Dowsley Does Not Disappoint

Dowsley Does Not Disappoint

The Martin Collins Australian Dressage Championships saw over 280 horse and rider combinations from every state in Australia travel to Boneo Park on the Mornington Peninsula. With five full days of competition is was sure to be a splendid a event, with riders and spectators excited to witness the Dressage Showcase and Horseland Grand Prix CDI-W classes on the Friday and Saturday.

The Dressage Showcase welcomed Brett Parbery to the stage. Brett was last year’s Australian Grand Prix Champion and has recently returned from competing and representing Australia at the World Equestrian Games in Tyron. Brett taught a number of different riders on different levels of horses and conducted two informative showcases centered around his training techniques for ‘intelligent riding’ and what the judges are looking for. Spectators were also treated into some insights into his successful WEG campaign with DP Weltmeiser.

In the competition arena, the star of the show was Matthew Dowsley on Denise Ceddia’s fabulous warmblood gelding ‘ AEA Prestige’. This pair won the Horseland Grand Prix CDI-W Freestyle on the huge score of 75.790% ahead of Queensland combination Shannan Goodwin and her wonderful ‘Aristede’ who scored 72.600%. With ‘Aristede’ for sale it was a bittersweet moment for Shannan leaving the arena in potentially one of the last competitions she will share with this magnificent horse. And it was a well-deserved third placing for Alycia Targa from NSW with ‘CP Dresden’ under the saddle. The rest of the placings went as follows: 4th. Sue Hearn and ‘Remmington’ 70.085% 5th. Rozzie Ryan and ‘Adonie’ 68.70% 6th. Gitte Donvig and ‘Sancette’ 67.475%

Matthew won every class he entered which saw him awarded the Australian Grand Prix Champion title as well as the Rod Barker trophy for the highest percentage of the competition when he gained 74.316% with ‘Santiago’ in the Medium 4.2 test. Riley Alexander also had a fabulous show with the Farrell Family’s Larenso, taking out the Medium Tour Championship and the Dietmar Specht trophy for the best performed rider under 30 years of age at the Championship.

Other major winners of the Championships:

County Saddlery Novice Champion: Justine Greer (VIC) and Yarramee Fonzie
IRT Elementary Champion: Heather Currie (SA) and Bluefields Honduras
Dressage QLD Medium Champion: Matthew Dowsley (NSW) and Santiago
Advanced Champion: Matthew Dowsley (NSW) and Santiago
Prix St Georges, Intermediate I and Intermediate I Freestyle: Maree Tomkinson (VIC) and Donna Elena
Benleigh Grand Prix CDN Champion - Susan Elekessy (NSW) and Don Rubin
Mulawa CDI-J Champion - Kaitlyn McGill and Flowervale Sancierra
Equestrian Victoria CDI-Y Champion - Micky Bray (VIC) and Flowervale Florenz
Ellanbrae Park CDI-U25 Champion - Katherine Farrell (NSW) and Luxor 118
Pony Novice Champion - Nicole Donald and Mithril Samwise
Pony Elementary Champion - Sancha Butler and Carwyn Monte Carlo
Pony Medium Champion - Allison O’Neill and Roseglen Toytown
Pony Advanced Champion - Susan Elekessy and Divine Miss M
Pony FEI Champion - Sara Price and Cheval De Luxe