SYDNEY, April 30, 2022–Big Tour newcomer Gaylene Lennard on Jax Johnson won the CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle Saturday, their first ever international musical performance and the second victory in this event that was swept by New Zealanders.
In the first CDI outside their homeland and only the second international competition, Gaylene and the New Zealand-bred 12-year-old gelding (Johnson x Anamour) scored 76.875% for the win. All five judges put them in first place with the highest mark, 78.925%, from Germany’s Katrina Wüst.
The duo won the Grand Prix Special Saturday on 70.000% after placing third in the Grand Prix a day earlier in their pursuit of a start in the world championships in Herning, Denmark in August.
Gaylene, 59 years old, a former show horse rider who lives on a dairy farm, and Jax competed in their first CDI in Taupo, New Zealand in March before flying to Australia for this event.
Jayden Brown of Australia and Willingapark Sky Diamond on 74.340% in the Freestyle were second, the same position as in the Grand Prix and the Special.
John Thompson, a New Zealander who lives in Australia, did not compete in the Freestyle won the Grand Prix Thursday.
Results:
CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle
| Susan Hobson | Kerrie Swan-Bates | Susan Hoevenaars | Vittorio Barba | Katrina Wüst | |||||||||
| Place | Score | Nation | Athlete | Horse | E | H | C | M | B | Spectators | |||
| 1. | 76.875 | NZL | Gaylene Lennard | Jax Johnson | 76.500 | 77.600 | 74.525 | 76.825 | 78.925 | 76.715 (2) | |||
| 2. | 74.340 | AUS | Jayden Brown | Willingapark Sky Diamond | 73.725 | 74.500 | 74.075 | 73.200 | 76.200 | 77.811 (1) | |||
| 3. | 72.355 | AUS | Charlotte Phillips | CP Dresden | 72.500 | 71.55 | 74.050 | 69.950 | 73.725 | 76.345 (3) | |||
| 4. | 71.140 | AUS | Emma Flavelle-Watts | Cabaret C | 68.450 | 72.875 | 72.150 | 71.125 | 71.100 | 70.384 (6) | |||
| 5. | 70.000 | AUS | Lindsey Ware | Aristede | 68.725 | 71.450 | 70.700 | 70.850 | 68.275 | 70.842 (4) | |||
| 6. | 69.155 | AUS | Sheridyn Ashwood | Fererro Chocolate Box | 69.225 | 70.075 | 68.300 | 69.575 | 68.600 | 70.612 (5) | |||
| SCR | AUS | Michelle Baker | Bradgate Park Puccini | ||||||||||
| SCR | NZL | John Thompson | Chemistry |
