The second day of the Bates NZ Dressage Championships and the Webb Equestrian Para Championships saw some stunning performances in all grades – matching the stunning Taupo weather
Results Roundup Day One: Thursday 20 March
The 2025 Bates National Dressage Championships & Webb Equestrian Para Nationals officially got underway under grey skies at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre (Taupo). This end-of-season dressage finale sees riders from all over NZ vying for a wide range of titles as well as taking their last opportunities to gain Super 5 League North Island points.
This year’s judging suite is made up of both national and international judges, including distinguished visiting FEI Level 4 (5*) judge, Henning Lehrmann (GER). Lehrmann is also staying after the show to hold a seminar for judges, riders and coaches on Sunday.
Indoor arena familiarisation was completed on Wednesday along with FEI fitness inspection for the nine horses competing in CDI3*, CDI-J and CDI-Y classes; all were accepted into the competition by the ground jury.
Just two combinations are lining up for the CDI 3*Grand Prix championship this year: World Cup and Olympic hopefuls Wendi Williamson and Don Vito MH (hot off the back of their recent HOY title), and Gaylene Lennard, warmly welcomed back into the arena aboard Jax Johnson after a year’s hiatus.
Taranaki’s Vanessa Way is on track for a repeat performance in the Medium Tour following Defender HOY where she was champion and reserve with NSC Furst Rock DW and NSC Jolie DW respectively; she took out first and second placings in today’s AR Dressage Super 5 & National Final Int A.
The strong Small Tour field so far has Amy Sage and Sinatra SW at the top of the leaderboard, this hardworking young rider (and previous working pupil for Vanessa Way) will surely be happy with her very solid 68.775 win in the Custom Logistic Super 5 NI & National Final Prix St George.
Following the success of the inaugural 2024 international Junior (CDI-J) in 2024, last year, these classes were up for grabs again along with CDI-Y, albeit light on numbers with just four starters in each. So far Samantha Belsham and Dolcetto II lead the CDI-Y, with Grace Purdie and Mistadobalina top of the CDI-J after their Sweney Productions FEI Team Tests today.
The first of three tests for Level 1-6 competitors were also completed today, which also count as final season points for the Super 5 League Series. Cindy Wiffin and Total MH won the Vetpro Preliminary 1B on a countback after stiff competition from Becki Williamson saw them finish on exactly the same score of 71.965. It was a similar story in the Matthews Hanoverians Novice with the top three placegetters separated by less than one percent: however Catherine West and Matapiro Baseline emerged with the red ribbon on 71.953.
Wendi Williamson and Furst Klasse MH currently hold the Elementary lead after a 73.188 finish in the Animal Therapeutics 3B, with Casey Burton and Fanciful MH topping the 20-strong Medium leaderboard so far with a 71.25 win in the Dunstan Horse Feeds 4B.
Danseur MH was expertly piloted into first place (73.108) in the Back on Track Advanced Medium 5B with Wendi Williamson aboard, despite Vanessa Way (NSC Bugatti MH) and Melissa Galloway (Beaufort DW) being hot on their heels. NSC Bugatti MH just nipped ahead of Cindy Wiffen and Santana MH over in the Kiwi Arena Rakes 6B on 67.412 to take the provisional lead for the L6 title.
Paige Fitzgerald and Greenmoor Euphoria have opened the door to repeating their victory of last year after a successful finish in the Sweney Productions FEI Pony Team Test from a small but perfectly formed field (4) of seasoned Pony combinations.
The top three combinations from the each of this afternoon’s first rounds of the River Park Farm Young Dressage Horse Championships will go forward to tomorrow’s finals for the highly coveted 4yo, 5yo and 6yo titles.Tomorrow’s finalists are:
4YO:
Zoie Gray + SWE Furstin Light (by Furstenlook, bred by Janelle Sangster-Ward)
Duncan Norrie + WPS Demure (by SWE Dempsey, bred by Duncan Norrie)
Lucy Russell + Secrets Kept REQ (by Secret, bred by Lucy Russell)
5YO:
Melissa Galloway + Fine Style SW (by Fugato, bred by Sheena Ross)
Emily Townsend + Southern Star Grace (by Rosari Fabio, bred by Southern Star Sport Horses)
Samantha Belsham + Southcote Dominic (by SWE Dempsey, bred by Dawn Howard)
6YO:
Holly Moorman + Shall We Dance AH (by Swarovski OLD, bred by Amberleigh House)
Catherine West + Matapiro Baseline (by Buckingham, bred by Alison Arthur)
Alix Campbell + Silver Scotsman (by Chacco Silver + bred by Kim Campbell and Sandra Stowell)
NZ National Para Dressage Championships are held concurrently and the FEI Para Equestrian Grades II – V classes got underway this morning with some excellent scores going up. Levin Paralympian Louise Duncan and Showcase BC showed the quality that got them to Paris by putting 68.82 on the Oakridge Equestrian IRT FEI Para Gd IV Grand Prix Test A leaderboard.
A very busy and successful day finished with evening prizegiving and included many highlights: Super 5 series winners were announced and awarded their beautiful rugs and sashes from our many generous sponsors, and Paris Olympic contenders Melissa Galloway and Louise Duncan were acknowledged and celebrated for their tremendous achievement in representing NZ at the highest level. We also took a minute of contemplation to remember two members of our dressage community who are no longer with us and were deeply missed at the event: Baldeep Dillon and Penny Pearce.
ESNZ Roundup Day Two: Friday 21 March
Day Two dawned a proper Taupo stunner of a day, with the early-bird competitors out warming up for 8am test starts and marking the beginning of another jam-packed cocmpetition schedule.
The Aotea Gaming Trust 1A.went to Holly Moorman and Shall We Dance AH on a countback score after being tied with Samantha Belsham and Southcote Dominic for the top spot on 74%. Novice competition in the HERDD Bedding 2A was strong with 25 riders lining up – Tiffany Owen took the win after playing bridesmaid yesterday, finishing more than 3% ahead of her nearest rival on 74.808.
Equus Veterinary Reproduction & Consulting 3A was a Wendi Williamson masterclass in beautiful test riding for another win (74.428) with Furst Klasse MH. A big improvement on yesterday’s performance saw Luca Swale and Innuendo II crack well into the seventies for a good win (73.5) in the Aotea Gaming Trust Medium 4A.
Wendi continued her blinder of a Nationals with her team with today’s form, Danseur MH clocking up another Advanced Medium win in the Capital Pools 5A. After yesterdays results it was a 1-2 switch for the Bobby Foundation 6A top spot, today Cindy Wiffen (Santana MH) leapfrogged Vanessa Way (NSC Bugatti MH) into first place.
Continuing her strong campaign for the Small Tour title was Amy Sage, top of the field again in the Dressage Rider Training FEI Inter I Musical Freestyle aboard Sinatra SW. A nod to the versatile NZ TB/Clydesdale is also worthy of a mention for this class, beautifully represented in an otherwise full field of warmbloods by Angela Lloyd and Airthrey Roll X who have finished in the top four of both Small Tour tests so far.
Medium Tour domination continued with another Vanessa Way quinella of first (NSC Furst Rock DW, 73.25) and second (NSC Jolie DW, 72.09), posting the only scores in the seventies and both horses showing how expertly they have been prepared for the step up to Grand Prix – a real credit to their rider.
Spectators in the grandstand were treated to an impressive pair of freestyles in the CDI3* Gallant Equestrian Grand Prix, Wendi Williamson and Don Vito MH (71.825) once more edging ahead of Gaylene Lennard and Jax Johnson (70.51) who certainly gave them a run for their money despite an expensive uncertain moment from Jax mid-test. Nicole Sweney was the sole contestant for the CDN Grand Prix Freestyle, which she twinkled through with her lovely Flute Noir for 66.02.
Te Awamutu’s Samantha Belsham and Dolcetto II are in pole position to pounce on the National Young Rider title (and add this to their recent HOY Young Rider spoils) after another solid win today in the Sweney Productions CDI-Y Individual test. Tomorrow’s musical freestyle is the final decider.
The Junior championship is open for the taking with Piper Crake (Georgia MH) and Grace Purdie (Mistadobalina) both now pocketing a win and a second place each following the Sweney Productions CDI-J Individual test today. South Island Pony championship contesters Paige Fitzgerald and Greenmoor Euphoria are a step closer to the title after another win in the Equissage CDI-P musical freestyle this afternoon (the only combination to crack into the seventies with 71.1).
River Park Farm Young Dressage Horse Finals:
The judging panel consisted of FEI Young Horse judges Linda Warren-Davey (NZL) and Henning Lehrmann (GER), providing a super commentary on the young horses presented to them and awarding marks for walk, trot, canter, submission and potential.
The Glenvar Trophy for the best NZ-bred horse went to Janelle Sangster-Ward, breeder of SWE Furstin Light (Furstenlook) ridden by Zoie Gray and owned by Judith Jane, with a score of 79.8.
4-year-old National Young Dressage Horse Champion & Matthews Hanoverians Trophy
Champion: Zoie Gray + SWE Furstin Light (by Furstenlook, bred by Janelle Sangster-Ward)
Reserve: Lucy Russell + Secrets Kept REQ (by Secret, bred by Lucy Russell)
5-year-old National Young Dressage Horse Champion
& Elite Equine Trophy
Samantha Belsham + Southcote Dominic (by SWE Dempsey, bred by Dawn Howard)
Melissa Galloway + Fine Style SW (by Fugato, bred by Sheena Ross)
6-year-old National Young Dressage Horse Champion & Astek Stud Trophy
Holly Moorman + Shall We Dance AH (by Swarovski OLD, bred by Amberley House)
Catherine West + Matapiro Baseline (by Buckingham, bred by Alison Arthur)
It was musical day for all Para Equestrian riders, these classes being sponsored by Webb Equestrian from Grade II through to Grade V. The winners for each grade were:
Grade II – Chontelle Honour + Anuschka PSH, 63.9
Grade III – Rachel Shiree Hughes + HPH Benedict 70.267
Grade IV – Louise Duncan + Showcase BC 71.125
Grade V – Shelley Penny + Astek Rhapsody 66.162
Tomorrow wraps up three days of competition including final classes for L1-6, the Young Rider, Junior and Pony title deciders plus Small Tour, Medium Tour and Grand Prix championships, and the FEI GP Test B for Para Equestrian Grades II-V.
Follow the links for Thursday & Friday results
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Bates Dressage Championships 2025 – 20 March
Bates Dressage Championships 2025 – 21 March
Story: By Jessica Roberts Equestrian
Venue Image: Medics on Scene