The first day of the 2001 Australian Dressage Championships got off to a great start. The Olympic Equestrian venue at Horsley Park looks somewhat different without the huge stands of tiered seating and the enormous crowd of a little more than a year ago - but what a wonderful legacy to Australia's most exciting equestrian event! The facilities here are obviously first class. Plenty of safe stabling, exercise areas a plenty, and adequate accomodation for riders and grooms on the grounds.

There would be one complaint (perhaps 'comment' would be a better word!) that is, that the facility was built to accomodate very many more competitors, spectators and officials than any competition in Australia is ever likely to see, and getting around the venue is energy and time consuming. Those with prior knowledge of the site layout came equipped with bikes or some other wheeled conveyance.

The day began with a vet examination for the CDI-W horses followed by an arena familiarisation.

At 11 am was the trot up for the Inter II and CDI-W horses. There was only one tense moment - Snowy River Blackwood seemed to feel the very hard going of the bitumen trot up area, and did not decidedly uneven at his first presentation. At the completion of the trot up he was re-presented and this time all was well. I am sure that Di Jenkyn would have breathed a sigh of relief.

The competition got under way at 12.30 and Judy Dierks on HP Finagin was first to go. They finished 3rd overall with 62.63%.

All of the horses did a good job and the 8 placegetters were just that bit better. It was very gratifying to see a large Inter II field, of such quality horses.

The eventual winner was Snowy River Blackwood and Di Jenkyn - to me it was a very good test and the horse flowed without hesitation. They scored 64.04%, and I had guessed about 65%. The international judge Dr Deiter Schule had this combination on =4th (with Heath Ryan 1st.) - just to highlight the difference that each of the judges positions seems to make!

Check the results of the final placings and keep an eye out for my detailed pictorial report which will be available a day or so after the completion of the competition.

By Berni Saunders