Annual celebration of the stars keeps getting better each year
SOME of Australia’s finest horses put their best hoofs forward at this year’s Dressage and Jumping with the Stars at the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre.
And the quality of competition continues to rise every year.
International rider Lena Hassmann, who also conducted a masterclass, judged the dressage champion of champions.
The Jill Cobcroft trophy for the overall champion young dressage pony went to Alison Gill’s four-year-old Glenhill Divine Classic.
In the performance pony section, performance pony champion of champions went to Christina Grear and Parklands Celtic Storm.
The big horses are always interesting, with almost every champion of champions through the years developing into a Grand Prix mount, but more than once, the minor placegetter has been the one to compete internationally.
For example, the 2021 champion, Quincy B, is competing overseas with rider Jayden Brown appearing to have a chance of Olympic selection.
This year’s young dressage horse champion of champions was the four-year-old Hollands Bend Francis shown by Elliot Patterson for the owner Samantha Sidwell and breeder Hollands Bend Warmbloods.
GALLERY
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All images DEREK O'LEARY
Over in the jumping ring, breeder Barbara Froesch had the pleasure of seeing two of the horses carrying her prefix go into the final judging of champion of champions by international judge Felix Hassmann.
Unfortunately, the six-year-old champion Glenara Leonardo Z could not start due to a slight injury. The four-year-old champion, Glenara Argyle, was praised by the judge as was James Patterson-Robertson’s and Kampari. However, the five-year-old Kentaur Alba, shown by Strobe Knox, was chosen as champion.
Open showjumping classes were also held, with the breeding of previous winners showing in the pedigrees of some of the competitors in the elite classes.
Out in the big sand arenas Charlie Welsh won the Prix St George with Dante Quando OLD on a score of 72.5per cent.
Mary Hanna won the CDI-W Grand Prix with Ivanhoe.
She and the handsome black have formed a real partnership and showed they are aiming for their Paris Olympic campaign with 72.109 per cent.
Jessica Dertell and Cennin were second on 70.391 per cent, with Jessica also third on the ex-Mary Hanna mount, Syriana, with 66.63 per cent.
Jessica seems almost invincible at present, also winning the Aachen Challenge for the second year.
The winner of the Childrens Team Competition CDI-CH was Morgan Cockerall riding IBN KY Gold Rush, also the winner for consecutive years.
The young event horse champion of champions was Sharvalley Wild Thing ridden by Amy Gotts-Wheeler from the six and seven-year-old class, while Belle Morrow and Bloomers Fearless Francis were the four and five-year-old winners.
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