Andrea Harrison and Marinier, runners up in the Grand Prix at Nissan Easter Festival 2013
Anthea Michaletos and Candice Hobday were the victors in their classes on the second day of competition at the 2013 Nissan Easter Festival. Kate Launder and her team were hard at work for most of the morning attempting to rectify the warm-up arena debacle from the Saturday, however, some competitors still opted to warm-up in other arenas in order to avoid the heavy going in the May Foxcroft warm-up.
Intermediate I
Young rider, Anthea Michaletos and her phenomenal Olivi mare, Ulivia STV, topped the leader board with a 65.39%. The pair sparkled in a test brimming with confidence in the trot work. The mare shows great elevation in the trot with outstanding extensions. They were a little less established in the canter work with a few mistakes in the flying changes; however, they show great potential at this level and are an exciting partnership to watch for the future.
Nicole Smith took a break from her European campaign to compete at Easter Festival. Her experience gained from the European arenas shone through, with Nicole taking second and third places. Nicole earned a 64.39% ride on Sam and slotted in third on her mother’s horse Beetle with a 63.22%.
Grand Prix
The experienced Candice Hobday steered her Florestan mare, Filina, to victory with a 61.55%. The long time Gauteng team rider performed a relaxed test with strong canter work showing solid tempi changes, good pirouettes and ground-covering canter extensions. Candice’s scores fluctuated considerably with 67.34% as a high score and 56.17% as a low score, over 10% difference between the two judges.
Andrea Harrison and the Delmon Mining’s imported schoolmaster, Marinier, were runners up with 58.62%, while Elena Jankowitz (Bosman) was a close third with 58.30%.
The numbers and standard of Grand Prix continues to improve at each show and with South Africa’s first CDI dressage show with overseas judges planned for later this year, the dressage community can only expect great times ahead for South African dressage.
Photo © Hamrat Image Worx
Hamrat Image Worx has taken photos of the dressage classes at Nissan Easter Festival. Please click here to see the photos from the show.
Text © DressageAfrica – No reproduction allowed