Cochrane, Belsham & Lawn 2025 NZ Youth Champions
Copyright All Photos: Libby Law Photography
A sun drenched Taupo attracted 135 U25 combinations to the Saddle & Canter 2025 Youth Dressage Championships for two days of dressage delight with all grades and ages catered for from Lead rein to Under 25 Grand Prix.
Event Manager Angela Nobilo was impressed by the all-round participation by many of the young competitors.
“One of the highlights for me was seeing the young riders step up and take on key roles like announcing. It was inspiring to watch them take ownership of the show and really make it their own. Their enthusiasm and dedication were evident and added so much to the event’s success.”
I couldn’t have asked for a better team to work with. The atmosphere was incredibly positive, and everyone was so supportive, which truly created an enjoyable experience for both the competitors, officials, volunteers, and support teams.”
We Love Lucy – U25 Grand Prix Champion
KH Arvan Memorial Trophy
Donated by Pip Gibbons – in perpetual recognition of Vanessa Way’s KH Arvan
Also winner of the Kaye Fissenden Memorial Trophy donated by Dressage Canterbury in memory of Kaye, a former Chair of Dressage NZ, List A Judge, and supporter.
Twenty-two year old Lucy Cochrane was just so happy to take the KH Arvan Memorial Trophy for the U25 Grand Prix Championship with scores of 67.17% in the Freestyle and 63.03% in the Grand Prix. All credit to Lucy who has trained Gymanji from a trekking horse to Dressage star. Gymanji aka ‘Splash’, is a 16-year-old gelding by Gymnastik Star out of an Anamour mare. His grand sire is the appaloosa Grand Prix dressage stallion ‘Sundays Sensation’ who gives Splash his unique blanket of spots. “We purchased him as an 8-year-old and I also show-jumped him in the Junior Rider series, evented at 1* and he carried me to many successful rider titles in the show ring in our early years together. I’m so pleased with the way he is developing confidence and there’s still more to come as we learn.”
Lucy also competed the dark brown mare Play Off (by Davidoff) in Advanced Medium level finishing 4th in the Championship.
Lucy returned home to Canterbury from a training stint in Australia in latter 2024 straight from the event made the move to Hawkes Bay where she is a trainee air traffic controller at Napier airport – and loving that too.
Samantha Shines – FEI Young Rider Champion
Waldebago Trophy
Donated by Katherin Gorringe (nee Dalrymple) & the late Patricia Dalrymple
In perpetual recognition of Waldebago, the first NZ bred horse to compete at a CDI at the legendary Goodwood international event (UK)
2024 High Performance Talent Identification member Samantha Belsham (Auckland) just couldn’t stop smiling all weekend. She partnered her nine year old stable superstar, Dolcetto II (NZ Warmblood by Donnerubin / Distelfink), bred by Marianne Paton-Sentch and owned by herself and Mum Wendy, to a win in the coveted Young Rider Championship for riders U21 riders with scores of 67% (1st place) in the Individual Test and 69.6% (3rd place) in the Freestyle.
Samantha is currently based in the Waikato as a working pupil for Christine Weal Equestrian picked up the ride in Advanced Medium on Stoneylea Felicio (owned by Christine Weal) for a Reserve Champion as well as another “wide” ribbon, Reserve Champion Preliminary on her own five year old, Southcote Dominic, a NZ Warmblood by SWE Dempsey / Donnerwind V, bred by Dawn Howard. Christine said after the event that Samantha’s dedication to teamwork and “being better” is great to see and “you’ve (Samantha) definitely earned a couple days off to rest and recharge!”
Zoe’s Zest – FEI Pony Champion
Hyland Trophy – presented by Shirley & Trevor Hyland (Gisborne) in perpetual recognition of top level Pony Dressage so strongly supported by Shirley and the 31st Edition of the event
Repeating her identical title win from 2024, 15y old Sacred Heart Girls College student Zoe Lawn took home the Hyland Trophy.
“Ï have been riding since I could walk – my Mum (Andrea Robertson) grew up with horses and dressage so my sister (Frankie) and I carried on. It’s important to me to be the best rider I can be for my pony Pied Piper Trick or Treat (Salem – born on Halloween)
Zoe would love to see more recognition for riders who train their own horses and her Key Tip is
“Be nice to your peers as this sport is hard enough – but most of all have fun”
Zoe & Salem won the Pony Freestyle with 69.9% & were second in the Team Test qualifier on 64.1% taking the title on 38pts ahead of Grace Purdie and Skyhi Leandro K (Waikato) on 36pts.
FEI LEVEL SPECIAL AWARDS
There were three special FEI Awards at the Youth Event
There was a Championship for Int A/B level for U25yrs and a Small Tour level for 21-25yrs and for the first time a Junior Division using the FEI Junior Tests. These levels all important for development of U25 riders.
The Int A/B attracted two combinations – Ben Weir on Melissa & Trevor Steeds NPE Del Rico (by Doringcourt) who took the Champion title and Reserve, Rebecca Mobberley was having just her second show at this level on Hapsburg PSH, formerly campaigned by Liz Hutson at Grand Prix. She refers to him as “Professor Pete” and describes him as “the perfect gentleman.” Rebecca is a 19yr old student majoring in a Psychology for a BA at Waikato University.
Ben is no stranger to the dressage arena having won two national young rider titles previously, but he does add that Melissa “stole me from the jumping ring” – this is where the majority of his riding time is spent. Rico” appears to have developed in a very systematic and empathetic style under the guidance of coach/owner, Melissa, and coachVanessa Way scoring 63% in the Int B and 68.9% in the Freestyle.
FEI Young Rider Tests 21-25yrs
Three riders contested this level with Emma Dickons & Belmont Rockstar from Central Districts taking the win from Auckland’s Bella Small and Luminate SH
The FEI Junior division was dominated by Claudia Younger (Feilding) on the striking CDS Donstar, a 9 year old black Stallion by Donnerubin DC / Gymnastic Star, bred by Chevaux Dansants Stables and owned by Jacinda Younger. The pair scored 64.4% in the Individual test and 66.4% in the Freestyle. Runner up in both tests was Jaimee Steed, a student at Taradale High School on Alexander M, aka Zulu, a purebred Friesian.
A huge thanks to all the Officials & Volunteers for their time and expertise, to our Funders the One Foundation Ltd and the Pelorus Trust; Naming right sponsors, Saddle & Canter (Jodi Walker) and all supporting sponsors
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