Barge Showgrounds readies for Dressage Champs

Catherine Scott, left, will be competing in the Harcourts Bream Bay Dressage Northland Championships. PHOTO/TANIA WHYTE

Barge Showgrounds will showcase the best dressage talent Northland has to offer.

The Harcourts Bream Bay Dressage Northland Championships is set to provide some top horse riding action over the weekend.

With increased entries in all levels, the event is set to be a big one with eight arenas running over the two days, including the RDA Indoor arena.

A field of 117 riders and 147 horses will be on hand to compete, travelling from as far south as Cambridge and as far north as Kaitaia, with many from the greater Auckland area.

Competitors will be spread throughout the nine levels of dressage with two horses competing in the Grand Prix which will provide great spectator viewing.

One of the major public attractions with be the freestyle to music on Saturday at the RDA Indoor arena.

Two Grand Prix horses competing this year are Nikita Osbourne (Kerikeri) and Alacatraz, and Caitlin Benzie (Pukekohe) riding Rosari Royal Gem.

Prominent Northland riders featuring are Leslie Norrie (Dargaville), Osbourne, Jo Shepherd (Kaitaia), Casey Burton (Kaitaia), Hannah Burton (Kaitaia) and Catherine Scott (Whangarei). All will be competing in the higher dressage levels.

This year also sees increased Young Rider and Pony Rider entries with 14 riders under age 21 competing in a National class sponsored by AMS Saddlery.

All riders will be chasing points and qualification for the Super 5 League Series which is run across 20 regional championships held throughout New Zealand.

Also visiting Northland for the Championships are 18 Judges travelling from Waikato, Auckland and Northland areas to judge all classes over the two days.