'Press’ to sponsor dressage contests

Press, 9 July 1986, Page 40

'Press’ to sponsor dressage contests

“The Press” will sponsor what promises to be a weekend dressage extravaganza, with the South Island dressage championships and the Haig International dressage competition in Christchurch during Labour Day week-end.

Dominion Breweries are co-sponsors.

Selections have now been completed for the Haig and supplementary competitions, with coverage of competitors appearing in this column between now and the event (in no particular order). The first of the Haig riders to appear in this column is Sue Wells, of Nelson. Wells, who rides her 16hh bay gelding, Aztec, represented New Zealand in Australia in 1983 with considerable success.

Their other successes include winning the “Dressage Horse of the Year” title In 1983; a third in 1984; and a second in 1985 and 1986 in the event.

They won the prestigious Burkner Medal in 1984; were second in the event in 1983 and 1985, and fourth in 1986. Aztec is by the T.B. stallion Chester, out of a T.8.-Welsh Cob-Percheron mare. It is 13 years old. The second Haig combination is Jenny Atkinson and Eastman, of Inglewood. Atkinson, who lives on a dairy farm, has been riding since the age of two.

Eastman is a grey gelding by an Arab stallion out of a station hack mare, and is 11 years of age. During the 1985-1986 season, this combination notched up numerous wins, Including the Auckland Medium Championships, the M. Spurs points circuit, and the Surrey Trophy at the N. dressage championships. They were second on the Taranaki points circuit and have had many other placings.

Mrs Crowther and Hilary Holstein have donated a superb trophy to be called the “Yeti Memorial Trophy.” The trophy will be awarded annually to the highest per-

centage or score over freestyle tests in all grades (musical or not) at a two-day tournament.

Organising committees and administrators should do their best to eliminate the Federation Equestrian International (F.E.1.) from schedules and programmes where it is not appropriate. This is of particular concern where jumping events are not under F.E.I. rules. Only World Cup rounds, Tarmac and certain events at Isloa will be under F.E.I. rules.

Wins to count for grading: All wins, in individual showjumping competitions run under Federation Equestrian International or New Zealand Horse Society rules or the rules of a national federation affiliated to the Federation Equestrian International will count for grading, except where the winner receives only a ribbon or a rqfette, less than eight competitors start in the competi-

tion, or when the winner receives a voucher or prizemoney ($lO or less for horses and $5 or less for ponies).

Grading:— Horses and ponies Grade A: Those which have had 'lO wins in B grade. Grade B: Those which have had five wins in C grade. Grade C: Those which have had three wins in Novice grade. Grade Novice: Those which have had less than three wins in Novice grade. Equal-first placings will count as a win.

Correction to Rules for one-day horse trials printed last week:

Open: should read a combination may not enter competitively in a lower grade.

The Rakaia Pony Club held its novice and open one-day horse trials at Mr and Mrs Taylor’s property last Sunday. Open:—

Over-all: 12 years and under C. Seed’s Red Jekyll, 33.8, 1; A. Maguire’s ElDorado, 41.6, 2; C McGarth’s Charlotte Jane, 49.37, 3. 14 years and under A. Damiano’s Paddy’s Pride, 33.0, 1; A. Brown's Golden Girl, 35.71, 2; R. Nicholson’s Moon, 41.37, 3. 16 years and under S. Topp’s Windvale Law, 34.4, 1; C. Jarvis’s Grey Fantasy, 39.6, 2; J. Jarvis’s Casper, 41.37,3. 17 years and over: T. Chapman’s Whetu, 46.2, 1; D. Stubb’s Sealay, 116.0, 2. Over-all results:— 12 years and under (Novice): M. Ritch’s Snicker, 34.66, 1; M. Brittan’s Sebastian, 37.33, 2; S. McLenaghhen’s Joseph, 44.93, 3. 14 years and under A. Stringer’s Idle Talk, 21.33, 1; A. Scammell’s Strauss, 38.0, 2; N. Rogers’ Morning Cloud, 61.31, 3.

16 years and under M. Gordon’s Solo, 135.0, 1; L. Storie’s Postman, 146.37, 2.

17 years and over. L Harnett's Bonecrusher, 68.93, 1; R; Ayton’s Sir Walter Edward, 141j|(5, 2; A. Maish - R. Botfa's GaiUxano, 212.93, 3. .r?