Northlanders shine at Dressage Championships

Angelene Lloyd-Bryant takes Javeland for a ride during the Harcourts Bream Bay Dressage Northland Championships. PHOTO/ANDREW JOHNSEN

Local riders showcased their talents at the Harcourts Bream Bay Dressage Northland Championships, picking up some accolades along the way.

Four Northlanders walked away with titles with another clinching two runner-up finishes in a hotly contested competition at Barge Showgrounds.

Riders were also looking to pick up points and qualification for the Super Five League Series, run across 20 regional championships throughout New Zealand.

Two days of good weather helped the field of 117 riders and 147 horses to top performances at Northland's top dressage event as organisers ran a smooth ship among the chaos of running such a big event.

Mihi Shepherd from Whangarei dazzled on Sunburst to take out the Level One division to give Northland a great start at home, just pipping fellow Northlander Kerikeri's Nikita Osborne on SF Artisan.

Osborne was one of the top performers over the weekend, finishing second in two competitions.

After her second placing in Level One, she was the runner-up in the showcase event – the Grand Prix.

Riding Alacatraz, Osborne put on a sterling performance however it wasn't quite enough to take home the big prize. Caitlin Benzie on Rosari Royal Gem ended up the victor in that battle.

Kaitaia's Hannah Burden showed no signs of easing off during her Level Two division victory, taking Aroha MH to the title over Kim Coghlan on Salvete FE.

Another Kaitaia rider also picked up a division win, proving there's plenty of riding talent in the Far North.

Casey Burton, riding Piano Hill Precision, clinched the Level Three competition in a superb effort, holding out a surging Rachel Stock on HPH Benedict.

Burton was a star over the Championships, picking up two division titles.

In Level Five, riding Astek Gambler, Burton put on another clinic to run away with the title.

Riders travelled from as far south as Cambridge and as far north as Kaitaia for the event.