Ponies, para, HRCAV and open - this dressage series has it all covered

ABOVE: Kylie Pedder and Carool Furst Denali were winners on Saturday, taking out two open Novice classes. Picture: SHARLENE PHILLIPS/ONE-EYED FROG

JADE Woodhead Butler is one of those people you can’t help but admire for her ability to get jobs done.

As a rider, coach and mother of a young baby, she was also the event director of Dressage and Jumping with The Stars, while at the same time still managing to keep one of the best dressage series in Victoria running.

Held at Boneo Park on the Mornington Peninsula over three days in late May, the autumn series provided three days of solid competition with classes for adult riders, para riders and ponies, as well as the usual open sections from preliminary to Grand Prix.

In the pony section, Toni Webb and her team of pocket rockets had a stellar event.

Riding Freemans Lodge Global, Toni won the Elementary 3.3 and 3.2 classes for ponies and then on Salient Park Once Again dominated the Medium and Advanced sections winning the 4.2, 4.3, 5.2 and 5.3 championships.

ABOVE: Toni Webb and Salient Park Once Again. Picture: ONE-EYED FROG

Michelle Baker’s RM Raspberry took out the Pony Prix St Georges championship with 65.589 and the pony Intermediate I on 68.530.

Louisa Inge and Road To Jamieson was the only pony combination to tackle the Grand Prix, finishing on 58.913.

Other pony winners were Natalie Waters and Freemans Lodge Daiya (Preliminary 1.2 championship), Rachel Colquhoun and Miss Penny Perfect BHI (Preliminary 1.3 championship), Tamara Campain and Belmore Park Queen Of Hearts (Novice 2.2 championship) and Janet Wheeler and Duchess Of Da Vito (Novice 2.3 championship).

In the para classes, Mietta Innes-Irons and Sir Helmut stood out finishing on just over 71 and 72 in two of their grade five Grand Prix tests.

Ella Newbery and Bloomfield Royal Princess was another para combination to break the 70 barrier, scoring 71.8 in the grade three Intermediate freestyle.

Maddison Cooke riding Byalee Magic II edged over 67 in one of her three grade two Grand Prix tests, while Anne Skinner on Ballangeich Run Filou would have been happy with her event best of 65.88 in the grade three Grand Prix freestyle.

Lucy Coates and Jaybee Cherub also scored a 65 in the grade four Intermediate freestyle.

ABOVE: Maddison Cooke and Byalee Magic II. Picture: ONE-EYED FROG

The Horse Riding Clubs Association of Victoria (HRCAV) was well represented with some of the biggest classes across the three days of competition.

The level three riders set the pace with the top four placegetters in the HRACV 3.2 all scoring over 70, with Natalie Waters and Freemans Lodge Daiya taking the win on 76.452.

Fiona Pepper and Skyline Park Mavro Gold gave an equally impressive performance in the 3.4 finishing on 75.

Molly Grau and ZP To Be Sure were unbeatable in level four taking both the 4.2 and 4.4 classes with scores of 77 and 77.6.

The highest score of the competition appears to have gone to Tracey Kelly and Lord Marvel who won the 5.2 with 80.238. The 5.4 went to Daniel Noonan and Maximus Decimus Meridius with 70.238.

Rebecca Wicks and Don Adelino were winners in the Advanced A2, Torina Johnston and Bluerock Brenton in the Advanced A4.

Dietrich Kelly riding QS Chaska won both the 1.2 and 1.4 classes, Melissa Wheeler and Hollands Bend Formidable the 2.2 and Sharon Oskan on Cherry the 2.4.

ABOVE: Katherine Banfield and Surrey Springs Sir Percival placed fourth in the HRCAV level three 3.2 class, rounding out a top four who all scored more than 70 per cent. The combination also placed fifth in the 3.4. Picture: ONE-EYED FROG

In the open classes, Caroline Wagner and Ibicus were the only starters in the Grand Prix but scored a worthy 66.413.

Felicity Sutherland and Estee won the Prix St Georges from a field of six finishers with a score of 66.838. The championship went to Dallas Mills and Redwood Desire on 64.632.

The winner of both the Advanced 5.2 and 5.3 championships was Sara McDonald riding Adlanta Fire Dance. Georgia Widdup and Deichblick took out the 5.1 class.

At the young horse end of the scale, Bianca Joyce’s Stirling Secret Admirer was the top scorer out of 14 entries on 72.590 in the Preliminary 1.2 championship and Vanda Morgan and Sir Gunsen scored 73.021, also out of 14, to win the 1.3 championship.

Kylie Pedder and Carool Furst Denali had a top day in the Novice section winning both the 2.1 and 2.2 classes, with the 2.3 championship going to Lindsey Ware and Brighton.

The Elementary winners were David Joyce and Scooby (3.1), Karen Blythe and MP Romancier (3.2) and Jasmine Abernethy and Everleigh (3.3).

A hare’s breath separated Laura Hoffman and Nungarra Royal Order on 65.139 and Deborah Williams and Freemanslodge Divine Essence on 65.070 in the Medium 4.1, while the gap only widened by a point in the 4.2.

Sharyn McCombe and Yarramee Milo took the Medium 4.2 championship with 68.784 and Lauren Dennis and Rebel M the 4.3 with 66.154.

Dallas Mills and Redwood Desire had more success in the Intermediate I class and championship, Jasmine Haynes and Fan Fan 20 won the Intermediate II and Kerry Goldthorpe and Mi Aber Je Suis Charlie the Intermediate A championship.

The series always provides high quality judges and with Moya Jess, Veronica Steward, Lou Délia, Olwen Kemp, Keryn Conners and Judy Smith on the panel, the sport was in good hands.

ABOVE: Winner of the Intermediate II Jasmine Haynes riding Fan Fan 20. Picture: ONE-EYED FROG

ABOVE: Redwood Desire gets a well-earned pat from Dallas Mills. Picture: ONE-EYED FROG

Full results

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