It attracts competitors from all over the region but a host of locals shone when Armidale Riding Club’s dressage festival strode into the arena on the weekend.
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For local dressage riders, it is the biggest competition on the calendar and the Armidale participants proved to be at the top of their game with many claiming the champion ribbons by the end of the weekend.
Joey Dernee-Manion received the Betty Donaldson Trophy for the highest percentage of the weekend while club president Kerry Crees won the Phyllis Bell Perpetual Trophy for the highest point score over two levels of competition.
Crees was thrilled with her results and said it was another successful event for the club.
“[My mare] is going well and stepped up to the next level which is always tough at a championship but it is the end of the year so I stepped her up and she stepped up to the plate,” she said.
“We had great judges, so really good consistency across the board.
“Good attendance, there were some scratchings for the Sunday.
“Thank you to all our sponsors as always, to the judges and all the people that helped to make the competition run smoothly and effectively.”
With every discipline catered for in the town, Armidale’s equestrian community is one of the strongest in the region which was evident in the final standings.
“There were a number of locals that did extremely well,” Crees said.
“That was lovely to see in a big championship competition.
“Armidale has always been a really competitive area and it is continuing which is fantastic.
“It is very, very good for the sport because it means that people have to work hard to achieve at that level.
“It allows people to see dressage being ridden at a good competition level.”
The local club has seen a surge in memberships join with many riders seeing the benefit of adding dressage to their training.
Crees said the timeless discipline lays a foundation for all equestrian sports.
“It's the basics for all sports, if you don't have the basics on aid then you can't ride the other sports,” she said.
“If they have a good understanding of dressage then they can move into any equestrian field.
“And the attitude as well is really important.
“Certainly for riders having their head in the right space, because if they get on and they're angry and upset then the horse doesn't operate.”
The next event on the Riding Club’s radar is their annual hack show on November 12.
Results:
Young Horse Champions
Four-year-old champion – Christopher Wilkinson and Templeton Royal Indigo
Five-year-old champion - Bridget Brennan and New World Furst Class
Six-year-old champion – Jill Wagner and Wayouts Royal Cosmo
Preliminary
Champion – Bridget Brennan and New World Furst Class
Reserve Champion – Mariette Van den Berg and Bellvale Lewis
Novice
Champion – Tonia Wheeler and Hollands Bend Ronald
Reserve Champion – Holly Sozou and Revelwood Rhapsodie
Elementary
Champion – Tonia Wheeler and Hollands Bend Ronald
Reserve Champion – Lew Hyson and Lungda Taboo
Medium
Champion – Kerry Crees and Argentile Illyssa
Reserve Champion – Jill Wagner and Wayouts Royal Cosmo
Advanced
Champion – Kerry Crees and Argentile Illyssa
FEI
Champion – Jill Wagner and Royal Heartthrob
Pony
Champion – Diana Gordon and Brookside Lira
Reserve Champion – Carleen Mcphie and Hyuna Curio
Junior
Champion – Tamika Roach and Winterschallenge
Reserve Champion – Matilda Hall and Spelling Bee
Phyllis Bell Perpetual Trophy – Kerry Crees and Argentile Illyssa
Betty Donaldson Trophy - Joey Dernee-Manion and Gotico Park Tarnia (72.717%)