We welcomed, from Germany, Dr Ulf Moller who represented Performance Sales International, Ulla Salzgeber who presented the Bates Dressage Master Class and Gilbert Boeckmann who presented the Stubben Showjumping Master Class and judged the young showjumping classes. Overseas judges also included Hanne Valentin (Denmark), Alison King (Hong Kong), Jan Bird (New Zealand) and Brian Cheffers (Belgium). They joined Australian judges Mary Seefried, Susie Hoevenaars, Virginia Creed, Harry Boldt, Joanne Fowler and Sue Chandler and presided over the main competition. On Saturday judging support in the showjumping arena was provided by the familiar face of Reg Cleland and in the dressage Consolation Final by Anthea Hayes and Rosemary Dalton.
In the PSI Australian Young Dressage Horse Championships the Waterview Park 4 yo Class was won in style by Greenoaks Weltman. The colt was ridden by Heath Ryan and owned and bred by Clyde Wunderwald.
Judy Dierks, riding imports Donner Carina and PSI De Caprio, kept owner Andrea Beatty on the edge of her seat with excitement. Donner Carina won the 4 Aces 5 yo Class in convincing style and Judy followed up by winning the IHB 6 yo Class on PSI De Caprio. Their thrilling weekend was ‘topped off’ when the judges announced Donner Carina as the Champion of Champions. The winning combination received prizes from IRT, Bates and Mal Bryne Saddlery. Congratulations Andrea & Judy.
The Young Showjumping Horse classes were held over two rounds under the Direction of Janette Strazdins. Janette put together an efficient competition popular with both the competitors and spectators. (Janette became ‘very’ popular with everyone involved in organising the main Indoor when she announced Gilbert Bockman would not require the dressage arena dismantled for the showjumping indoors!)
The Showjumping class winners were:
Copabella 4 yo Class – GP Dollar Bug, ridden by Angela Dobbin, owned by Brook & Angela Dobbin and bred by Glenwood Park
Waterview Park 5 yo Class – Denali Blue, ridden by Jeff Bloomfield, owned by Anne Barner and bred by Dennis Crane
Kolora Stud & Waterview Park 6 yo Class – Belcam Alida, ridden by Jeff Bloomfield, owned by Sadie Michell and bred by Belcam Stud
Danaos Park 7yo Class – Ashleigh Drossel Dan, ridden by Laurie Lever and owned by Laurie Lever and Colin Gronn.
The winners were presented in the main indoor where they were ridden with consummate ease by Gilbert Boeckmann in judging the overall champion. Gilbert announced his Champion of Champions, Ashleigh Drossel Dan who showed some great scope over the jumps. Laurie Lever was very pleased, receiving prizes from Stubben and Peter Horobin as well as the Sky High Perpetual Trophy donated by Bev Edwards of Jaybee Farm. Gilbert also presented the Stubben Showjumping Master Class to an audience that appreciated his knowledgeable insights and display of riding talent. In the masterclass he rode Budweiser who was ridden by Gilbert when the horse was based in Germany.
The Esther Bellis trophy, donated by The Horse Magazine to the best performed horse AYDH and JWTS combined was awarded to Monica Lewinsky, ridden by Boyd Martin and Laura Stigler and owned by Windurra P/L.
Friday highlights included the KB Finance Solutions Prix St. Georges Cup with a full complement of entries competing in the Prix St George test held outdoors during the morning. The top fifteen from this section went into the Indoor late in the day to perform an Inter 1 Freestyle. Spectators were treated to some dazzling performances which saw Classico II, ridden by Glennis Barrey decided the winner. KB Finance Solutions principal Katrina Bolmat was impressed with the quality of the field. This is the second year her company has sponsored this competition.
Prior to the Pryde’s EasiFeed Grand Prix spectators were indulged with a stunning PSI Mini Master Class presented by Dr Ulf Moller. Ulf is a very welcome guest to DJWTS, always warmly received by the spectators who respect his expertise and are charmed by his manner. The horses in the presentation have all been imported from Performance Sales International and are an excellent showcase for the company in Australia. Thank you to Maree Tomkinson who co-ordinated this mini masterclass.
The Pryde’s EasiFeed Grand Prix was held in the afternoon in what became a day of delightful entertainment. Clyde Wunderwald’s Greenoaks Dundee ridden by Heath Ryan placed first in a style which we have come to associate with Heath. The crowd loved Heath’s effervescence and were not disappointed the following day with the Pryde’s EasiFeed Pacific League World Cup Dressage Final when Heath and Greenoaks Dundee repeated their form and won the Final. With the 4 yo young horse win and this win Clyde expressed his wish that ‘all weekends could be like this one’. Congratulations.
DJWTS presents a program jam packed with top quality and the Bates Dressage Master Class presented by Ulla Salzgeber was no exception. The indoor was jam packed for the two hours while she worked with members of the National Squad and then held the audience spellbound when she performed a freestyle on Ann Serrao’s Centaur. Centaur was retired from competition at the conclusion of this performance. There were many damp eyes in the audience and a standing ovation for both Ulla and Centaur. Thank you to Ulla and also to Deb MacNicol for working so hard on the format and presentation of this feature.
On a light hearted note the Catago/Collingrove Fashions on the Longside was judged in the middle of the Trade Village on Saturday. Now in its third year the number of entries has been steadily increasing with the girls (& guys) having great fun and wowing the crowd with their ‘frocks and froes’ and their ability to ‘strutt their stuff’. Many thanks to Pernille Hogg, Sophie Wyett and Tottie Goldsmith for making this so enjoyable. It is a really delightful element for the event.
Also on the program to delight spectators each evening were members of the KER Young Rider Dressage A Squad. They were sensational! Enthusiastic and skilful their quadrille delighted everyone and was very well received. Thanks to Jackie Woodhead for their participation and help on the weekend.
To organise and conduct a show like Dressage and Jumping with the Stars would not be possible without some dedicated help. The Organising Committee thank, most sincerely, the many volunteers who worked at the event to ‘get the show underway’. A handful of people spent the week prior to the event getting the venue set up – thank you. Thank you to the people who provided support to the committee throughout the event. A special thank you to the Stable Managers Phillipa Miller, Charlene Zwar and Jessica Blackwell who came to us through Marcus Oldham College in Geelong and worked tirelessly through the week to ensure horses were cared for and stabling issues were handled efficiently. The girls remained upbeat and friendly throughout the whole competition and many competitors have made comment on this. Thank you to all the sponsors, including The Mansion Hotel & The Lake House in Daylesford, for again supporting our event. Congratulations on being an integral part of a wonderful show!!!
It is time for everyone involved in DJWTS to reflect on the development of this event over the years and praise the people who had the vision to enact the concept eight years ago. Mostly though, to look forward to Dressage & Jumping with the Stars 2006!
