2006 New Zealand Dressage Championships

Golden Year for Dressage in New Zealand

February 27, 2006

It is 50 years since the first New Zealand dressage championship, when the Burkner Medal was presented to Ron Cropp – who was to become long-time Huntsman at the Waikato Hunt, a successful trainer of steeplechasers like Hunterville and father of current champion jockey, Lisa.

Cropp is one of the former winners of the premier award in dressage expected to attend the Bates National Dressage Championships, at Taupo’s National Equestrian Centre over the weekend of March 2nd-5th.

In 1956 the Burkner Medal – donated in honour of his riding trainer by Nick Williams (Hawke’s Bay) who was to become New Zealand’s only Official FEI Judge in Dressage, the original a bronze sculpted by the late Esther Belliss, who had represented the country in show jumping in the early 1950s. Unfortunately, ill health will prevent Williams from travelling from his English base for the celebrations.

Most of the still-living winners of the “Burkner” are expected to attend a Golden Jubilee dinner on the Friday of the tournament, which is supported by The Lion Foundation, including Mrs “Tiny” White – mother of Olympic three day event medallist Tinks Pottinger – from Otane, Hawke’s Bay, who holds the record of eight wins between 1964 and 1978.

Marcia Bayley (Te Awamutu) won it six times, Sue Talbot (Hawke’s Bay) four times and both are expected to attend, along with other winners including Merran Hain (Gisborne), the only rider to represent New Zealand in all three equestrian disciplines: dressage, three day event and show jumping.

Bayley, who has been trying to find all the former winners, says that only a couple have slipped through her net and, although she has yet to hear from a small number, she’s confident that, apart from the three Australian winners who can’t come and those who have died, most of the years are covered.

This year, as more recently, the Burkner Medal will go to the combination with the most points over the three FEI tests, the Intermediate II, Grand Prix B and Grand Prix Kur, the latter the musical freestyle.

As one of the judges is FEI Official International judge Stephen Clarke (UK), those at this top level will have the opportunity to gain a Certificate of Capability, making them eligible for selection for this year’s World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, in August.

Among the aspirants are mother and daughter combination Sharon and Kallista Field (Pahiatua), both former Burkner Medal winners and the latter Olympic representative at Sydney 2000 where she finished in the top 20. Sharon Field rides Soda, Kallista is on Jasper.

Defending champion, Mandy Littlejohn (Wanganui) is back, this time on Charlton Highbrow, her 2005 Burkner winner Jahan just back in work after some foot problems. Also in the line-up is 2005 Horse of the Year titleholder, Bill Noble (Auckland) with Vincent St James. Jody Hartstone on the imported Landioso from Raglan are due a big win, which has sometimes eluded them when the stallion produces some movements not in the test, just to show who’s boss! The others in the field are Julie Brougham (Palmerston North) with JK Super Sonic, Franzi van Bruggen (Blenheim) on the imported warmblood Cavour, Jacqui Winspear (Auckland) on the game little Appaloosa I’m Sunday’s Silhouette, whose breed is rarely represented at this level, and newcomer to Grand Prix, young rider Joanna York (Taupaki) on Kiteroa Kingston.

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