The 2018 Bates Saddles NZ Dressage Championships are nearly here and the event again promises to deliver a world class event. It will be a very special occasion for the longstanding partnership between Bates Saddles and Dressage NZ, featuring the 20th consecutive year of Bates Saddles loyal support as naming rights sponsor. The longevity of such a partnership is unique and Dressage NZ acknowledges not only David Jones-Parry who has been instrumental in the partnership, but also Ron Bates and the Australian based team.
The Saturday night Dressage Musical Spectacular will feature the Grand Prix Freestyle to Music and various entertainment acts which are sure to be crowd pleasers. Riding high on this list is the Intersport Equine Challenge and a Pas de Deux with a difference which are sure to be fun interludes. There will also be a Para Equestrian demonstration which will be truly inspirational. General Admission Tickets, Ringside Dinner tables, and Day Table Bookings (non-catered) are available. Cafe on site. Buy tickets from EventFinda @$14pp – Under 10’s free or $15 at the door from 5pm Saturday or during the event 
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2018/dressage-musical-spectacular-2018/feilding

The four days of competition includes an international component comprising a CDI 3* (which is also an FEI World Games 2018 Qualifier) for the first time a CDI 2* at Intermediate Level (NZL Level 8) which will assist riders in the transition to International 3* and Grand Prix, a CDIY for the Under 21’s. 

At national level there are Open Grade Championships, Masters, Amateurs, Para Equestrian Championships, and Super 5 League NI Finals which are the Final round of the National Super 5 League series

A great line up of international judges has been secured including Eddy De Wolff van Westerrode 5* FEI Judge (NED) for the event, Elke Ebert (GER) 4* FEI Dressage and Para Dressage Judge, Ricky MacMillan 4* (AUS), plus our own experienced NZL line up, 4* Sue Hobson and Helen Hughes-Keen, 3* Dressage and 3* Para Dressage Mura Love, and 3* Betty Brown and Linda Warren-Davey

Profiling
Eddy De Wolff van Westerrode 5* FEI Judge
After graduating from school in the Netherlands, Eddy went off to the UK to improve his command of the English language a year and there found his life’s calling in working with horses. He enjoyed the work with Jumpers, Eventers and Hunting. Next stop was the famous Westphalia Riding and Driving School in Munster, Germany ( dir. the late Major Paul Stecken) and after three years of study, passed his “Bereiter” exam in Warendorf.
After his experiences in England and Germany, he encountered his third major influence, the late Colonel Géza von Hazslinszky, during his military service at the Dutch Royal Stables in The Hague and he was thoroughly impressed by the Hungarian classical training methods. His newfound mentor was the former leader of the Spanish Riding School in Budapest. This fundamentally influenced both thinking and his teaching and instructing methods.
Upon leaving the military service he worked with young Hanoverian approved stallions in Adelheidsdorf and later instructed at the establishment of Dutch International Judge Jan Nijland.
Eddy earned his best competition results with Monarch, a Dutch bred Grand Prix Stallion, the pair winning the 1981 Dutch Championship at Prix St Georges /Intermediate I level. More recently, he works freelance as a riding instructor, but mostly he is judging competitions worldwide, the most noteworthy among these being the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.In 2018 he will again be on the panel at the World Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo.
Eddy will conduct a Young Horse Clinic at Manfeild on Thursday evening 6.30pm.
$20pp. Register with Linda Warren-Davey [email protected]