Hamilton Island Grand Prix Freestyle
Saturday 6^th May at the SIEC
Story and Pictures by Berni Saunders
Australian National A Level Judge.

The capacity crowd at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre anticipated a special evening and they were treated to some of the most creative and inspiring performances that we have seen at an Australian competition.

The event organisers spared nothing to ensure that the most experienced and respected experts officiated at this important competition. The line-up was at E: Cara Whitham (CAN), at H: Mary Seefried (AUS), at C: Volker Moritz (GER) (pictured left), at M: Won-Oh Park (KOR), and at B: Alison King (Hong Kong). The marks and comments gave all competitors an insight to the way their performances will be assessed at international level and the astute riders and their trainers will be sure to take this valuable information ‘on board' in order to make the small improvements that often make the big differences in the scores. All 12 combinations to take part in the Freestyle at this CDI Three Star made the event memorable and provided great entertainment for an enthusiastic audience. At the presentation ceremony, the centre line judge and Head of the Ground Jury, Volker Moritz complimented the Event Director Toni Venhaus on the excellent organisation behind the Sydney CDI and confirmed that the high standard of horses and riders came as a very pleasant surprise to all of the judges.... "Australia has come a very long way", he said.

The competition started with a ‘little cloud' over the Melbourne CDI winner Chatham Park Jac (Jazz/Some Kind of Magic). Just one month earlier he seemed to have hit top form and was right on target for WEG selection. However, his disappointing 4^th place in the Grand Prix yesterday confirmed his youthful inexperience and lack of match practise at this high level and started everyone wondering if he was ready to represent Australia in a little over three months time.

Rachael Sanna (nee Downs) mustered all of her talent, experience and determination to produce a performance just short of her record breaking ride in Melbourne which scored 72.66%. The fourth last to go Jac, came alive to a sensational arrangement of Mick Jagger's ‘Jumping Jack Flash" ... and jumping and flash he was! Rachael's mum Nerida (also part owner of the horse) is the musical genius behind the team. It was a rousing, toe tapping experience and bought the ‘out past bedtime' crowd to life. They scored 71.68% and took top spot in the line up.

Heath Ryan and Clyde Wunderwald's imported liver chestnut gelding Greenoaks Dundee (by Duntroon) performed at their best and the more refined style of Mr Ryan's riding coupled with the power and strength of Dundee, make them a formidable combination. Heath is a fabulously talented rider - the evening before he was awarded the Equestrian Federation of Australia's Eventing Personality of the Year and he regularly wins at top level 3 Day Events. We all know how he scores at the highest level of Dressage and this ability to do well in two Olympic disciplines makes Heath a ‘national treasure'! He chose a compilation of richly orchestrated movie themes which transported the listener through many moods and this added interesting light and shade to his test. The ‘Rocky' theme heralded double canter pirouettes which were well performed and so good mark earners for their artistic merit. The half passes were a little tight, but from my angle they maintained the bend and good forward inclination. The Hogan's Heroes march made a very suitable accompaniment for the piaffe and passage sequences which bring the test to an end. The crowd went wild, confirming Heath's popularity and iconic status. On 69.65% they lined up in second place.

Two combinations from New Zealand took part at this event, both of them looking for scores which will give their National Selectors the confidence to choose them to make the trip to Aachen if they meet the WEG qualification criteria and are invited to take part. Jody Hartstone is making her 4^th trip to Australia and she partners the 19 year old imported Holsteiner stallion Landioso (by Landgraf). Jody did her country proud by taking third place with an overall percentage of 67.43 for a nicely choreographed test with high scoring technical elements and well suited music selected from movie themes

Popular Queenslander, Paula Price on her talented and reliable partner APH True Seville (Meriville - an AWHA approved TB stallion from the imported Trakehner mare Samland, who was also the dam of Solo ll) was next to go. Those who know Paula recognise her talent and tenacity ... she could be the ‘dark horse' in the selector's line-up! Her musical choice was varied with a cute arrangement of the popular My Fair Lady tune ‘The Rain in Spain' opening her test. She started in walk and this was daring, but worked well! Then one of the more popular themes from ‘Les Mis' augmented True Seville's expressive canter, but he got a little tight in the neck and the bend did not flow though his body enough, particularly in the half passes, to get the top scores for this segment of their test.

As if to encourage everyone to ‘lighten up', Paula chose a comical version of ‘Three Blind Mice' and this seemed to lift and punctuate the already lovely trot which was very well choreographed. The changes in musical theme were not for me, but they were done with such flair and fun, I am sure no one got bored with this well prepared test with a strong technical component. They scored 67.35% to secure 4^th place.

Rozzie Ryan, our Sydney Olympic short-listed rider has nothing to prove regarding her talent or ability to choose and train horses to the top level. She has wowed us on her promising ‘small tour' stallion Jive Magic (a full brother to Chatham Park Jac), but he has been out of action with an eye injury. He is much better, but was not quite up to this competition. Today Rozzie partnered Susie Duddy's gloriously elegant Donnerhall mare Donna Carrera. They have worked together for several years and have notched up some impressive highlights during this time. The combination had their first start at Grand Prix in March this year, so the performance this evening was nothing short of brilliant. The ‘perky' selection of Paul Simon's music was the ideal choice and the interesting orchestration featuring wind instruments created a softness that complimented Donna's way of going very well. For technical merit and artistic appeal Rozzie performed foot perfect two times changes on the circle, they were flowing and correct. Donna seems to enjoy ‘her' music and so did the judges. Rozzie scored 67.18% and this moved them well up the places to 6^th spot. This will probably not lead to a gig in Aachen, but surely sets them as serious prospects for Beijing in 2008.

William Noble was the other Kiwi representative and he rode his elegant 12 YO bay gelding Vincent St James. UK born William began giving clinics in New Zealand many years ago and he decided to make this country his home 7 years ago. His horse has an unlikely pedigree for an international Dressage horse - Vincent is station bred, by the NZ thoroughbred Wharf's Son and from a brumby mare. This horse can really 'sit' and maintain rhythm in a high quality piaffe and passage, his talent really pushed their score up. On the less positive side, Vincent lacks the elasticity that makes for outstanding performances and when he got tense, we did not see his best. They earned a great score of 66.50% and finished in 6^th place.

At the end of the evening everyone felt that they had witnessed a milestone in the development of the sport in Australia and there is a great deal of optimism going forward to the selection of our WEG team.

Rachael Downs and Chatham Park Jac are congratulated by Sandy Oatley from the Hamilton Island resort. Sandy is a great supporter of Dressage and the proud dad of talented rider Lyndal Oatley and he is also the uncle of Kristy Oatley-Nist. Volker Moritz also congratulates the winners.

Click here for the complete Pictorial Results from the Kur

© Cyberhorse 2006 Berni Saunders