Dressage: Top riders descend on showgrounds

Carli Butturini on Puketotara Pedro at the 2015 Northland Eventing Spring Horse Trials. Photo / Tania Whyte

The Matthews Hanoverians Dressage Northland Championships 2016 are set to grace the Barge Park Showgrounds with style and poise this weekend.

With 105 riders travelling from as far south as Waikato and as far North as Kaitaia the event looks set to be a big one.

Prominent Northland riders who will feature include Julie Flintoff riding Belladonna MH (Kerikeri), Nikita Osbourne riding Alacatraz (Kerikeri) and Mihi Shepherd riding Hot Chocolate MH (Whangarei).

Competitors will be spread throughout the dressage grades, with eight advanced level horses, four intermediate level horses, and two Grand Prix horses on display which will provide great spectator viewing.

There will also be Pony and Young Rider classes for riders 20-years-old and under, and a new Young Horse Circuit run in conjunction with Auckland and Waitemata Dressage groups for horses four, 5 and 6-years-old.

Riders will also be chasing points and qualification for the Super 5 League Series which is run across the 20 regional Championships held throughout New Zealand, with the finals ridden at the Bates National Championships and the South Island Festival of Dressage.

One of the major public attractions will be the Advanced and GP Freestyle to Music which will be held at 4.30pm tomorrow.

Additionally, Bill Millar, a NZ Grand Prix rider from Waikato, and his horse Raukura Satori MH will be on show along with Caitlin Benzie riding Rosari Royal Gem.