The Hunter Valley had a strong representation at the Bates National Dressage Champioships at SIEC this weekend.
Heath Ryan & "Regardez Moi" (Weltmeyer/Chlotilde) won 1st Place in the Inter11(64.4%)
1st in Goldin FEI Grand Priz CDI-W (66.383%)
1st in Hamilton Island FEI Grand Prix Freestyle (70.3%)
1st in Austn Sports Comisn Grand Prix Special (65.625%)
Christine Crawford competed on "Jazzsong"(Jazz/Pia)alongside two of her students,
Alexis Hellyer "Waca-W)(Weltmeyer/Amazing)
and Kathryn Crofts "Snapdragon" (Salute/Stirling Delphinium)
against Heath Ryan on "Mystery Whisper"(Richmeed Medallion/Socialite)
in the Advanced 4B and 4C tests.
In the Advanced Championships Alexis placed 5th, Heath 9th, Christine 19th, Kathryn 20th out of 35 participants.
In the Advanced Freestyle competition Alexis was 5th (68.083%)
Christine 6th (67.917%)
and Kathryn 9th (59.083%)
At Medium Level Heath placed 5th on "Mystery Whisper" and Christine 27th on the young Friesian Stallion "Jacana TK", out of 36 qualifiers.
In the Prix St Georges Championship 2 of Christine's students again scored well:
Alexis and Waca-W 14th (63.787%)
and Ashlea Day "CP Perolus" 28th (59.947%)
Jeremy Janjic rode the dashing Friesian stallion "Django of Cacherel" to 21/36 in the Inter 1 competition.
It is fantastic to see these dedicated riders being rewarded with scores to reflect their efforts and measure the results of their training programmes in such elite company.
News for Lesley: Blas Lago, from Taree, on "Northern Hector" also had a great weekend, placing 7th and 8th in classes up against Heath and "Regardez Moi".
Jeremy, Christine and Heath have all had something to do with the breaking and training of 6 of my Saddlebreds over the years and understand that they are very trainable. It would be good to keep one in training to a high level, now, to prove their competitiveness, just as Lyn Jenkins is doing with her Friesian stallions.
