Horseland 2008 EFA Australian Dressage Championships

Ros Tippett from Western Australia rode Frieda Macklin's 'Broadstone Dramatik', a British bred Hanoverian gelding by Demonstrator, in the Needs For Seeds Prix St Georges Championship for 16th place with 60.85%..

Kate Taylor-Wheat with her 'World Star', a super imported six year old Westphalian gelding by World Magic. They took fifth place in the Peter Horobin 4.3 with 65.35% and fourth place in the 4.4 with 66.22% for third place overall in the Australian Medium Championship.

Judy Dierks was heard to comment, "it's not all easy", as she was having difficulty getting a spooky 'Schwarze Sonne' past the judge's cars. The nine year old imported Oldenburg mare by Sandro Hit., owned by T and S Drysdale, was competing in the Peter Horobin Medium Championship.

Rachael Sanna rode Elise Ball's 'CP Sangria' by Sandro Song out of a Don Primero mare to 13th place in the Peter Horobin Medium Championships today. Yesterday they were declared Mitavite Australian Elementary Champions.

Amelia Kristian with her eye-catching,'Talien' by Box Hollow Crusader during the Peter Horobin Australian Medium Championship.

Nicholas Fyffe rode Phil Rapson's imported Rohdiamont gelding out of an Acapuko mare, 'Rhodes' to win the Gow Gates Advanced Freestyle with 68.25%.

Susan Elekessy was appearing at her first Australian Dressage Championships at FEI level with her talented, 'Versailles' . The Thoroughbred by Volcanic Prince out of Bright Estimate had a racing career before heading into the dressage arena. They are pictured competing in the Swish Horse Intermediate Freestyle.

Tor van den Berge produced a very pleasing test, not surprisingly to a nautical theme to earn 69.9% for first place in the Swish Horse Intermediate Freestyle riding Cheryl O'Brien's Hanoverian stallion, 'Fisherman's Friend' (Fabriano/Penny Lane).

Jane and Maurie Bruce's wonderful competition mare and mother, 'Neversfelde Kudu' is still at the top of her game at 18 years old and can still teach 22 year old Alycia Targa more about riding dressage. The talented "old" girl and their talented young girl took third place in the Swish Horse Intermediate Freestyle with their as always entertaining performance for 66.70%.

Rozzie Ryan's successful imported Jazz stallion, 'Jive Magic' has already won in the breeding stakes today, siring the Australian Medium Champion, 'Karingal Anastasia'. He felt so proud that the charismatic Jive was a little above himself during his Swish Horse Intermediate Freestyle. He was fourth with 66.70%.

Jenny Gehrke rode Joanne Cotton's 'Gitane' by Gullit to second place in the Peter Horobin Medium 4.3, 66.06% and sixth place in the 4.4, 65.25% to claim the overall Australian Medium Reserve Championship.

Gina Montgomery not only added her show ring elegance to the dressage arena, she took second place in the Peter Horobin Medium 4.4 with 67.71% riding her beautiful, imported,'NV Wallmeyer' (Weltmeyer/Marena).

Sylvia McLachlan was another to get out and about with some lovely European shopping. Sylvia rode her 'Avignon 1V' (Abanos/Bolero) , still a little green at this level, in the Peter Horobin Medium Championship.

Caroline Wagner was clearly enjoying the ride on her 'WS Nevada' by Dutchman in the Need For Seeds Prix St George Championship. They finished in 16th place with 60.30%.

Wings on his feet. The unmistakable 'Django of Cacharel' by Pike, owned by Lyn Jenkins and ridden by Jeremy Janjic in the Peter Horobin Medium Championship.

Christine Crawford makes an attractive entrance with Diane Burns' 'Krack A Jack C' by Krack C during the Peter Horobin Australian Medium Championships.

Heather Currie rode her impressive 'Donnerblitz' an imported Oldenberg stallion by Donnerhall to eighth place in the Peter Horobin Medium 4.3 with 64.44% and third in the 4.4 with 66.84% for fourth place overall in the Australian Medium Championship.

'Greenoaks Weltman' by Man About Town owned by Clyde Wunderwald and ridden by the unmistakable Heath Ryan was seventh in the Peter Horobin Medium 4.3, 64.74% and fifth in the 4.4, 55.05%. They finished fifth overall in the Australian Medium Championship.

'Karingal Anastasia' by Jive Magic ridden by Tor van den Berge was the Reserve Mitavite Elementary Champion yesterday, but went one better today to be declared Peter Horobin Australian Medium Champion. The seven year-old mare owned by Sharna Glover made it a clean sweep, winning the 4.3, 69.59% and the 4.4, with 67.71%.

Samantha Bartlett from Upper Pakenham in Victoria with her stallion, 'Weltwunder E' (Weltmeyer/APH Frauenberg) during the Peter Horobin Medium Championships. They finished 14th overall in the strong Championship field.

Jessica Greelish with her "FEI find of the show", 'Rivendell Parador'. The imported Westfalian gelding by Paradiso (by Pilot) out of a Dutch mother was seventh in the Needs For Seeds Prix St Georges with 64.20% and third in the Gow Gates Advanced Freestyle with 64.91%. Twenty-six year old Jessica from Queensland is one of a small but talented group of young dressage riders that gives rise to a sense of optimism for the future of the sport in this country.

'Northern Simba' (Falklands Victory/Northern Carousel II) ridden by Matthew Dowsley and owned by Elaine Harrison was fourth in the Needs For Seeds Prix St Georges Championships with 66.20%.

With Dr Margaret Evans making a trip from hospital to see her horse compete, Heath Ryan did not let her down, with the super black Rubinstein stallion, 'Regardez Moi' getting the nod from three of the five judges, including the O Level, Cara Witham and Peter Holler from Germany. Heath and Regardez Moi won the Bates Grand Prix Freestyle with 71.55%, just 0.1 ahead of second place.

Megan Hewitt is pictured with her 'Northern Amadeus' (Falklands Victory/Northern Evita) during the Needs For Seeds Prix St Georges Championship.

Warwick McLean rode the beautiful and imported seven year old Sandro Hit stallion, 'Alessandro' to eighth place in the Peter Horobin Medium 4.4 with 64.82%.

Daniella Dierks with 'Concordance' by Contango II out of an Aachen mare during the Needs For Seeds Prix St Georges Championship. Another very promising young dressage rider, Daniella took ninth place with Katharine and Gregory Farrell's gelding with 62.65%.

'Don Romero' by Don Ramiro owned by Thelka Blackmore and ridden by Sue Hearn is pictured during the Needs For Seeds Prix St Georges Championships.

Rachael Sanna produced the best Grand Prix Freestyle so far in her partnership with Bev Edward's exciting Alabaster stallion, 'Jaybee Alabaster'.The Olympic and World Championship rider is beginning to make headway with the impressive stallion and earned 71.45%. and first place with two of the five judges for second place overall.

Susan Page came all the way from Western Australia with her Rohiament gelding, 'Rohcardo' that came all the way from PSI in Germany. Susan was competing in the Needs For Seeds Prix St Georges Championship.

Championship arena specialist (and FEI official) Simon Barrey demonstrates his rather partisan allegiance to NSW