DRESSAGE
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SOME of the finest horse and riders of their kind will converge on Young this weekend for the Regional NSW Dressage Championships.
Some 250 horses, 185 competitors and an expected 500 spectators will turn out at Bendick Murrell Sportsgrounds for the three action-packed days of dressage action.
Competitors will travel from across the country for the largest competition of its kind outside of the major metropolitan equestrian centres with facilities at Bdnick Murrell one of the major attraction.
Some $35,000 in cash and prizes will be up for grabs with 30 judges been secured for the competition, including 3 A level judges from New Zealand.
Young Dressage Club's Maryann Schiller expects a huge weekend.
"It's probably the most numbers we've ever had," Schiller said.
"We've got a lot of people coming from Sydney from the elite dressage squad, people from Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.
"It should be a very high standard.
"We want to show the people of country NSW that dressage is an amazing sport and there is a lot more to it than riding around a rectangle."
One highlight of the event will be a free masterclass on Friday at 5pm.
It will be conducted under lights by David Shoobridge of Revelwood Stud with exhibition riders Gina Montgomery and Amanda Shoobridge on their stunning warmbloods Stedinger and Revelwood Destiny.
Saturday afternoon will see the freestyle tests, which are tests ridden to a music score.
The Olympic tests of Prix St George, Intermediate I, Intermediate II and Grand Prix will also be held with $1000 to the winner in each class.
Lizzie Wilson-Fellows, Sue-Ellen Lovett, Megan Bryant and Natalie Blundell are just some of the top riders that will be in action.
An added attraction will be the food and coffee on the grounds and about 15 trade stalls.
Action will start from 8.30am Friday until the masterclass that night, from 7.15am to 6pm Saturday and from 7.30am to 3pm Sunday.