BONEO CLASSIC

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A: The teams prepare to start the Boneo Park Hobby Horse Challenge.

B: Hedelunds Mefisto and Jemma Heran at Boneo Park.

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E: Fiona Selby and Danish Dressage Coach (now Mornington Peninsula resident) Lone Jorgensen, enjoying the action.

C: Back row left to right: Scott McNaught: Director of Boneo Park and Jumping Manager. Aengus Wright: Sound and Commentary, Stephanie Wake: Marketing Manager,

Front row left to right: Karen Lawrence: Director of Boneo Park and Competition Manager. Lizzy Schirmer: Dressage Secretary, Fiona Selby: Managing Director Boneo Park. Justine Quayle: Event Team Boneo Park - volunteer and stabling manager.

FEATURE

Celebrating Australia Day the Riding Way

BERNI SAUNDERS reviews the 2019 Boneo Classic competition, where the best of the best gathered on Victoria’s beautiful Morning Peninsula for the last weekend in January.

The Australia Day weekend brought together almost 400 of Australia’s best jumping combinations and 150 dressage horses, riders, grooms, and support crews to take part in a comprehensive program of FEI dressage and jumping; young dressage horse events; a variety of height classes for showjumpers; para-equestrian dressage and freestyles that gave riders, spectators and fans three fabulous days of competition and social activities.

Boneo Park sees the realisation of the McNaught family’s vision to provide a state of the art facility. The architect-designed complex is on 850 acres of prime real estate with150 acres set aside to preserve the natural wetland habitat and a large stand of endangered Moonah trees. The centre has been operating for approximately a decade, and the ongoing development continues to set new standards in equestrian sport.

The discipline specific competition arenas feature the latest technologies to provide safe all-weather footing for dressage and the warm-up areas, and the main showjumping arena is considered to be one of the best grass jumping surfaces in Australia. Not only did the beautiful expanse of green make a picturesque setting, it also stood up to the high traffic of 500 rounds ridden over three days. The Classic gave young horses and riders a chance to participate at one of Australia’s most prestigious fixtures, and elite combinations used the World Cup Jumping Qualifier and Pacific League World Cup Dressage Final as a valuable opportunity to boost their chances of selection to represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

The centre’s Managing Director Fiona Selby says: “Progressive upgrading of the facilities allows us to continually offer more and bring new dimensions to this event. The Classic is a huge and ongoing undertaking that involves over 100 people who lend their special skills and expertise; I acknowledge their hard work and commitment, as this is key to the success of the event.”

The latest addition to Boneo Park’s facilities is the upper level restaurant Arilla - now almost complete and set between the main jumping and dressage competition arenas and the two spectator stands. Just beyond the two spectator seating areas, thirty specialist traders offered a wide variety of equestrian products for those in need of some retail therapy.

Since the FEI’s inclusion of Para-equestrian in 2006, this arm of the sport has grown significantly and Australia has made a huge impact as one of the most promising international contenders, boosted by Joann Formosa’s Olympic gold in London 2012. A strong contingent (including Joann Formosa) took part at Boneo Park to be part of this special event and were welcomed to equine accommodation and camping facilities that gave everyone the best chance to produce top form.

In the Grand Prix Under 25 class, Queensland rider Jemma Heran stepped out on her high-profile import Hedelunds Mefisto. Leading up to his sale to Australia, the horse was campaigned by International superstar Hubertus Schmidt, making the stunning bay an exciting addition to local FEI ranks, having made his debut at the 2017 Sydney CDI, under Jemma’s trainer Phil Bobic. Jemma and Mefisto made a wonderful picture on the main Boneo Park dressage arena.

The Prix St Georges and Intermediate 1 classes brought forward some promising stars for the future of Australian Dressage, the Small Tour Championship going to Brett Parbery and Terry Snow’s imported nine-year-old stallion Sky Diamond.

Saturday night capitalised on the friendly rivalry between the showjumping fraternity and their dressage peers, and

the ‘2019 Boneo Park Hobby Horse Challenge’ with two teams of three made up of a male rider, a female rider and a discipline specific official. For dressage, the team included Brett Parbery and Justine Greer joining Judge Jane Ventura; Brook Dobbin, Amber Fuller and scorer Kevin Taranto represented the jumping fans and announcer Liz Richardson started the race.

To the deafening applause of dressage fans and sighs of defeat from the jumpers, the dressage team was victorious and Brett Parbery accepted the trophy on behalf of dressage - the showjumpers will have to wait until next year to even the score.

The IRT Dressage Grand Prix CDI-World League Final saw a resounding win for NSW rider Rozzie Ryan, partnered by the elegant chestnut Jarrah R, bred at Ryan’s Horses near Newcastle in NSW and sired by Jive Magic, her former Grand Prix partner. The pair won Saturday’s Grand Prix test and went on to take the deciding Freestyle to Music. This all-important element of international dressage saw Rozzie step into her comfort zone, with a light and ethereal performance that resoundingly confirmed the beauty and ease of this technically excellent performance.

Victorian Holly Cutler was the runner-up, riding her lovely imported mare Diva Royale just ahead of Rio Olympian, Sue Hearn and Remmington from NSW.

Jumping Course designer David Shepherd had the best tools at his disposal, a spectacular setting with well maintained and interesting jump elements, which allowed him to present the spectators with a picturesque outlook while at the same time giving riders the appropriate challenges for each height class.

The obstacles at World Cup level were huge, but great riding, sound training and the athleticism shown by these experienced campaigners, were a jaw-dropping testament to the years that go into reaching top level and the horses’ confidence and trust in their riders.

The final round of the Robertson-Smith Partners World Cup Qualifier saw Queensland’s Billy Raymont and Anton victorious. They made it look easy but the knowledgeable crowd understood the significance of their achievement and the importance of a World Cup win.

It was unanimously agreed that this year’s Boneo Classic was a milestone event that brought together many ground breaking changes to the conventional event management model, setting new standards in multi disciplined competition, hospitality and commerce in an all-inclusive approach that was enthusiastically received and sure to attract an even bigger crowd on the Australia Day weekend next year.

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F: Brett Parbery accepts the trophy for the dressage team.

G: The top three in the CDI World Cup Pacific Final are congratulated by Officials. From right, Judge Susie Hoevennars, Rozzie Ryan and Jarrah, Deb McNicol, the Technical Delegate with unmounted runner up Holly Cutler and third placegetter Sue Hearn and Remmington. H