Dressage contests have good start

Press, 6 September 1989, Page 35

Dressage contests have good start

The first of the Canterbury Area Dressage competitions for the 1989-90 season was held at the National Equestrian Centre, McLeans Island, last Sunday, in ideal riding conditions.

Entries were good but there were few at medium level. Two young riders had two wins each — Sally Goldsmith and Endeavour in the preliminary classes, and Anne Nicoll on Zebadee in elementary. Sally Field-Dodgson and Pam McGregor on Huntaway and Kestrel respectively rode an unofficial Grand Prix in preparation for their trip to the Samsung International Dressage competition at the National Equestrian Centre, Taupo, in mid-October. Although the test for the Samsung is the Prix St Georges, the eight horses selected for the world championship training squad have to perform the Grand Prix as well to evaluate their progress and suitability. The other six horses are Aztec, Kentucky, Silver Fern, Stipulate, Ulrik and Fetterman. The international judges will be Major Hamilton from Sweden and Mrs Domini Morgan from Great Britain. McLeans Island will also be the venue for the Ayton Printpak Canterbuiy Dressage championships on December 2 and 3, and the South Island championships on January 27 and 28. Four dressage trainers are here this month — Meile van Bruggen, Katherin Dalrymple, Philipp Oxenius and Andrea Raves. Lockie Richards is coming from October 24 to 26 and . November 5 to 7. Katherin Dalrymple, who competed recently at Goodwood, England, will address a fund-raising evening for Sallv Field-Dodgson and Pam McGregor on Sunday. Previously a visiting trainer to Canterbury, Philipp Oxenius is now living near Kaiapoi and has brought five horses with him from Auckland, two at medium, which will be a boost to the competition here. He will con-

tinue to take courses throughout New Zealand.

Members of the Dressage Group will perform a quadrille twice at the Christchurch Show in November, and Mrs Jill Gould has taken on the task of coaching the team. Also, Aztec, Huntaway, and Kestrel will compete in a musical freestyle competition in the main oval on November 9 at 4 p.m. Coming after a polo match, and in complete contrast, this will be a great opportunity for the public to see what can be achieved by the training of the dressage horse to a high level, enhanced by music.

Some sad news from Gill and Paul Thompson. Their cob, Tantrum, had to be put down last week after a bad colic attack. For many years, Tantrum was very successful in showing circles, and in dressage, and the Thompsons have expressed a wish to donate a dressage trophy tc be awarded at medium level to commemorate this muchloved horse.

Results of Canterbury Dres-

sage competition at McLeans Island:

Kindergarten 1.1: S. Lurajud’s Tui 1, C. Clarke’s Idle Dice, 2, M. Morrison's Sufi Dance 3.

Preliminary 1.3 A: Idle Dice 1, S. Cannon’s Bidston Hill 2, V. McDonald’s Duplicate 3. Preliminary 1.3 B: S. Goldsmith’s Endeavour 1, J. Scott’s Rufus 2, G. Thompson’s Thomas Junior 3. Novice 2.1 A: J. Stobart’s Fandango 1, A. Vincent’s Penny Lane 2, V. McDonald’s Smudge 3. Novice 2. IB: G. Evans’ Sterling 1, E. Cullen’s The Advocate 2, K. Gardner’s Costalot 3.

Elementary 3.1: A. Nicoll’s Zebadee 1, K. McMillan’s Star Command 2, M. Aldridge’s Quadro’s Jewel and The Advocate 3 equal. Medium 4.1: S. Field-Dodg-son’s Zorba 1, J. Stobart’s William the Red 2, G. Evans’ Allamond 3.

Advanced 5.1: P. Ydgren’s Jazz 1.

Preliminary 1.1 A: Endeavour 1, A. Logan’s Bolero 2, N. Laing’s Galway Gilpin 3. Preliminary LIB: C. Wilson’s Master Josh 1, Thomas Junior 2, A. Nicoll’s McGinty McGee and M. Glen’s Companero 3 equal. Novice 2.2: Fandango 1, Costalot 2, Sterling 3. Elementary 3.2: Zebadee 1, K. Gardner’s Diplomat 2, S. McConnochie’s Warlord 3. Medium 4.4: Zorba 1, Allamond 2.

Prix St. Georges: S. FieldDodgson’s Huntaway 1, P. McGregor’s Kestrel 2, Jazz 3.

The Christchurch Pony Club will hold the first round ' of the Cottage Saddlery mini circuit jumping show on Saturday at Kennels Park, starting at 9 a.m. Excellent entries have been received.

Seven members of the Kaiapoi Pony Club passed their D certificates at Kaiapoi recently. They were Melina Storer, Stuart Mclntosh, Sarah Taylor, Sarah Payne, Katie Chaplin, Carrie Findlay and Katrina Purtle. Lucy Page passed her C certificate.