Darwin Royal

Life in the NT is different from "down south" for example you are given the fishing report rather than the stock market round up on the nightly news . Today's dressage spectators were also a bit different, this horse needed to take a closer look.

Judith Beint-Tapp rode her Checkmate to take first place in the Open Assoc 5B and second place in the 5C. This year the dressage classes at the Darwin Royal were conducted over two days with all the unofficial classes yesterday.

Local vet, Jenny Watts rode her Warmblood, Joan Of Arc to win the Official 5C. Jenny is passionate about breeding Warmbloods in the Top End and is making modern breeding techniques available to NT horse owners.

Well performed NT Young Rider, Rachael pen-Dennis rode her Dilettante to win the Official Prix St George.

Melanie Ward and Keen's Touch of Seeker added a little colour to the Official 2D.

Jenny Jones and Aslans's Gold took third place in the Official 3D.

Sophie Cleveland rode her Bloomfield Kalinga in the Official 2D.

Today was set up day for the main part of the show, which was closed to the general public, with a lot of banging and crashing as people set up the displays and rides. There was also a military aviation training day being conducted with jet fighters taking off over the show ground. All this was a bit much for Irish Town, however his rider Vanessa Lines rode him well to build his confidence in the unusual environment.

The well travelled pair of Jane Shaw and Story won the Official 2D. Story has had a varied life, starting as a race horse in Hong Kong, then a hack in Victoria and now he has added to his skills being ridden on the Shaw's large cattle station on the WA/NT boarder along with hacking and dressage.

Long time NT rider, Val Thomas rode Theyona's Madonna to second place in the Offical 2D.

Kelli Clark rode Multi Regard o third place in the Official 1D.

The delightful combination of Kate Shaw and Little Paddocks Concerto earned an impressive 66.8% to win the Official 1D.The effort earned them the award for the Highest Junior Score.

Malanie Ward rode her Stoneage Stitch to third place in the Official 2D.

Kelli Clark rode her unusually marked thoroughbred, Loud in the Open Assoc 1B.

All the way from Alice Springs, Faye Hatch and PS Loftin took second place in the Official 3D. Fay follows the run of shows starting in Alice Springs then moves weekly on to Tennant Creek, Katherine and then into Darwin.

Jenny Jones and her Riding Pony Willowcroft Black Jack won the Pony Official 3D.

Madina Hayman rode her Kiana Blue Murder into second place in the Official 4C. The wonderful grassed arenas at Darwin show are the envy of many competitors and show organisers further south.

Penny Farrow rode her Outback Expectations to third place in the Open Assoc 1B. The standard of presentation today by all the dressage competitors was very high.

Susan Barton Johnson rode her Warmblood, Amana Valley Rococo into third place in the Official 4C.

Anne-Marie Hayman rode Chance for fifth place in the Open Associate 1B. This class started at 8am, but with over night temperatures above 20 C it was still very warm.

Well known and successful all round NT Horse woman, Lisa Mutimer rode Melissa Coleman's nice moving Ritzi Business to win the Open Assoc 2B with 68%. Lisa also rode her El Gems Toby Lerone in the Open Assoc 5B.