A new event was held at the National Equestrian Centre at McLeans Island, Christchurch, this weekend. The Zilco Festival of Future Stars was organised by Canterbury Dressage and classes included a combination of dressage tests, in-hand and ridden showing. The idea was to promote young dressage horses along with the breeding of performance warmbloods.
Zilco was the major sponsor, and there was good support from others too, including Catwalk Trust, Mitavite, Rangiora Equestrian Supplies, NZ Equine Photography and Syncroflex.
Today saw the in-hand classes, which were judged by the very experienced Kim Martin from Australia. There was plenty of dressage action too, judged by FEI internationals Kerrie Swan-Bates (Australia) and Linda Warren-Davey (New Zealand).
Emma Rowe-Pledger came up from Wanaka for this show with her two horses and had a good result in the in-hand classes, winning young champion with Whispers Matapiro (Whisper – Our Christina) and reserve with Astraeus (Anamour – Nip XX). She is also competing in Level 1 and the five-year-old classes with Whispers Matapiro, and Level 5 with Astraeus. Emma is coached by Andrea Raves.
Astek Gangsta Girl won the best mare. She is by Kinnordy Gym Bello out of Amie and was shown by Joy White from Amberley, who described her as ‘cheeky but kind’. “She’s got that x-factor, she is so nice to ride.” Joy will be concentrating on dressage with her but likes to take her to shows for the experience.
Kim Martin, the judge, was impressed with the mare. “She was very uphill and elastic in her movement. She is a pretty mare.”
Annabelle Read’s Magnus SWB was the champion stallion and went on to win Supreme Champion In-hand Exhibit. The seven-year-old Swedish warmblood is a magnificent horse with a lovely temperament. He has four foals on the ground already, although Annabelle says that breeding hasn’t been an emphasis. “My daughter normally rides him but she is busy at university.” Magnus (aka Laddy Boy) is by Moschinno out of Madeira SWB and lives at Annabelle’s Caithness Stud, just out of Ashburton. He competes at dressage.
The show continues on Sunday with riding classes in the showing area, and more dressage.
Dressage Results available
| Level 1 | |||
| 1 | Sisters II Mrs Robinson | Kaye Blundell | 71.923 |
| 2 | Whispers Matapiro | Emma Rowe-Pledger | 70.192 |
| 3 | Belvoir | Linda Cocks | 67.115 |
| 4 | Black River Baroness | Cherie Pearson | 64.808 |
| 5 | Te Puke | Charlotte Thomas | 64.038 |
| Level 2 | |||
| 1 | Denmark | Jan Morice | 81.75 |
| 2 | Mardi Gras | Sarah Collins | 77.5 |
| 3 | Stellars Eagle | Sarah Cornwall | 73 |
| 4 | The Burj Khalifa | Deborah Nelson Love | 69.25 |
| 5 | X Rated | Heidi Hart | 69 |
| Level 3 | |||
| 1 | Renaissance | Zena Chart | 73.309 |
| 2 | Three Aces | Tiffany Ottley | 64.265 |
| 3 | Glenrose Fire and Ice | Tanya McKenzie | 63.456 |
| 4 | Lovely Rita | Anne Cochrane | 63.162 |
| 5 | Lavetta | Kerryn McLean | 61.838 |
| Level 4 | |||
| 1 | Chocolate Ice | Nicola Sim | 64.062 |
| 2 | Hells Bells | Sophie Griffith | 62.656 |
| 3 | First Choice | Robert Kofoed | 62.5 |
| 4 | Silver Reef R.E | Nicki Page | 61.875 |
| 4 | Integrities Promise | Dani Simpson | 61.875 |
| Level 5 | |||
| 1 | Kintore Romany | Kirsty Schist | 67.697 |
| 2 | Lodestar | Seija Parkkali-Glew | 65.329 |
| 3 | Jive Thyme | Penny Rieter | 65.132 |
| 4 | Arnage Rhumba | Julie Fraser | 63.289 |
| 5 | Chocolat Moka CM | Grace Thomson | 62.961 |
| Level 6 | |||
| 1 | Gemstar | Phillippa Thompson | 60.523 |
| 1 | Sisters II Elspeth | Carole Macarthy | 60.523 |
| 3 | Sandman | Kirsty Schist | 59.709 |
| Level 7 FEI Int 1 | |||
| 1 | Donna Bonita | Kirsty Schist | 65.066 |
| 2 | Frangelico F | Sophie Griffith | 64.145 |
| 3 | Gammon Ks | Joy White | 61.974 |
| Level 8 | |||
| 1 | Kinnordy Gambado | Kirsty Schist | 66.548 |
| 2 | Il Divo | Gael Kofoed | 61.25 |
| Level 9 | |||
| 1 | J L Champs Elysee’ | Mura Love | 53.75 |
| Pony Level 1 | |||
| 1 | Hollybank Just an Illusion | Mikayla Wycliffe | 64.038 |
| 2 | GE Prides Dreamcatcher | Georgia Allison | 63.462 |
| 3 | Haven Witchazel | Lucy Cochrane | 62.692 |
| 4 | Maxwelton Sunday Sam | Millie Thompson | 58.462 |
| Pony Level 2 | |||
| 1 | Farview Free Spirit | Charlotte Thomas | 76.5 |
| 2 | River Dance Drummer Boy | Imogen Morrison | 70.75 |
| 3 | Dinky Di Doff | Emma Copplestone | 67 |
| 4 | Glamorgan Tailor Made | Olivia Maat | 62 |
| Pony Level 3 | |||
| 1 | Greenmoor Euphoria | Millie Thompson | 65.441 |
| 2 | Inspector Gadget | Lucy Cochrane | 58.824 |
| Pony Level 4 | |||
| 1 | Rifesyde Prancer | Millie Thompson | 61.25 |
