By Jess Roberts

Taupo turned on a weekend of superb weather for the 25th anniversary of the Dressage NZ Under 25 Youth Rider Championships. Over 150 horses were entered across the two days of competition and there were some hotly contested classes. It was a pleasure to have Shirley Hyland – who brought her idea of a Young Riders event to fruition a quarter of a century ago – make the trip up from Gisborne celebrating the event with us.

An assortment of team competitions ran concurrently with the Pony and Young Rider championship classes. These included Area teams, North vs South Island teams and of course the trans-Tasman competition between NZ and the visiting Queensland team, which saw the Kiwis come out on top.

The NZ contingent consisted of Amy Sage (L5, riding BL All By Chance, owned by Renee Etherington), Nicole Sweney (L5, riding Flute Noir) and Brina Carpenter (L4, riding Plutonium Lady).

Team Queensland members were Holly Wickham (L5, riding Eton MVNZ, owned by Denise Rushbrook), Mackenzie Boundy (L4, riding Don Douglas CFH, owned by Rosie Richards), and Daisy Fielding (L4, riding Foxleigh Mr Darcy, owned by Margs Carline).

There was a great depth and experience on our panel of judges which included List A (Australia) Anita Barton and Vittorio Barba (FEI3*) from the Philippines.

A big thank-you to the owners who generously lent horses for South Island and Australian riders; it is such valuable experience for them and hugely appreciated. And, as usual, a massive thanks to the OC, volunteers and sponsors for another seamlessly run event.

See below for a comprehensive list of Title, Trophy and Awards winners, and find full coverage of the U25 Championships in the issue of the Dressage NZ Bulletin online magazine.

Pelorus Trust Lead Rein 8yrs &Under

Champion: Kendall Hamilton and Pied Piper Ben Ten  | Reserve: Lancewoods Copper Delight

AR Dressage Non-Graded 12yrs &Under

Champion: Morgan Abel-Pattinson and Pioneer North East |Reserve: Zoe Garland and TaurimuDa Vince

Fountain City Saddlery Young Rider L1

Champion: Charlotte Grant and Donnerco CDS | Reserve: Courtney Manktelow and Cashin’s World Star

Gateshead Equestrian Pony L1 Championship

Champion: Jesika Cunningham and Tironui Casino’s Gold |Reserve:FabrianaMcQuarrie and Yippee KiYay

Maxisoy Young Rider L2 Championship

Champion: Lucy Cochrane and Gymanji |Reserve:  Reece Downham and Georgia MH

Pelorus Trust Pony L2

Champion: Samantha Belsham and Alpine Park Watercolour |Reserve: Alexandra Hope and Oaklands Park Cloud 9

Equilibrium Australia Young Rider L3

Champion: Caitlin Benzie and Libretto | Reserve: Reece Downham and Fanfare MH

Lion Foundation Pony L3 Championship

Champion: Samuel Gradowski Smith and Heritage Don Quilla |Reserve: Sophia Blackbourn and Champions League

Affordable Pools Young Rider L4

Champion: Rebecca Williamson and Don Tobio |Reserve: Brina Carpenter and Plutonium Lady

 The Jump Company Pony L4

Champion: Bella Small and Kingslea Busy Bee |Reserve: Rebecca Mobberley and Zak Smith

 Whakatane Dental Young Rider L5 Championship

Champion: Amy Sage and BL All By Chance |Reserve: Millie Thompson and Isle of Mystique

Exclusively Yours Young Rider L6/7

Champion: Amy Sage, RM All About Me |Reserve: Mihi Shepherd, Alacatraz

Equissage Young Rider L9

Champion: Lucarne Dolley and Ardmore |Reserve: Catherine West and Amici II

Hyland Trophy: Pony Rider Champion

Bella Small and Kingslea Busy Bee

Fissenden Trophy: Highest Championships Points

LucarneDolley and Ardmore

Waldebago Trophy: Young Rider Champion U21(FEI YR level)
Amy Sage and RM All About Me

Lawrence Racing Fair Play Awards 
Trudy Garland (Loan Pony) and Charlotte Cashin (Welfare of Horse)

VetPro Best Presented:

North Island Horse: Eton MVNZ (ridden by Holly Wickham, AUS, owned by DenishRushbrook)
North Island Pony: Island Park Just Cruising (Jessica Lawrence)
South Island Horse: Lucy Cochrane (Gymanji)
South Island Pony: Te Ataahua Tui Jane (Emma Copplestone)

Are Teams: 1st Northland, 2nd Auckland A, 3rd Auckland B
Northland team: Mihi Shepherd (Alacatraz), Reece Downham (Fanfare MH), Reece Downham (Georgia MH), Charlotte Thorpe (Mana Kai Buzzy Bee)

Final York Corporation North vs South Teams Competition
(After 2 rounds on borrowed horses over 12 classes  in each island. Each team has one round on borrowed horses)Pts in total %
1st – South Island (1555.05) 
2nd – North Island (1429.99)

Pryde’s Easifeed North vs South Team Challenge (own horses)
Calculated on Championship points earned
1st – North Island (110)
2nd – South Island (104)

NZ vs Australia Young Rider Teams Challenge
Calculated on total % over three championship rounds with one drop score per team permitted
1st – New Zealand (534.1)
2nd – Queensland (505.3)

AMS Pony and Young Rider Performance League Awards

L1 Champion – Piper Crake

L2 Champion – Rilee McMeekin

L3 Champion – Morgan Beere

L4 Champion – Brina Carpenter

L5 Champion – Lilly Jefferies

L6 Champion – Amy Sage

L7 Champion – Madison Schollum

L8 Champion – Lucarne Dolley

L9 Champion – Lucarne Dolley

 OVERALL WINNER: AMY SAGE

SADDLE WINNER: BRINA CARPENTER

Full results Saturday

Full results Sunday