Ellanbrae Park Victorian Youth Dressage Championships: The most successful ever

After four days of intense but very friendly competition, the Ellanbrae Park Victorian Youth Dressage Championships wrapped up at Boneo Park yesterday. The final presentation was full of emotion and happiness as young riders were welcomed and farewelled and lived out the motto of the event “the tradition continues”. Fern Wright made an emotional speech to all recalling her very first Championships in 2009 when she was so happy to have just been able to compete to her final year competing Grand Prix with her partner Kamber Pryderi who had been with her for all but one of those years since the beginning of that journey in 2009. Fern urged young riders to keep striving for excellence and support the Youth Championships.

Perpetual trophies told the history of the event, celebrating the lives of young riders tragically cut short, Briana Judge and Taylor Farley whose respective parents always travel long distances to present the trophies to the winners. A unique double was achieved at the 2019 Championships with 16 year old Emily Yeoman, from Avalon, and her thoroughbred Formal Alliance (Gilbert) winning both trophies.

New combination, 16 year old Lindsey Ware from Malvern and Aristede who was reserve horse for the 2018 World Equestrian Games, won the Marcus Oldham FEI Young Rider Championship and the coveted Deb Hamid and Kevin Hitchins award. Deb and Kevin, combine to make a beautiful piece of equestrian jewellery that can be used for life either when riding or at any time. This year the prize was a detailed sterling silver stirrup edged with coloured sapphires, complete with tread and is awarded to the highest combined scores at FEI level.

Competitions ranged from the Toorak College Interschools Championships won by 15 year old Charlee Martin and Ellanbrae Jupiter at Preliminary level and 11 year old Rosemary Heagney and pony Harringtonparktimelessdreams winning the Novice Championships and MotorOne Participation Preliminary Championship won by 15 year old Gabriella Officer and Radnor Fantastic from Victoria Meyer and Almania Matrix reserve with the Participation Novice Championship won by 13 year old Jasmine Abernethy riding Royal Diamond Jubilee from Gabriella Officer and Wisteria.

Official competitions saw a double for South Australia with 19 year old Nicole Berry and Christos winning the Honan Insurance Preliminary Championship from 20 year old Phoebe Foulkes and Ellanbrae Jeniro reserve. The Riddells Creek Dressage Novice Championship also went to SA with Kaitlyn Petney, 20, and Jazz Fusion R and Emily Yeoman and Formal Alliance reserve. The popular winner of the 2Construct Elementary Championship was local 17 year old Dana Krause and Taittinger VDS from Victoria with Victoria Meyer, 20, riding Whinona, reserve champion. The Australian Sports Pony Registry Pony Preliminary Champion was Heatherton Park Surprise, ridden by 19 year old Eliza Harvey from Ava Braniff, 10, and Rhyll Top Hat. The ASPR also sponsored the Pony Novice Championship won by 12 year old Jorjia Halsall and Highgrove Maxwell Smart from Kittani Zarkana and Natasha Moody, 17. Carol Haynes sponsored the Pony Elementary Championship with the win going to Road to Jamieson and 21 year old Louisa Inge from Liana Arnott’s Kings Town Gideon reserve.

The Charlie’s Cookies Medium Championship was a very strong class with 16 year old Isabelle Luxmoore dominating, winning both classes with 72% plus scores to take out Champion with Linus WK from 17 year old Hannah Shippen and Yarramee B Bear. The Carol Haynes Pony Mediums were won by Ava Braniff, 10, and Allengreen Medallist and Milas Little Mayhem, ridden by Chloe Campbell all the way from Bombala, NSW.

The Carol Haynes Advanced Championship was also a strong class with 18 year old Charlie Welsh and Horizonte de Jeu Champion from Isabelle Luxmoore and Linus WK.

FEI classes ranged from the FEI Pony Championship sponsored by Benleigh Equestrian, with the Champion won by Paige Koliba, 14 and Loriot Skyes the Limit from Sophie Taylor, 15, and Raven Lodge Aura. The FEI Junior Championship, sponsored by Riddells Creek Dressage saw Jessica Dertell, 14 riding Valerius Weltermeyer Champion from Dana Krause and Taittinger VDS. The Marcus Oldham FEI Young Rider Championship saw Amy Bachmann and Silverdene Pharaoh Reserve Champion to Lindsey Ware and Aristede, the Bob Jane T-Marts FEI Medium Tour was won by Jessica Hivon and Greenoaks Weltmann, and the International Racehorse Transport FEI U25 Grand Prix Championship was won by Fern Wright and Kamber Pryderi. The Bob Jane T-Marts FEI Small Tour Champion went to South Australia’s Mary Nitschke, 20, and Utopian Cardinal which gave her the overall FEI Championship (Small, Medium and Big Tour).

Thanks to generous sponsorship, the main arena was renamed the Rosehip Vital Arena, and they headed up a range of incredibly valuable product sponsors showing their support for the Championships and youth dressage. Judges came from as far afield as New Zealand and Queensland and expressed admiration for the event and the riders, their standard and professionalism.

Teams competitions were fought out between Victoria and South Australia, with Victoria edging SA out in the Pony, State and Open Teams.

Boneo Park provided a fantastic venue, the weather was almost perfect for the four days and the traffic on social media was significant.

Equestrian Victoria and the Organising Committee thanks everyone who supported the event, especially the sponsors who really got behind us both financially and with product, the judges, the volunteers (who enjoyed daily draws for prizes), competitors and their parents and supporters.

Full results can be found at http://equiscore.com.au/?page_id=4540

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