TV Cameras Add Spice to NZ's North Island Dressage Champs

Day 1

The presence of television cameras lifted an otherwise low key atmosphere at the North Island Dressage Championships this weekend. A TV3 team was filming a piece on THINK!, the Head Injury Network for Kiwis project, and its Safety Helmet Awareness Campaign.

Top level riders Shiwon Green (pictured left) and Jody Hartstone swapped their traditional top hats for a safety helmet, not usually seen worn with tails. Helmet wearing campaigns have been gaining momentum since a serious injury suffered by US olympic rider Courtney King-Dye last March, and several top riders have worn helmets in their dressage tests since.

Both Green and Hartstone plan to wear the safety helmets permanently instead of the age-old tradition of top hat and tails.

Taranaki’s Vanessa Way and KH Arvan led the way in the FEI Inter II, with a win on 64.91% despite some misses in the one-time changes. Nipping at her heels was Ottilie Upshall on Tama Park Bradman, with an energetic test for a final score of 63.77%, narrowly ahead of Nicky Pope and Fabarchie, who managed an impressive 63.24% despite the fact Fabarchie got his tongue over the bit for most of the test. Virtually nothing separated fourth and fifth placed Shiwon Green and Gosh (63.07%) andLisa Blackbourn and Prestige VDL (62.98%).

The Advanced level freestyle with 19 competitors had a clear winner  in Wendi Williamson and Cortaflex Watergate on 70.78%. In second place; Jody Hartstone making a reappearance on Donnerwind 5, scored 69.07% - competing this season at Advanced level rather than Grand Prix on the stallion.  Christine Weal riding Emma Geor’s Spielzeit is one of the newest combinations at this level and made an impressive showing for third place and 67.91% followed by Louisa Hill riding Amarduc on 67.26% and then Britta Pedersen on Upendo (66.71%).

Ashleigh Williams won the Level 5 class on Papanui Don Juan (69.35%), ahead of Susan Tomlin and Domino MH (67.94%). Level 4 win went to Debbie Williams and PR Ragazzo, takign the victory on a countback against Kylie Baker and Woodsbee; both combinations finishing on 70.37%.

Three combinations scored over 70% in the Level 3 Freestyle; Victoria Wall and Astek Gymnast (71.66), Vanessa Way and KH Allandro (71.45%) and Laura Mead and Geishaan (71.35%).

Wendi Williamson continued her winning streak to also take first place in the Level 2 class with her young horse, Dejavu MH on the competition’s highest score of the day; 72.30%. Gaylene Lennard and Donzello took second place on 68.26%.

The Level 1 win went to Jan Oram and Don Phillipo on 69.03%, just ahead of Jacinda Younger and Donnerubin on 68.84%.