News

CDI-W Melbourne: Heath Ryan wins GP and Freestyle

Nov 18, 2012

The Grand Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds hosted Australia’s top dressage riders for the first time at EQUITANA 2012 early on Friday when the Be the Influence Equestrian Grand Final CDI-W Grand Prix was contested.

The Grand Prix acts as a qualifier for Saturday’s Freestyle and the winner of this class will walk away with the title of Grand Final Champion.

Defending champions Heath Ryan and Regardez Moi have asserted their claim for a second consecutive crown after winning the Grand Prix ahead of London Olympic combination Mary Hanna and Sancette. The Beijing Olympian and his 16 year old stallion scored 66.830% which was enough to edge out Mary and Sancette’s score of 66.021%.

The top ranked combination leading into the final, David Shoobridge and OO Seven, scored 64.638% to finish in third position.

CDI-W Melbourne – Grand Prix – 16 November 2012

1° Heath Ryan (Australia) – Regardez Moi 66.830%

2° Mary Hanna (Australia) – Sancette 66.021%

3° David Shoobridge (Australia) – OO Seven 64.638%

4° Maree Tomkinson (Australia) – Diamantina 64.340%

5° Kerry Mack (Australia) – Mayfield Pzazz 63.213%

The 2012 Be the Influence Equestrian Grand Final closed in spectacular fashion late Saturday with the crowning of this year’s dressage champion.

Heath Ryan and Regardez Moi have continued their winning streak at this annual event taking home the title for the second consecutive year. The combination received a score of 71.750% which was met with loud applause from the large crowd which had gathered in the Grand Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds for the final night of Grand Final competition.

Spectators were treated to an evening of close competition which heated up as the event went on. Current Australian dressage champions Maree Tomkinson and Diamantina IV set the bar high after they came out after the half time break and scored 69.950%.

Top qualifiers for the Final, David Shoobridge and OO Seven, came out next and got the crowd excited with an upbeat soundtrack which included the popular Gangham Style song. Their test fell just short of Maree and Diamantina’s score and their 69.850% saw them finish in fourth place overall. It was then time for Mary Hanna and her London Olympic mount Sancette to take to the arena and in their first Grand Prix on home soil since the Games, the combination scored an impressive 71.250%.

CDI-W Melbourne – Grand Prix Freestyle – 17 November 2012

1° Heath Ryan (Australia) – Regardez Moi 71.750%

2° Mary Hanna (Australia) – Sancette 71.275%

3° Maree Tomkinson (Australia) – Diamantina 69.950%

4° David Shoobridge (Australia) – OO Seven 69.700%

5° Kerry Mack (Australia) – Mayfield Pzazz 67.200%

Source dressage-international.com