Lawn, Purdie, Belsham, Rankin, Williamson Win 2026 New Zealand Dressage Championships

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2026 New Zealand Dressage Championships

Wendi Williamson claimed her third, consecutive and fifth Grand Prix champion's title at the 2026 New Zealand Dressage Championships held at the national equestrian center in Taupo on 6 - 8 March 2026.

The NZ National Championships for juniors, young riders and senior Grand Prix riders were contested at CDI level. The Nationals also featured the annual young horse championships which were won by Rokeby La Belle, Kismaayu Dahlia, and Regal Lord.

Grand Prix Champion: Wendi Williamson

Williamson and the Hanoverian bred Don Vito MH (by Don Frederico x Anamour) maintained their Grand Prix Championship winning streak for the third year running; not forgetting their win in 2022 and in 2017 on Deja Vu MH.

Five riders competed in the first round, the Grand Prix, and Willimson topped the board with 69,804%. She went on to win the Kur to Music on Saturday (72.73%) as well as the Grand Prix Special on Sunday (67.426%). This triple victory earned her the Burkner Medal, donated by Mr ND (Nick) Williams who is New Zealand's first and only (to date) 5* judge, selected to official at the Olympics in Seoul and Barcelona in 1988 and 1992.

Junior champion Grace Purdie on Mistadobalina

Gaylene Lennard (Te Aroha) and her 16-year old NZ warmblood Jax Johnson (by Johnson x Anamour) were back in the reserve champion's position after placing second three times with 66.391 % in the Grand Prix, 66.511 % in the Special, and 71.07 % in the Kur.

Wendi Williamson uns Waitekauri Farm in Waitemata, New Zealand. No Williamson event is complete without Jon who is number one supporter although Wendi did say ” he has been known to spend a lot of time on the local golf course when we are at Taupo but this time he was there supporting us at the event with just a sneaky game when we arrived – which was great !”

Wendi was very proud of “‘Donny” – this being their first show for nearly a year following the Waikato Premier League washout back in February. “It felt a little bit rusty in places, but overall I was really pleased – and especially pleased to get a 10 from Henning (Lehrmann) for an entrance and halt ! ”

Youth Champions

Young rider champion Samantha Belsham on Dolcetto II

Junior rider Grace Purdie edged out of Lucy Kenah for the junior champion's title. Purdie and the 14-year old New Zealand warmblood Mistadobalina (by Donnerubin x Donnerwind), bred by Ottilie Upshall, scored a winning 65.666 % in the junior team test, 69.02% in the individual test and she was the sole competitor in the kur to post 69.30%.

Four riders contested the Young Riders Championship and last year's winner Samantha Belsham renewed her title aboard the 10-year old NZ warmblood Dolcetto II (by Donnerubin x Distelfink). She won the first two rounds with 67.412% and 69.26% but was fourth in the Kur with 69.525%. The reserve title went to Gemma Lewis with the 20-year old Ruanuku R (by Regardez Moi x Salute).

U25 champion Brooklyn Rankin on Aphrodite

Three riders battled it out for the Under 25 title, which went to Brooklyn Rankin and Aphrodite. She rode her first very competition at CDI level in Taupo and scored 63.441% in the Inter II, 63.641% in the Short Grand Prix, and 68.180% in the Kur. Rankin's 18-year old NZ Hanoverian is by Anamour x Jacinto xx and was previously competed by Australian Cooper Oborn and New Zealand's James Blackwood. The reserve title went to Lucy Cochrane and Gymanji

The FEI Pony championship was ridden at national level instead of in CDI classes. The title went to Zoe Lawn on the 11-year old Palomino bred Pied Piper Trick or Treat (by Golden Strike out of the unpapered Pennyvale Lulu). The runner up was Maddy Bostock aboard Melanie Hill's Deveron Gamechanger (by Golden Rock x Dornik B).