Taupo turned on four days of perfect weather for the action-packed 2023 Bates NZ Dressage National Championships.
Wednesday saw the grounds fill with competitors, turning NEC into a pop-up dressage village as riders arrived to get set up and take advantage of the arena familiarisation times that were available throughout the day. All horses presented for inspection at the 4.30pm CDI trot-up were passed and accepted into the competition.
We were privileged to have a suite of highly experienced judges attending, the overseas contingent including the UK’s Isobel Wessels (FEI5*) and Australian FEI4* judges Kerrie Swan Bates and Ricky Macmillan and Para 4* Lisa Baker (AUS)
The Bates Preliminary championship went to Casey Burton and Fanciful MH (owned by Judith Matthews). Holly Leach and HPE Barbados finished their great season by taking home the Bates Novice title.
Olivia Younger (Feilding) and CDS Donnerstern took the purple rug for the Bates Elementary title, and over in the Bates Medium championship Candice Nichol and her Furstenball gelding Falcon O took the honours (the pair also scooping the 6YO Young Dressage Horse title).
The Bates Advanced Medium saw Penny Pearce and Papanui Just Dynamite victorious for the top spot, while Cooper Oborn and Irish Coffee staved off some stiff competition to take out the Bates Advanced championship.
Madison Schollum and Kinnordy Golda topped a very classy field for the Bates Small Tour championship, with the Bates Medium Tour title going to Vanessa Way riding Renee Etherington’s lovely grey BL All By Chance.
The addition of Bronze and Silver categories within the levels has been very successful, allowing for a wider range of combinations to be rewarded for their work. For a full list of champions, reserves and trophy winners please click here:
It was another successful Young Rider campaign for multi-talented Auckland showjumper Ben Weir and NPE Del Rico, and the hotly contested Pony Classic went to Frankie Lawn with her 7-year-old Pied Piper Trick or Treat (Golden Strike).
The Young Dressage Horse Finals took place on Friday night, and it was a pleasure to be able to listen to Isobel Wessels (FEI5*) commentary on the selection process. The 4YO title went to Rochelle Speirs and Orinoco F.A.B (by Incognito, bred by T Tolner and owned by David Brougham). South Island rider Lorraine Ward Smith took the 5YO championship with Fernlea Diamond Hall (by Donnerubin DC, bred and owned by Lorraine Ward Smith), and Furstenball gelding Falcon O (bred by Dr Anne Stewart) secured the 6YO title with rider and owner Candice Nichol.
The rise and rise of Melissa Galloway and Windermere J’Obei W continued, pocketing another National Grand Prix title following their NZ record-breaking score in the Superior Rubber Surfaces Grand Prix (73.46) and finishing with a whopping 77.035 in the NZ Hanoverian Assn Freestyle. Reserve champion went to Wendi Williamson and Don Vito MH.
Running alongside the Bates NZ National Championships was the Fiber Fresh ESNZ Para-Equestrian Championships, with some classy performances and great scores posted. The Grade I title went to Jodie Thorn and Ira Hayes, while the Grade II rug and sash went home with Tauranga’s Aimee Prout and Laghmor. Grade III champions were Rachel Hughes and HPH Benedict, with Anne Watts and Josephs Dream victorious for the Grade IV title. Chelsea Burns (Manukau) took out the Grade V with DSE Lannister
For a full run-down on the action at Taupo, make sure you check out next month’s edition of the DNZ Bulletin magazine.
The Judges: 2023 NZL-Bates NZ Dressage Championships. NEC Taupo. Thursday 23 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography Awesome Officials Team
2023 NZL-Bates NZ Dressage Championships. NEC Taupo. Thursday 23 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography The Bates 25th Birthday
FEI Judges: Ricky MacMillan and Isobel Wessels. 2023 NZL-Bates NZ Dressage Championships. NEC Taupo. Thursday 23 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography Ricky Macmillan & Isobel Wessels
2023 NZL-Bates NZ Dressage Championships. NEC Taupo. Thursday 23 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography Gaylene Lennard
2023 NZL-Bates NZ Dressage Championships. NEC Taupo. Thursday 23 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography Kyrie Gausden & Miss Sim !
Kerryn Beatson and Andrea Raves. 2023 NZL-Bates NZ Dressage Championships. NEC Taupo. Thursday 23 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography Kerrin Beatson & Andrea Raves
2023 NZL-Bates NZ Dressage Championships. NEC Taupo. Thursday 23 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography From L Helen Hughes-Keen, Lisa Baker, Ricki Macmillan, Isobel Wessels & Lisa Marcroft
2023 NZL-Bates NZ Dressage Championships. NEC Taupo. Thursday 23 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography Abbie Deken & Lucarne Dolley
2023 NZL-Bates NZ Dressage Championships. NEC Taupo. Thursday 23 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography with David Jones Parry from Bates
Volunteers of the Show: 2023 NZL-Bates NZ Dressage Championships. NEC Taupo. Thursday 23 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography Jane Gorton (L) Jeanie Attrill (R) with Event Director Cassie Freeman
2023 NZL-Bates NZ Dressage Championships. NEC Taupo. Thursday 23 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography