2009 Australian Dressage Championships

Popular South Australian Grand Prix rider, Ruth Schneeberger rode her Northern Classic gelding, 'Hervey Bay' to third place in the Hamilton Island CDN Grand Prix with 57.06%.

The popular Queensland combination of Gary Lung and his successful 'GB Winchester', by Weltmeyer out of the mare GB Saffron took fifth place in the 30 strong Manely Equine Elementary 3D.

Matthew Dowsley rode his impressive Sandro Hit stallion, 'San Jose' to win the Manely Equine Elementary 3C with 75.25% and take second place in the 3D with 71.19% to claim the 2009 National Elementary Championship.

It's not only Red Bull that gives you wings! Jeremy Janjic rode L & R Jenkins' charming Fresian stallion, 'Jacana TK' by Ulke, to take sixth place in the 3C, 67.16% and 12 th place in the Manely Equine Elementary 3D, 62.47%.

Brett Davey had a nice warm up outing before he heads to the Adelaide Three Day Event in two weeks. Brett rode the home bred, 'Goolcoola Montage' by Gymnastic Star to take eighth place in the very competitive Manely Equine Elementary 3D test with 63.93%.

NSW rider, Verity Spargo opened the Hamilton Island FEI Grand Prix (CDI/W) riding her, 'APH Faust' by APH Socrates with a score of 57.40%.

Maree Tomkinson has made the step up to Grand Prix with her stunning Rotspon stallion, 'Rodrigo III'. Bought as a foal, Maree has produced the beautiful stallion from the outset. A few green mistakes from the stallion and one lapse of memory from Maree saw them earn 58.89%.

Popular and talented Queensland rider Tor van den Berge won the Prydes Easi Feeds FEI Intermediate II yesterday riding Cheryl O'Brien's impressive, imported Hanoverian stallion, 'Fisherman's Friend' by Fabriano with 66.63%. They are another combination to make the step up to Grand Prix at the 2009 Nationals and earned 61.19% today in the Hamilton Island Grand Prix for ninth place.

And so Caroline Wagner should be smiling as she rode a super FEI Grand Prix test today aboard her wonderfully honest, 'WS Nevada'. The bright chestnut may not have the enormous movement of some, but he is correct, willing and happy in his work, and his tempi and two time changes a joy to watch. Their percentage of 60.08 was thought by some knowledgeable observers to be somewhat mean.

Rozzie Ryan's Jazz stallion, 'Jive Magic' has so much movement he sometimes does not know where to put it all. This is the first National Championships at Grand Prix for the talented stallion that took seventh place with 61.91%.

One of the highlights of the Hamilton Island FEI Grand Prix was the performance of Queensland combination, Emma Flavelle and her Falkland Victory mare, 'Northern Meara'. They are an exciting new combination to hit the National Grand Prix scene.

Roger Fitzhardinge belongs to the rare breed of people that can actually walk the walk as well as talk the talk. Roger seems to improve with age and rode his Weltmeyer gelding, 'Weltsohn' to fifth place in the Riders Shoppe FEI Intermediate 1 with 64.63%.

Nina Boyd from the ACT rode her, 'Belcam Aachron', formerly ridden by Victorian, Emmie Schmul, to take 11th place in the Riders Shoppe with a percentage of 62.42.

NSW rider, Camilla Palmer rode her well performed, 'Glenquarry' by Ilkay and bred at the NSW Equestrian Centre to earn 6i% in the Riders Shoppe FEI Intermediate I.

Denise Rogan rode her Rocadero gelding, 'APH Romarn' to tenth place in the Hamilton Island FEI Grand Prix CDI/W with a percentage of 61.10.

Brett Parbery produced the winning test aboard Carolyn Lieutenant's Salute gelding, 'Victory Salute' to take out the Hamilton Island CDI/W Grand Prix with 68.25%. The score also earned Brett and Victory Salute half a WEG Certificate of Capability.

Gitte Donvig produced a good Grand Prix test with her mother, Mary Hanna's imported Phoenix gelding, 'Port Said' to take third place in the Hamilton Island FEI Grand Prix, with 63.66%.. The amiable and frequent mother/daughter rivalry did not eventuate at the Nationals this year, as Mary Hanna had to withdraw her Grand Prix horse, 'Tango V' . Rachel Sanna was another well performed absentee, as her mount, Bev Edward's 'Jaybee Alabaster' is suffering minor ill effects from being gelded.

Blas Lago is always a man on the move, especially when he is riding his talented Northern Hermes gelding, 'Northern Hector'. They took eighth place in the Hamilton Island CDI/W Grand Prix with 61.78%.

Charlotte Pederson rode Lady Clark's wonderful, imported Danish gelding, 'Come To Me', by Come Back II to fifth place in the Hamilton Island CDI'W with 62.59.

Always good to watch, Kate Taylor-Wheat and 'Oscar B', her Dutch gelding by Zeoliet are pictured during the Hamilton Island CDI/W Grand Prix. Not their best test, for 59.91 and 13th place.

Ashlea Day from NSW is another young rider breaking in to the tough FEI competition. She rode her Dutch gelding, 'CP Perolus' by Junior STV to earn 58.42% in the Riders Shoppe FEI Intermediate 1.

It is always good to see Heath Ryan in action. He is pictured with his charasmatic Grand Prix partner, 'Regardez Moi'. The imported Rubinstein stallion was second in the Hamilton Island Grand Prix CDI/W with 65.40%. Heath and "Fabio" also earned half a WEG COC.

Successful dressage rider, Jenny Gehrke added to the considerable Queensland success at the 2009 Nationals by taking eight place with 64.21% in the Riders Shoppe FEI Intermediate 1 riding her impressive Gullit mare, 'Gitane'.

Young Victorian rider, Clare Porz rode her imported Danish mare, 'Candi Ka' by Cajus to take and impressive sixth place in the Riders Shoppe FEI Intermediate 1 with 64.42%.

Linda Foster's Richmead Medallion gelding, 'Mauritius' just looked sensational. The gleaming gelding took 17th place with 61.05% in the competitive Riders Shoppe Intermediate 1.

Daniella Dierks rode Greg and Katherine Farrell's Contango II gelding, 'Concordance' to third place in the Riders Shoppe FEI Intermediate 1 with 66%.

Young and talented Victorian rider, Rebecca Woff is just beginning her Grand Prix career. She is pictured with her 'APH Showman' by the imported Trak, that took ninth place with 59.10% in the Prydes Easi Feeds FEI Intermediate II on the first day of the 2009 Horseland Dressage Championships.

The always competitive Victorian rider, Keryn Conners rode her Trakhener gelding, 'Exklusive Armani' by Benito (imp) to earn 61.53% in the Elementary 3D and 63.41% in the Manely Equine Elementary 3C.

Ann Behringer from NSW is pictured with her eight year old Royal Diamond gelding, 'Nandewar Royal Rhythm' during the Manely Equine National Elementary Championship.

Nicole Tough rode Ken Dowsett's eye catching Depardieu gelding, 'Dante' to fourth place in the Manely Equine Elementary 3D with 67.69%.