Way and KH Arvan too Good in NZ Kur

It was a nailbiting wait for Vanessa Way, after setting a strong lead of 68.30% in the Grand Prix Kur at the New Zealand Dressage Championships on Saturday - knowing that key contendors Penny Castle, Louisa Hill and Nicky Pope were yet to come.
 
Sitting in lead position, Vanessa had to nervously wait to see if she and KH Arvan had done enough to take the Bates National Grand Prix Kur Title – and they had.
 
Her well controlled test with rhythmical passage, fluid half passes and accurate riding was a definite crowd pleaser, with KH Arvan rising to the occasion with consistent quality work. Vanessa's trademark Pink Floyd music had he crowd tapping their feet along with Arvan.
 
“I’m just ecstatic,” she said. “The gap is closing between the quality work I get at home and what we show in the arena and that is really exciting. At the same time it is fantastic to have such a high quality field of talented horses and riders. It really keeps us all on our toes.”
 
The atmosphere and intensity of the occasion got to both Louisa Hill’s Bates Antonello and uncharacteristically Gymstar One with Penny Castle. Classy riding by Penny saw a swift recovery and Penny went out to ride a powerful expressive test, with exciting passage and giving Vanessa a serious run for the title. With a final score of 67.35%, it just wasn’t quite enough on the night.
 
Nicky Pope and Fabarchie were impressively calm and composed throughout, despite a huge round of applause for Vanessa’s score erupting just seconds before Nicky entered the arena. Misses in the two-time changes proved costly in the otherwise elegant fluid test, for a final score of 65.62%, nudging her into third place just ahead of Bill Noble and Airthrey Highlander on 65.60%.
 
Bates NZ Grand Prix Kur Champion & Tironui Trophy – Vanessa Way, KH Arvan
Bates Grand Prix Champion & Burkner Medal – Penny Castle, Gymstar One

Source: ESNZ

For more results from the New Zealand Dressage Championships click here.