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Writer's pictureFran Cleland

Dressage competitors come out fresh for new year's events


ABOVE: The Advanced champion Mary Hanna and CJP Sir Dragonfire II. Picture: ONE-EYED FROG

ALL the big guns were out and about at the first of the big Boneo Park dressage competitions.


The Big Tour Champion was Jessica Dertell riding Mary Hanna’s ex Olympic mount Syriana, now owned by Sabbie Farms. Reserve was Kerry Mack riding her home- bred Mayfield Limelight.


Mary Hanna was busy, riding CJP Sir Dragonfire II to win the Advanced championship where Reserve was Charlie Welsh riding Dante Quando OLD. Mary also rode her new import, Impress Taonga, for his second Australian outing in the Prix St Georges. She describes him as “such a gentleman to take out”.


“I am so happy with his attitude and confidence,” she said.


The Small Tour champion winner was Denise Rogan riding Greco and reserve was Jane Crantock’s La Vie.


The Medium champion was David Boyle riding Bachelor, with reserve champion going to Olivia Gillespie riding Amsterdam.


The Elementary championship went to Rachel Wessel riding Bellagio 11 and the reserve to Rebecca Holmes riding Lilibet WP.


ABOVE: Dianne Barnes and her new mount Sorena. Picture: ONE-EYED FROG

There is more and more interest in starting the off-the track Thoroughbred horses in dressage and Racing Victoria’s Off-The-Track (OTT) Boneo Dressage Series is proving very interesting after the second round.

Olympic judge Susie Hoevenaars judged the OTT classes and spoke highly of the horses, commenting how willing and forward they were, and what a delight it was to judge this class.


With the final round in March and the best three scores over the series counting towards $7000 in prizemoney, the Thoroughbred dressage horses are showing what they can do.


The award for the highest percentage across all the off-the-track classes at Boneo was won by eventing rider Amanda riding Romeo F with 71.458%.


The young horse classes produced some really attractive potential champions, with the five-year-old class won by Jessica Dertell and Volbeat and the six-year-old Young Horse going to Emma Hayward Fleur De Cherie.


With the Paris Olympic Games looming, Dianne Barnes and her new mount Sorena are forming a good partnership. She scored well to take out the Para Grade IV Champion and Maddison Cooke did the same in the Para Grade II Champion riding Byalee Magic II.


The ponies are showing that you don’t need to be 17 hands to do good work.


The pony Advanced champion was Clair Arnold’s Fawks Crocodile Rock and The Pony Medium championship went to Jodie Barton riding Rockfields Cioccolata.


The pony Elementary champion was Georgia Creais riding Black Charming and the pony Novice championship winner was Natasha Moody riding Pen-Nant Fire Cracker.


Toni Webb riding Salient Park Once Again was the winner of the Pony Preliminary championship.


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