Top Effort From Kiwi Dressage Riders at Sydney CDI

Two New Zealand dressage riders finished in a world class top 10 of the Grand Prix CDI3* in Sydney yesterday (Thursday) and will go through to the second competition today.

Penny Castle (Manawatu) was fourth aboard Gymstar One (owned by Julie Broughams), with Vanessa Way (Taranaki) 10^th on KH Arvan.

The efforts of both riders, which will see them take on the top 20 in the Grand Prix Special, have been hailed by Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance director Sarah Harris.

“This is the first time in years that New Zealand is challenging a top three performance against world class riders,” she says.

Castle, who notched 66.106% will be particularly pleased with her 10-year-old horse, after gaining 69% for her test from top international judge Dr Pieter Schuele. Each combination is marked by five judges, with their final mark an average of the combined score.

Castle's efforts are especially impressive, considering winner Brett Parbery, who placed ninth at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, and Victory Salute posted a new record in the class with their 71.306.

Way and KH Arvan finished with 62.426.

Harris said the event was a good chance to challenge both riders – who are on the New Zealand Equestrian Olympic Games B squad – against Australia's best and gauge their performance levels in an international environment.

It was the first time Parbery and the second-placed Rachael Sanna have competed since the World Games.

The top 20 riders go through to the Grand Prix Special later today, with the top 12 from that going on to the final competition, the Grand Prix Freestyle Kur.

The competition was held outdoors yesterday, and within half an hour of the competition starting, the heavens opened making the arenas very wet and heavy by the end of the day.