Trans-Tasman Dressage Challenge Re-Boots

ESNZ have announced the team to contest the Trans-Tasman Dressage Challenge at the Sydney CDI later this month. The senior riders comprise World Champs representative John Farrell Thompson aboard MSJ Gatsby and World Cup finalist Wendi Williamson with Don Vito MH – both of whom have their necessary qualifications to make them available for selection for the 2026 World Champs in Germany. The young riders are Samantha Belsham on Donero RH and Piper Crake with Georgia MH.

ESNZ high performance general manager Jock Paget says it is an exciting time for equestrian sport in New Zealand and Australia. “This is the first time I can remember that we have three trans-Tasman competitions – jumping, dressage and eventing – within 12 months,” he said. “This is something we have been working towards to create this platform to prepare for championships so it is a massive step forward.”

It’s the first time in many years the dressage trans-Tasman competition has been held at the Sydney CDI and ESNZ high performance dressage manager Christine Weal is hopeful it will become an annual fixture for the future. “It is a great opportunity to create regular competition between Australia and New Zealand as we head towards the Brisbane Olympic Games,” she said. “This is a chance for our senior riders to work together as part of a team before heading to pinnacle events. We can get our horses accustomed to travelling offshore before they do those bigger trips to Europe too.”

Adding young riders to the event would give them a chance to learn from the senior riders and prepare them for future international competition. “We don’t have many team opportunities like this for our Kiwi riders so it something we are all looking forward to.”

Wendi Williamson and her 13-year-old New Zealand bred Hanoverian Don Vito MH won the top three classes at the recent New Zealand National Champs, scoring 72.73% for the Freestyle, 67.426% for the Special and 69.804% for the Grand Prix. They also picked up a perfect 10 for their entrance in the Special from the international judge Henning Lehrmann (GER), who also judged at the Olympic Games. The combination has placed no worse than second in their last 34 starts at CDI3* level, including World Cup New Zealand League finals. Their best at Grand Prix is 71.696%, 74.383% in the Special and 76.35% in the Freestyle.

The 10-year-old Brit-bred Hanoverian MSJ Gatsby has been hugely consistent at CDI3* level for Australia-based John Farrell Thompson. Their best effort in the CDI3* Grand Prix was a 67.544% at Werribee in Victoria late March, where they also scored 65.766% in the Special and 70.03% in the Freestyle. Last year they won both the freestyle and Grand Prix at the CDI-W at the same show.

Young rider Samantha Belsham won the Young Rider at the recent Dressage National Championships on Dollceto II but is taking Donero RH on whom she was third. Piper Crake will compete aboard the 12-year-old Hanoverian Georgia MH. Christine says both of the young riders and their mounts will benefit hugely from the exposure both in and out of the arena that they will experience at the Sydney CDI.

THE TEAM
John Farrell Thompson on MSJ Gatsby
Wendi Williamson on Don Vito MH.
Samantha Belsham on Donero RH
Piper Crake on Georgia MH

WHAT: Sydney CDI – including the Trans-Tasman Dressage Challenge
WHEN: April 29-May 2, 2026
WHERE: Sydney, Australia
MORE INFO: www.sydneycdi.equestrian.org.au

THE HORSE DETAILS

By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
8^th April 2026