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CDI-W Boneo Park - World Class Event

Boneo Park Indoor

With 4 days of dressage and showjumping competition presented at the highest level, the Boneo Classic has been billed a highlight for 2015 and a great attraction for Victorian tourism.

Boneo Park is a showpiece complex established on 700 acres of beautiful Mornington Peninsula foreshore, where the McNaught family have invested in the future of Australian equestrian sport and recreational pursuits.  Rob McNaught is very proud to have made a contribution to preserving the rare and endangered Moonah trees, which are renowned in the area, but now in very low numbers due to land clearing and environment change as the area becomes more and more popular as a resort and residential area.

Boneo Park Indoor
Boneo Park Indoor
Roger Fitzhardinge
Roger Fitzhardinge

Competitors and spectators alike were enthusiastic in their praise for the fantastic facilities and thanked Fiona Selby (nee McNaught) and her family for the generous support of equestrian sport and for hosting this international event. 

There is no doubt that the standard of training and riding along with the quality of horses is on the rise with the top 3 placegetters scoring above 70%. 

Thanks go to Equestrian Life (http://www.equestrianlife.com.au) for their live streaming coverage, which helped the event and the sport of dressage to reach a wider audience.   This in turn gave great value to the sponsors, which is a real win/win for the sport.

Saturday the 24th January 2015 was the highlight day for dressage with competitions ranging from Young Horse, EA classes, Young Rider with FEI events and the all important CDI-W World Cup Qualifier.  The winner of this class will represent Australia at the World Cup final, which is held in Europe in April. (go to Equiscore Dressage Scoring (http://equiscore.com.au/?page_id=1001) for full results.

MC, Roger Fitzhardinge warmly welcomed Claire Woodley from the National Australia Bank who expressed great pride in having the bank sponsor the Boneo Classic. Claire was personally interested to be part of a sport, which embraces male and female competitors working together on equal terms.  Equestrian Victoria’s Melissa Cannon is the Business Banking Manager in the Mornington Business Centre for the NAB.  The signage and décor made it a memorable milestone for the sport of dressage and also for the National Australia Bank.

Claire Woodley
Roger introduces Clsire Woodley

NAB Signage

NAB Signage

Chantelle DelaneyThe show got off to a great start with a lovely selection of songs presented by singer/guitarist Chantelle Delaney (right) who performed hits made popular by Adele and Taylor Swift.  Chantelle’s show starter warmed up the audience and got them ready for a musical theme of the ridden performances to follow.  Chantelle will release an album later in 2015.

The first out in this important international dressage competition was South Australian Susan Paix and her lovely grey mare Sheer Etiquette.   It was a correct test with much improvement from the Boneo Park competition 12 months ago.  Susan told the rider interviewer, Rozzie Ryan, “I am delighted with my lovely mare, she tries so hard.”  Rozzie informed the crowd that Susan has owned her horse since a foal and has a very special relationship with her.  They scored 67.125%.

Sheer Etiquette
Sheer Etiquette

Luxor 118
Luxor 118

Next out was the imposing chestnut Luxor 118, ridden by NSW rider Kate Farrell.  Kate’s rise to stardom has captured wide acclaim and respect, as she has only been competing at Grand Prix level for 12 months.  Kate was all smiles as her wonderful horse danced around the arena to music especially written for him in the USA.  It was a very expressive performance and the music added a special mood and drama that well suited the pair.  Rozzie Ryan spoke to Kate after their ride and she said, “I could not be happier.”  Kate acknowledged her coach Brett Parbery, her family and her wonderful groom. Kate and Luxor 118 finished in 3rd place with a score of 70.675%.

The third combination out is always a crow pleaser!  Jeremy Janjic and the wonderful Australian bred, Champion Friesian stallion, Django of Cacharel have a very appealing ring presence and show a fantastic rapport between horse and rider.  Everyone loves the musical selection from Kung Foo Panda and the catchy beat augments the rhythm and lift in Django’s particularly expressive piaffe/passage tour.  The microphone gave intermittent problems throughout the evening and Rozzie was not able to get Jeremy’s comments before he left the ring.  His gestures and smile said it all.  They scored 67.700% and are getting better all the time.

Django of Charharel
Django of Cacharel
Jeremy Janjic
Jeremy Janjic speaks with
Rozzie Ryan

Dr Kerry Mack and her popular partner Mayfield Pzazz (by Jazz) were next in. Kerry rides in chocolate brown colours, which gives her a very distinctive look.  Pzazz showed some of his best work tonight and Kerry chose technically demanding choreography with many high-risk intricacies.  She showed Pzazz’s skill and security in the 1 and 2 times changes by seamlessly changing from 1 sequence to the other, with no mistakes and a happy and compliant horse.
A muddled moment caused some difficulty and proved costly. Kerry finished her test with a row of 1 times change ridden with one hand on the centre line to show the judges the horse’s straightness and lightness to the bridle.  The musical compilation was lovely and Kerry thanked her daughter Tori who put the music together for her.  They scored 67.125%

Mayfield Pzazz
Dr Kerry Mack
Above - Dr Kerry Mack
Left - Mayfield Pzazz

The final combination before the break in the CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle was Tango V and Caroline Wagner.  Tango is another by the mighty Dutch stallion Jazz. Caroline has done a fantastic job with her talented and sensitive horse that has needed to gain confidence – particularly in the big atmosphere such as a World Cup qualifier.  The musical selection was lovely and showcased the creative skill of Rozzie Ryan who acted as the post ride interviewer tonight.  Rozzie gave some interesting insights to the musical choice and said that she felt that elegant ballet music suited this combination- in particular, Caro who is always so elegant and well presented. It was a light and fluent performance and they finished with a score of  68.325%.

 

Dirk DjikstraThere was a break in the CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle competition and the “down time” was devoted to presentations of previously ridden classes.  Popular Victorian, Dirk Dijkstra (right) and his imported stallion Dutch Metallic won the Grand Prix CDN.  Dirk acknowledged his wonderful horse and marvelled that he was improving beyond his most optimistic expectations. 

Second in this class was Rozzie Ryan on who rode Concordance with Meaghan Willis and her Rituel gelding Roxbury Armistice finished in 3rd place. Lesley-Anne Taylor and the beautiful import Amicelli Gold finished in 4th.

Rozzie Ryan
Above - Roger Fitzhardinge
speakswith Rozzie Ryan

Right - Judge Jane Ventura
congratulates plcegetter
Sue Nevitt

Sue Nevitt

Rozzie Ryan won the Medium class on her new star Jarrah R, a horse that was bred at the NSW Equestrian Centre, which she runs with her husband Heath Ryan.  No doubt this was a very rewarding win for the Ryans.

First up after the break, was the winner of the Grand Prix test, which was held on Friday 23rd - Mary Hanna and Umbro, another by Jazz.  It is clear that Mary Hanna loves this breed as she bought Mayfield Pzazz and also Tango V as young horses and sold them on to the riders who competed them this evening.   Umbro showed flair and talent for the piaffe/passage tour and was very pleasing in the canter work and changes.  Mary chose music with a Spanish flair, which well suited their elegant style.  Roger Fitzhardinge and Rozzie Ryan both felt that they recognised parts of the music and Mary confirmed that she had used segments from her Athens (2004) partner Limbo’s music, which helped to make this freestyle performance with Umbro, a sentimental recollection.  They finished in first place with a very pleasing score of 71.650%

Umbro
Umbro
Mary Hanna
Mary Hanna talks to
Rozzie Ryan

Brett Parbery with DP Weltmeiser were next out and Brett’s talent as a competition rider were well demonstrated as he kept the concentration and confidence of this young Grand Prix horse throughout the test.  Brett chose a very interesting arrangement of Michael Jackson’s music and the powerful beat suited this performance.  DP Weltmeiser is out of the wonderful mare Donna Carrera (competed by Rozzie Ryan) and by the mighty stallion, Weltmeyer.  They have come a long way since Brett campaigned this horse in his first Young Horse season in 2005.
 
Rozzie confirmed repeatedly that getting a horse to Grand Prix takes time and sometimes they just need more time to become capable and confident with the demands of dressage at the highest level.  Brett scored a very commendable 69.200% and put Australian enthusiasts on notice that they are the ones to watch.

DP Weltmeiser
DP Weltmeiser
Brett Parbery
Brett Parbery

Heath Ryan and Regardez Moi entered the ring and they are favourites wherever they appear.  The reigning Australian Grand Prix Champions have enjoyed accolades and acknowledgement for their long time partnership and Heath’s care of his now 19-year-old stallion and their career has become the stuff of legends.  Rozzie Ryan is the musical genius behind this great music, taken from the “spaghetti western” Rango and the humorous refrain “Lets Ride” speaks to us of the fun that this charismatic pair have in the ring – they both love it..  Regardez Moi is known as Fabio at home … and tonight Fabio danced.  His signature piaffe/passage sequences were high scoring movements but one loss of concentration and balance was costly, as there was little separating the best.  They had to settle for second place with a score of 71.200%

Regardez Moi
Regardez Moi
Heath Ryan
Heath Ryan is interviewed
by Rozzie Eyan

The second last combination to take part in this international qualifier was NSW rider Sue Hearn and her beautiful and elegant Riverdance gelding, Remmington.  Rozzie and Roger Fitzhardinge acknowledged Sue’s enduring skill as a trainer and competitor, explaining that she shows great patience and a talent to bring her young horses up to the top level where she has had much success.  Sue told Rozzie after her ride, that she has had this horse since he was young and is now enjoying him very much as she has given him time and been patient.  Sue said, “he is a worrier and tension could easily spoil their work.”  It was a great result for this up and coming Grand Prix combination – 69.375%.

Remmington
Remmington
Sue Hearn
Sue Hearn

The final combination to go was Maree Tomkinson and the amazing Diamantina who are having their first start since returning from Europe where they enjoyed the world’s acclaim for their first WEG appearance.  Maree has had to learn to work with her mare’s strong and reactionary personality and perhaps they lacked a little “match practise” tonight – not withstanding, there were some moments of brilliance.  The flying changes are an absolute highlight with the horse’s front legs about as expressive as it gets.  The extended trot is wonderful and Maree’s hard work and patience to improve the piaffe has paid dividends, it was very nice. 

Diamantina
Diamantina (above and right)
Maree Tomkinson

Maree spoke to Rozzie Ryan after her ride and Diamantina cavorted showing that there is “much more expression” in those front legs if only she were able to show us her best.  Maree told of her love for this mare and said with a laugh, “She is bit neurotic, we both are, but I love her anyway.”  Maree realises that they need to get back up to their best, but this was a great welcome home, with a score of 69.825% for 4th place.

The evening wrapped up with a demonstration of horsemanship skills a little different to what we had seen earlier.  Shepparton based Mick Taylor rode his amazing 3 YO gelding Barney and showed the talent and temperament of the Quarter Horse, the breed that has undisputed supremacy in reining and other western disciplines.

Mick Taylor
Mick Taylor and Barney
Mick Taylor
Mick talks to Roger

It was hard to believe that Barney was having his first ever away from home experience.  Mick told us that he had never been on the trailer before this weekend.  Mick was full of praise for Barney and said that he followed the horse’s bloodlines when he chose the youngster.

Fiona SelbyThe crowd slowly dispersed and everyone agreed that Australia has “come of age” as this is a truly international event at a venue equal to the best in the world.

Congratulations and thankyou to Fiona (right) and the McNaught family, staff and helpers for a job very well done.

For full dressage results from the competition GO TO
http://equiscore.com.au/?page_id=1001

Here are the scores for each movement
http://equiscore.com.au/wp-content/uploads/fei_cdiw_marks.pdf

For more information please visit the website http://www.boneopark.com.au/

Story and Pictures
Berni Saunders
Saddleworld Media