Hawkesbury Dressage Club Championships - Results

Horsezone were one of the proud sponsors of the Hawkesbury Dressage Club Championships, held with great success on 7 August at SIEC.

Sally Barbera, Vice President and Sponsorship co-ordinator for Hawkesbury Dressage Club, reported that organisers are thrilled with how the competition went, saying, "the atmosphere was great. It seems that Hawkesbury Dressage is retaining its reputation as a friendly club and our competitions seem to be relaxed and generally happy occasions. The standard of horse and rider combinations we saw this weekend was excellent with scores up in the 70's in the Novice and even an 80% awarded by one judge!"

"The sun was shining for most of the day but, as is traditional for any Hawkesbury Dressage comp, there has to be rain in the equation! Thankfully most riders seemed to get their tests done and horses away before the storm hit, and even then it was only a quick shower or two. But why does it always rain on a Hawkesbury day?" 

"As far as I'm concerned, this year we had some of the best prizes we've ever had donated.  We are extremely lucky that so many of our sponsors have stuck by us for many years. Their logos and links are currently being added to our website and it would be a really great idea if riders could take the time to thank them for their support. They really made this a Championships to remember." 

All the Champions at each level received a beautiful woolen rug in the HDC club colours of blue and green with their sponsor’s name embroidered on the side. The Reserve Champions won a white dressage saddle cloth with the HDC logo embroidered on the side, courtesy of long time sponsor Sydney Equestrian Supplies.

Championship classes were again sponsored by Horsezone (who also provided gift vouchers for every place getter!), Brightons Saddleworld and Hawkesbury Equine Veterinary Centre. While new Championship sponsors this year included J&J Stockfeeds, Galahad Equine Group and Sportscamera.com.

First presentations were for the Brightons Saddleword Preliminary Champion and first winner, Laura Summerhayes was absent but only because she was away pencilling for another test, which shows that wonderful 'give back to the sport' attitude that many of the Club's riders have. Laura did eventually come to get her rug and was absolutely delighted with her horse HV His Honour's achievement.

A very happy Danielle Leek (pictured above) was there to receive the Hawkesbury Equine Veterinary Centre Medium Champion award after a great show with Dasimle Mandela Salude.

Popular winner of the Sportscamera.com FEI Championship was Michele Baker  who is having a great year with the elegant Coldstream Dante (pictured below right). Reserve was seasoned competitor Sue Hearn riding Remmington.  After the loss of her great friend, Manhattan, it's lovely to see Sue with two more talented horses coming through. Sue also won the Grand Prix (and one of those fabulous diamante Impulse Browbands!) and came second in the Inter II with Duntroon.

Amanda Shoobridge now has the ride on Jenny Rapson's wonderful stallion, Ferrero Rocher and they won the Prix St Georges and the $100 gift voucher from Horse'n Around Saddlery.

If there was a prize for the most delightful competitor, hot contender would be young Sarah McVicker who rode Apache Dream to third place in the Pony section of the Preliminary. She was so happy to have won a prize (although she had her eye on those browbands and wasn't going to leave until she found out who made them and just how she could get one!) and was so polite and charming to the organisers. A young rider to watch out for in the future!

On that note, it was good to see the pony classes reasonably well attended with five ponies in each of the Preliminary, Novice, and Elementary classes. Keep up the good work ponies, the word is spreading!  Don't forget, NSW Pony Dressage Championships are coming up in October and Hawkesbury Dressage are one of the sponsors.

Due to the storms the last presentation was a little less well attended, despite the committee getting the scores out by an amazing 4pm!

Penny Barrett and Lets Reminisce made the effort to stick around to receive the Galahad Equine Group Novice Reserve Champion award. Penny also receives the Free Rein Photography voucher for $200 worth of photos as top scoring member!

Horsezone Advanced Reserve Champion, Kathryn Crofts came all the way from Newcastle and still stayed for the presentation! Kathryn was thrilled by her win with her horse Snapdragon. Winner of the Horsezone Advanced 5C and third in the 5B was Anne-Catherine Hudson and the exciting young Regardez Moi gelding, Reverence F. The J & J Stockfeeds Elementary Reserve Champion was one of the Club's regulars all the way from the South Coast, James Collins and the big Wyndemere gelding, Southerly.

Results:

PRELIMINARY CHAMPIONSHIP SPONSORED BY BRIGHTON'S SADDLEWORLD
Champion   HV His Honour & Laura Summerhayes
Reserve      Milo & Christina Andrews

NOVICE CHAMPIONSHIP SPONSORED BY GALAHAD EQUINE GROUP
Champion   Rebel M & Cassia Montgomery
Reserve       Lets Reminisce & Penny Barrett

ELEMENTARY CHAMPIONSHIP SPONSORED BY J & J STOCKFEEDS
Champion  Wisteria Lane & Nikki Rose
Reserve      Southerly & James Collin

MEDIUM CHAMPIONSHIP SPONSORED BY HAWKESBURY EQUINE CENTRE
Champion   Dasimle Mandela Salude & Danielle Leek
Reserve      Northern Xanthus & Suzanne Doyle

ADVANCED CHAMPIONSHIP SPONSORED BY HORSEZONE
Champion  Barjar Winston & Dianne White
Reserve     Snapdragon & Catherine Croft

FEI CHAMPIONSHIP SPONSORED BY SPORTS CAMERA
Champion  Coldstream Dante & Michelle Baker
Reserve      Remmington & Sue Hearn

Quick Links

• View full results.
• Visit Free Rein Photography website for more great photos.
• Visit the Hawkesbury Dressage Club Website.

(photos: thanks to Free Rein Photography)