Superb form at North Island champs

Wendi Williamson, of Auckland, on her horse Presley MH at the North Island Dressage Championships at Solway Showgrounds Masterton on Saturday, PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD

CRACK Taranaki rider Vanessa Way was in superb form on the opening day of the North Island Dressage Championships, hosted by Wairarapa Dressage, at Solway Showgrounds over the weekend.

Way is widely recognised as one of the best dressage exponents in the country and she showed why by winning three events, including the level four musical freestyle. She scored 71.27pts on Mrn Kh Arion there to give her a win over Christine Weal on Stoneylea Lord Lockesley with 69.165pts and Jutta Rosenblatt on Volrath Lauretta with 68.41pts.

Another highlight was the effort of Taranaki to win the Perpetual Cup team's event from Auckland and Waikato.

The championships attracted excellent entries, both in terms of quantity and quality, and the first day's action was watched by a good-sized crowd in very warm temperatures.

Results:-

Class one (Studio Pilates 1A CN-C2): Nicki Sunlev on Laila Dawn 68.269 (1), Sarita Kennedy on Montjee 66.538 (2), Maryanne Jefferies on Rosemont Magic Man 64.904 (3). Class two (Panorama Equestrian 1A Open): Wendi Williamson on Bon Jovi 76.987 (1), Abbie Dekan on Giulani 73.718 (2), Andrew Daines on Sartorial Hit 70.833 (3). Class three (Ann Webster 2A CN-C3): Emma Clarke on Anacara 68.250 (1), Isabella Chatfield on Prima Bella 66.917 (2), Raewyn Nel on Donnorchole 66.083 (3).

Class four (Dressage Wellington 2A Open): Vanessa Way on Nsc Pronto 71.875 (1), Sophie de Clifford on Alamo Bl 70.875 (2), Debbie Barke on Rm Limbo 70.750 (3). Class five (Vet Services Wairarapa 3A CN-C4): Brooke Harris on Rainbow Te Ara A Kiwa 64.069 (1), Alexandra Miller on Raukura Rocket 63.725 (2), Rachel Fouhy on Silver Song Fe 63.676 (3).

Class six (Clareville Saddlery 3A Open): Vanessa Way on Nrm Andreas (1), Melissa Galloway on Windermere 3 Obei W 70.882 (2), Kallista Field on Salvente Fe 69.85 (3).

Class seven (Zilco level four musical freestyle): Vanessa Way on Mrn Kh Arion 71.27 (1), Christine Weal on Stoneylea Lord Lockesly 69.16 (2), Jutta Rosenblatt on Volrath Lauretta 68.41 (3).

Class eight (Zilco level 5 musical freestyle): Sophie de Clifford on Ashanti 71.61 (1), Rochelle Speirs on Volrath Latimer 66.22 (2), Jacqui Thompson on Georgio 65.88 (3).

Class nine (Hobson Horse Coaches Super 5 PSG): Susan Tomlin on Dancealong 66.09 (1), Sheena Ross on Parkridge Disco 65.965 (2), Alex Matheson on Lingh Ii 65.219 (3).

Class 10 (PGG Wrightson Int A): Debbie Barke on Lucrative Sw 67.407 (1), Wendi Williamson on Don Amour Mh 66.389 (2), Fiona Craig on Crystal Mt Xodo 63.657 (3).

Class 11 (WBS Grand Prix): Abbie Dekan on K.H.Ambrose 67.333 (1), Wendi Williamson on Dejawu Mh 66.433 (2), Penny Castle on Magnus Spero 62.867 (3).

Para class (Palamountains Para Dressage): Vanessa Connell on Miss Eltoe 59.23 (1). Wairarapa Dressage and Denis Reichenach Area Teams Challenge and Perpetual Cup: Taranaki 70.566 (1), Auckland 66.65 (2), Waikato 65.163 (3), Bay of Plenty 65.125 (3).