The national dressage selectors have named a strong team to contest Round 1 of the Richmond Saddlery York Corporation InterIsland Team Challenge at the South Island Festival of Dressage in Christchurch from 26-28 January.
Three Auckland riders will compete on borrowed horses at the Festival and have a wide range of experience to bring to the team
The youngest is sixteen year old Georgia Gibbons who currently competes the nine year old LSH Constantine in level 2. This combination was part of the winning NZL team who competed against the team from Dressage Victoria at the 2017 U25 Champs in Taupo.
Twenty year old Nicole Sweney is a commerce student majoring in Economics and Commercial Law. She is no stranger to winning team competitions having been a member of the top placed Auckland team at the 2017 U25 Dressage Champs and more recently represented the NZPCA in America as part of the Inter-Pacific Exchange where she won the Individual Kangaroo Cup (Dressage Test & Derby course). Nicole currently competes Flute Noir at level 4.
Current NZ Prix St Georges Young Rider Champion with RM All About Me, nineteen year old Amy Sage completes the team. This combination also won the 2017 AMS Saddlery Young Rider Performance League. Amy was also in the 2016 NZ showing team which traveled to the UK. Amy is particularly looking forward to this trip as she really enjoys meeting other young dressage riders and “rarely to we get the opportunity to meet South Island riders”
This opportunity is made possible by the generosity of SI horse owners and supporters Clinton Day from Richmond Saddlery who are sponsoring team sashes for winners and runners up, prize vouchers for both teams
South Island pony and young riders who are planning to compete at the Festival and would like to be considered for selection for the SI team should send their contact details, name, age and current mount to the SI Young Rider Convenor, Julia Thomson – [email protected] by 8th January. Riders competing in level 1 pony, and level 3 and 4 horses/ponies are particularly required to match the levels of the loan mounts, but other levels may apply.
The final round 2 of the InterIsland Challenge will be held at the NZU25 Dressage Champs 21/22 April 2018. Expressions of Interest will be called in the New Year for SI riders on their own mounts, and to ride borrowed horses to form a SI Team, and NI riders who would lik eto be considered for the NI team. Start planning now as the 2018 Livamol FEI World Dressage Challenge (NZL) will be held on the 19/20 April at Taupo directly prior.