Galloway’s Grand Prix Quinella at Taupo

BATES NATIONAL DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2020: Friday Roundup with Jess Roberts

The Preliminary, Novice and Elementary Championships were signed and sealed today. In the Bates Open classes, the Preliminary title went to Rochelle Speirs (Palmerston North) and her stunning 4-yr-old Feuer Tanz – these two have had a wonderful show! Sophie de Clifford and Riverrock Nigella were close on their heels for Reserve.

Susan Tomlin (Palmerston North) and Dance Hit SW (co-owned by Andrea Raves) were the Novice Champions (another combination that have had a great show, also taking out the 5-yr-old YDH title) followed by Wendi Williamson and Ducati MH. The Elementary honours went to Penny Castle (Hawke’s Bay) and her classy GT Jake gelding, Just A Spark RE, with reserve spot awarded to Angela Lloyd (Auckland) and Delta Duet.

Over in the Amateur, Holly Wynyard and Astek Treasure were the decisive winners of the Dunstan Horse Feeds Prelim championship, with Stacy Kerrison and Bellecara Beaumont in Reserve. The 20+ field in the Marsh Equine & Livestock Novice was headed by Emily Green and Astek Gwinnie, taking the championship by half a point, ahead of Sarita Kennedy and FIS Lacoste. Amy Arnott and Rata Mill Jefferson proudly took the wide sash in the Livamol Elementary, with Georgia Watson and RM Astek Glamorous right behind her for Reserve.

In the Custom Logistic Services Prix St Georges, Wendi Williamson (Waitemata) rose to the top of a very competitive field riding the super Bon Jovi MH, and the Hobson Horsecoaches & Motorhomes 6B saw Penny Castle triumphant once more, riding Lord Alexis (69.257).

The Medium Tour competition kicked off today with the Andrea Raves Super 5 League Intermediate B. Gaylene Lennard (Waikato)topped the scoreboard to win this class on 70.838 aboard Jax Johnson, followed by Wendi Williamson and Don Vito MH (69.081) and Chelsea Callaghan and Sisters II Etta J (65).

There was a 12-strong lineup for the Superior Rubber Surfaces Grand Prix, a super achievement in itself for our sport at top level. Marlborough rider Melissa Galloway (Marlborough) nailed the quinella with her two horses, Windermere JObei W (with a clear margin on 72.739, setting herself another personal best) and Windermere Johanson (69.065). Vanessa Way (Taranaki) rode into third place on NSC Andreas (68.587), with fourth going to William Millar (who also had two horses in this class) and his classy Raukura Satori MH (68.565).

Round Two of the Para-Equestrian competition saw Jodie Thorne and Ira Hayes chalk up a fantastic 71.964 in the Grade I, Nicola Essex added another win to her Champs campaign in the Grade II, and Rachel Hughes pocketed the red ribbon for Grade III. Louise Duncan (Levin) scored first and second in Grade IV on Wolkenstein BC and Northern Ivanthus The third and final round takes place tomorrow.

2020 – Results Fri 20 Nov

Photos Copyright Libby Law