Success for Auckland at NZPCA Dressage Champs
Success for Auckland at NZPCA Dressage Champs
Success for Auckland at NZPCA Dressage Champs
The NZPCA Dressage Champs were held at the Solway showgrounds on the 6th and 7th of February. The Auckland team of five stayed consistent throughout the weekend and won the overall North Island title for the second year in a row. They narrowly missed out on the National title which was taken out by Canterbury with a 3.8-point lead.
Team captain Phoebe Brown, on her sixth time going to champs, came first and second in both her tests and placed second overall individual senior in New Zealand. Her horse Astekkarci Jazz or ‘Twiggy’ has been with her for over six years. They had a great lead up to the event, firstly going to the AMDG Premier League Championships and then the Youth Dressage Festival where she placed third in her Advanced Medium Freestyle. After nine hours of driving south, Twiggy was feeling quite fresh – she wasn’t used to the cold weather!
The junior members of the team were Ariella and Petra Grant; Petra was awarded the NZPCA Plaque for being the overall highest placed junior rider on her horse Mr O’likely. Gina Berry and Sophie Fitzpatrick made up the intermediate members of the Auckland team, riding at level 2. They won the National Coaches Rosettes for the highest placed intermediate team of two.
This event was the second year in a row Auckland has been beaten by Canterbury. Phoebe outlined a few ideas she had on how to beat Canterbury next year. For example, she plans on getting Haydee Wells back as their coach, she wants to make a team earlier and encourage more riders so that they have a full team of six. Hopefully, these actions will help Auckland to gain those extra four points and take the National title next year.
By Hayley Newington
