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Warkworth Dressage Group celebrated its 25th anniversary last month and to mark the occasion ran a competition day at the Warkworth Showgrounds on December 22, which is where it all began.
A sub-branch of Dressage Waitemata for local riders, the club was originally founded in 1999 by life members Julia Fraser, Gillian Carline and Julie Barclay.
Subsequently, the first club event was held at the showgrounds in February 2000 – back then, the arenas were set up in a paddock, where the rugby fields are presently.
Warkworth Dressage Group president Diana Sonerson says they’ve still got a paddock, which they share with different equestrian groups, but it’s a bit more sophisticated these days and the club is still going strong.
“I was there at the first show as well. I’ve been a member right the way through, and president for about five years. I’ve seen the club change over the past 25 years but we’ve always been at the Warkworth Showgrounds.”
To celebrate the milestone, the club had 25th anniversary competition rosettes made up for the dressage.
“It would’ve been quite special to win one of those,” Sonerson says.
The event comprised mainly local riders but it had competitors from as far away as South Auckland and Kaiwaka.
“We had a normal show day, but then we stopped for a barbeque lunch with sausages and burgers, which we don’t normally do in dressage, you just carry on through.
“And we had our life members there for a cake cutting.”
Spot prizes were supplied by local businesses including PGG Wrightson Wellsford, the Farm and Lifestyle Centre in Warkworth, Advance Dairy & Pump in Wellsford, and Fosse Leather.
“The weather was great. It wasn’t too hot and the rain stayed away, so it was a good day.”
Sonerson says anyone can come and give dressage a go at the club, and on any horse – it doesn’t have to be a particular breed.
“People are still riding dressage in their late 60s and 70s. Our youngest rider at the anniversary competition day was only three or four.
“We’re not big enough to separate young riders from adults so all the age groups are competing against each other.
“And the kids hold their own against adults, I can tell you that!” she says.
