ANYONE who had any doubt about the popularity of dressage as a sport would have copped an eyeful at a recent competition at Werribee Park.

The venue saw 180 teams and 600 horses compete for honours at the Horse Riding Clubs of Victoria's Top Team Dressage championships on November 15-16.

Rich River Club had the massive job of finding judges, stewards and scorers.

They had the event run and won in reasonable time, with more than 1200 tests run and scored.

After two days of solid competition, the winners were the Biddlesden Park Patmans, from the Biddlesden Park EC, on 13.6 points.

Next came the Barssel Chicks, from Barssel.

Mansfield Matrix, from Mansfield, were third, on just a point behind.

In the advanced section, Marianne Crawford, riding Don's Angel, from the Inverleigh, was champion.

In level one, Holly Parker and Sanguine, from Albury Wodonga club, was the division one winner.

Jami Hurley, on Sunbury Lodge Voodoo Sunbury, took the title home to the South Eastern group.

Jill Haydon, on Phoenix G, won the first of the level two sections for Phillip Island.

Level three had an amazing nine sections.

The winners were: Sharon Atkins, on Jaybee Ac, from South Eastern; Angela Tennant, on Masquerade, from Macedon Ranges; Janet Mansley, on Springtime, for Biddlesden; Kelly-Anne Ryan, on Karool Bonafide, for Phillip Island; Cath Sfregola, on Condor, for Bulla; Caitlyn Kiekebosch, on Just Jez, for Biddlesden; Sarah Beaurepaire, on Cloverfern Georgia, for Gisborne; Anita Hummer, on Sugarloaf, for Wandin Park; and Irene Luxmore, on Warranbrae Twiggy, for Barsell.

Level four had eight divisions and the winners were: Monique Pankhurst, on Helden Park Tribute, for Rich River; Caylene Vincent, on Universal Olympic Dream, for Inverleigh; Nicole Grey, on Smarty Claus, for Mansfield; Glenis Wakham, on Wish Me Luck, for Victorian Appaloosa club; Melissa Wheeler, on Black Jack, for Traralgon and district; Andrea Kennedy, on Bittanbri Astra, for Horsham and District; Anna Thirkill and the Highland pony Croftcnoc Argyle, for Mt Cannibal; and Whitley Cooper, on Krakka Jack, for Aaron Park.

The least-experienced riders in level five had a ball and contributed well to their teams. Tennyson Ashwyn, on Bally Kye, for Rich River, won the first division and Patricia Barr, on Yelta Lad, for Warranooke, won second.