year old Hollands Bend Francis, the 5-year old Vittorio DS , the 6-year old Glenhill Vivid, and the 7-year old Ellanbrae Felton Gold became the winners of the Australian Young Horse Championships, held annually during the PSI Dressage with the Stars competition at the CDI-W Werribee.

Hollands Bend Francis was named "Champion of Champions" after a guest judge rider final with the four winners.

The Australian Young Horse Championships follow the format of a first round from which the 10 highest scoring horses move to the second round, which are the finals. The others move to a consolation final to get the opportunity to ride in front of a ground jury two times during the event.

4-YO: Hollands Bend Francis

The 4-year old division proved to be the most popular age category of the 2024 Young Horse Championships with no less than 27 entries for the qualifying round. Elliott Patterson and the Hanoverian registered Hollands Bend Francis (by Franklin x Stedinger) made a huge surge on the board, finishing 7th in the qualifier with 75.200% and then riding to the title in the actual finals on a score of 81.80%. Bred by Jane Batram of Hollands Bend and owned by Samantha Sidwelln the gelding scored 8.8 for trot, 6.6 for walk, 9 for canter, 8 for submission and 8.5 for perspective from judges Mary Seefried, Jobina Kennedy, Sandy Phillips.

Patterson also picked up the reserve champion's title aboard GT For the Boys (by Follow Me x Catango), bred by GT Sporthorses and owned by Anna Fullarton. This horse scored 80.60% and edged out Matthew Lord aboard the Hanoverian Remi Vintage Star (by Remi Vigneron x Wolkenstein II) with 77.600%

5-YO: Vittorio DS

Twenty-one horses lined up for the the 5-year old division. The winner was David Shoobridge aboard his homebred Hanoverian Vittorio DS (by Vitalis x Ampere). They were 6th in the warm up with 77.40% and aced the finals with 79.80. The stallion scored 7.5 for walk, 8 for trot, 8.2 for canter, 8 for submission and 8.2 for general impression.

German expat Alexandra Vodermair became the runner-up with her own Hanoverian Exact (by Escamillo x Hohenstein), bred by Thorsten Hogrefe. They scored 78.200%. This was their second silver in two years time. Emma Crocker and the Australian bred Morricco (by Morricone x Regardez Moi) finished on 77.000%.

Last year's champion 4-year old Selected (by Secret x Gardez) was now presented by his owner Samantha Sidwell and placed fifth.

6-YO: Glenhill Vivid

Sixteen 6-year olds battled it out and it was Riley Alexander who took top honours aboard Christan Trainor's Australian warmblood Glenhill Vivid (by Vitalis x Zonik). Bred by Michelle Williams, the mare scored 7 for walk, 8.2 for trot, 7.8 for canter and submission and 8.0 for perspective to finish on the winning total of 77.60%

Deon Stokes and Hannah Shippen's importer Axel DC (by AC-DC x ???) followed in the distance with 73.00%. Lizzie Wilson-Fellows and her own New Zealand bred Lets Chance It (by Chemistry x Riverside) were third with 72.60%. This gelding is bred by Holly Leach.

Last year's 5-year old champions, Megan Bryant and Dankesohn MBE (by Bluefields Dankeschön x ???), were 6th this time.

7-YO: Ellanbrae Felton Gold

There were eight 7-year olds competing in Werribee and six of them showed in the Finals round. Emma Hayward and Ellenbrae Felton Gold (by Fidertanz x Rohdiamant) grabbed the gold with 71.743%. The Oldenburg registered gelding got 68.286% for the technical execution of the test and 75.2 points for his gaits, submission and perspective.

Emma Hayward and Michael Holtgers with
Ellenbrae Felton Gold

Anne Nelson and her home bred Australian Hanoverian Rosevale Ballroom Blitz (by Bellario x Wolkentanz I) were on Hayward's heels with 71.043 while Danielle French and her own Hanoverian Hollands Bend For Amour (by For Romance x Royal Classic) finished third with 70.929%

Champion of Champions: Hollands Bend Francis

At the end of the Championship, the four division winners compete against each other for the title "Champion of Champions".

German Grand Prix rider Lena Waldmann (now Hassmann) had flown to Werribee alongside PSI/Hof Kasselmann's Michael Holtgers, representing the long-time title sponsor of the event, and Lena served as test rider, riding all four horses and providing public commentary of the feeling she had in the saddle.

The 2024 PSI Australian Young Dressage Horse Champion of Champions was awarded to the 4-year old Hollands Bend Francis.

Results - 2024 Australian Young Horse Championships

4-year olds
Judges: Mary Seefried, Jobina Kennedy, Sandy Phillips

1. Elliot Patterson - Hollands Bend Francis - 81.800% (Australia)
2. Elliot Patterson - GT For The Boys - 80.600% (Australia)
3. Matthew Lord - Remi Vintage Star - 77.600% (Australia)
4. Shanon McKimmie - Springside Marconi - 76.300% (Australia)
5. Megan Joyce - Mayfield Vibrance - 76.000% (Australia)
6. Matthew Lord - Remi Bodacious - 75.600% (Australia)
7. Emma Hayward - Danny Zuko BRF - 73.800% (Australia)
8. Marc Green - Rhodolite - 71.700% (Australia)
9. Lindsey Ware - Brighton - 70.000% (Australia)
10. Lizzie Wilson-Fellows - Hollands Bend Secrets Out - 66.600% (Australia)

5-year olds
Judges: Ulrike Nivelle, Mary Seefried, Susan Hoevenaars

1. David Shoobridge - Vittorio DS - 79.800% (Australia)
2. Alexandra Vodermair - Exact - 78.200% (Australia)
3. Emma Crocker - Morricco - 77.000% (Australia)
4. Samantha Sidwell - Selected - 76.800% (Australia)
5. Harvey Besley - Keep A Secret - 76.600% (Australia)
6. Katina Smith - BC Memphis - 76.200% (Australia)
7. Stuart Archibald - Vixen Storm - 76.000% (Australia)
8. Robert Harrisson Schmerglatt - TS Soulmate - 75.600% (Australia)
9. Deon Stokes - Karizmah Bel Air - 73.600% (Australia)
10. Hannah Rockwell - Jazdan Formidable - 72.400% (Australia)

6-year olds
Judges: Ulrike Nivelle, Susan Hoevenaars, Sandy Phillips

1. Riley Alexander - Glenhill Vivid - 77.600% (Australia)
2. Deon Stokes - Axel DC - 73.000% (Australia)
3. Lizzie Wilson-Fellows - Lets Chance It - 72.600% (Australia)
4. Emma Hayward - Keystone Furstin Class - 71.800% (Australia)
5. Jordan Smith - Penny Hill Park Francesca - 71.800% (Australia)
6. Megan Bryant - Dankesohn MBE - 69.200% (Australia)
7. Nina Boyd - LL Tigrene - 68.800% (Australia)
8. Olivia Gillespie - Nottingham GP - 68.200% (Australia)
9. Tanisha Ryan - Severina - 66.200% (Australia)
10. Taleisha Snell - Nina VDL - 65.000% (Australia)

7-year olds
Judges: Connie Murray, Lee Howells, Virginia Creed

1. Emma Hayward - Ellanbrae Felton Gold - 71.743% (Australia)
2. Anne Nelson - Rosevale Ballroom Blitz - 71.043% (Australia)
3. Danielle Ffrench - Hollands Bend For Amour - 70.929% (Australia)
4. Samantha Sidwell - Asgards Indico - 70.557% (Australia)
5. Javais Ham - Mayfield Fez - 69.115% (Australia)
6. Caitlin Scott - Furstenglanz - 67.543% (Australia)

Champion of Champions
Judges: Seefried, Nivelle, Hoevenaars

WINNER: Hollands Bend Francis
Vittorio DS
Glenhill Vivid
Ellanbrae Felton Gold