Bumper turnout for Victorian dressage festival
The five-day event, which had the most entries in more than a decade, went off without a hitch.
TO RUN a five-day dressage festival so soon after COVID lockdown was a daunting task, but Equestrian Victoria’s dressage chair, Lizzy Schirmer, and her crew pulled it off in fine style.
“I couldn’t have been happier with how the event went given the current COVID-19 climate,” Schirmer said.
“With the highest entries in over a decade, plus many riders chipping in to help organise, the event had a wonderful atmosphere.
“I am very grateful to the team, volunteers, officials, sponsors and the riders.”
With events ranging from preliminary to Grand Prix at Werribee Park, things ran smoothly, with each level held on one day so there was no overlapping of competitors.
Highlight of the competition was the wins in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special classes by Lone Jorgensen.
Jorgensen moved to Australia in 2012 and has formed an admirable partnership with Pauline Carnovale’s bay mare, Corinna. They won the Australian dressage championship in October last year and this was their first major event since.
Second in both classes was multi-Olympian Mary Hanna with Syriana and John Thompson’s JHT Chemistry third.
In the seven-year-old section, Maddison Growcott’s BZ Qantas scored an impressive 78.80 for manners and paces and the young ponies are also showing great improvement with Caitlyn Porter’s five-year-old Paradise Valley Cocktail scoring in the high 70 per cent range as well.
The biggest field was at advanced level with 33 starters. The 5B test went to Allison O’Neill’s Roseglen Toytown and Georgina Foot’s Zoe won the advanced 5C test.
In the elementary group, Karen Blythe’s Sonik K won both tests in a strong section with scores of 75 per cent and 73.5 per cent.
There were several special awards. The Gert Donvig Memorial Trophy Awarded to the highest placed Victorian in the Prix St Georges Championship was won by Caroline Wagner.
The CK Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the highest placed Victorian in the Grand Prix Championship, was won by Lone Jörgensen.
The Statene Park Trophy Awarded to the Rider aged 25 years of age and under with the highest percentage gained in an Official FEI test went to Jessica Dertell.
The Off The Track trophy for The Best Performed Off The Track Thoroughbred Preliminary, was Sara McDonald’s December Pines After Eight.
Best Performed Off The Track Thoroughbred in Novice was Rebecca Farrow and Stage Presence.
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