The Tamworth Dressage Club has signalled its intention to lure the state dressage championships back to AELEC to provide the region with a showcase event and a “source of inspiration” for grassroots riders.
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TDC president Marjolyn Thomas said the region needed a showcase event to marry with the sport’s impressive grassroots growth over the past five years.
Thomas said the club would not waiver in its bid to make that happen. “It’s not just our hope, but that’s our goal,” she said
She added: “Tamworth Dressage Club is very keen for those grassroots riders to take it to the next level and start competing in official competitions.
“We really need a dressage showcase event as a source of inspiration, because riders in Sydney and along the coast and in Brisbane and in major metropolitan regions, they have big events, international standard competitions, to draw inspiration from.
“We don’t have those opportunities. [But] we have the venue and people passionate enough to put their time and energy into it.”
Thomas said TDC’s bid to reclaim the state championships should be aided by the decision to build a new all-weather competition arena at AELEC.
Geographically, Tamworth is ideally placed to attract competitors from south-east Queensland and the “whole of NSW”, she added.
“It’s such fantastic news that the venue is willing and able to keep growing and facilitating our sport to keep growing,” she said.
She added: “We’re the logical choice to have the state championships in order to have the maximum amount of competitors.”
Tamworth last hosted the state championships in 2010 and 2011.
The annual three-day Tamworth Dressage Club Christmas in July Competition concluded at AELEC on Sunday. It was the second time the event was held.
Thomas hailed it as a “great success”. She said TDC was eager to see it grow.
Lisa Martin, who represented Australia at the Rio Paralympics, was named FEI Medium Tour champion at the event.
“The number [of competitors] was up from last year,” Thomas said, adding: “We had competitors at every single level – national and international.”
Thomas said the event also attracted a record number of judges, with a judging clinic held in tandem with the competition.
“Not only did we have a dressage competition but we also provided opportunities for judges to enhance their knowledge and move up levels,” she said.
“We had some of the highest level national judges in Tamworth … and they all raved about the facilities we have out there.”
