AUSTRALIAN dressage Olympian Mary Hanna has a "new kid on the block".
Her lovely black imported stallion Shiraz Black competed in its first FEI international dressage competition at the weekend, at the Treehaven Equestrian Club's Australia Day dressage championships at Somerville.
Hanna and her beautiful stallion won the Westernport Vets Prix St George, scoring 73.69 per cent, and then took out the Heatherton Park intermediate I championship, scoring 72.50 per cent.
Shiraz Black was bought in Germany by Mary and her husband, Rob, as a two-year-old. Mary's daughter, Gitte, took on the job of riding him as a young horse.
She was very successful, winning champion of champions at Dressage With The Stars for two years running.
Mary has been competing with Shiraz Black at medium and advanced levels, and was the Australian advanced champion in October last year.
Following her win on Sunday, Mary said Shiraz Black had been a wonderful horse to ride and train. "I don't think I have ever had a horse with so much talent before in my life," she said.
"He continually amazes me with his athleticism and willingness to learn."
Last weekend was Shiraz Black's first start in FEI classes, as he is now only just seven years old. Horses are not allowed to compete at that level prior to that age.
"Looking to the future, he has shown a lot of talent for the grand prix work, so I am hoping he might be a prospect for the 2012 London Olympics," Mary said.
"He has a charming personality, and his jet-black colour, and beautiful looks, make him like a perfect storybook horse.
"Certainly, for me, he is a dream come true."
Other winners on the weekend were: Sarah Buckley, who took out the Bellaire Dressage Stable preliminary championship riding Mayfield Why Not; Dirk Djikstra, who won the Stablemaid elementary championship riding Amana Valley Rococo; and Anthea Hayes, who took out the Fourth Furlong Hotel advanced championship riding Heatherton Park Albury.
The Australian Continental Equestrian Group medium championship was won by Jayne Luxton, riding Umberto, and Sue West won the Pryde's EasiFeed novice championship, riding Ramses.
Lamb sizzles at Lang Lang
ANDREW Lamb, from Denison, won the Ponderosa A and B grade grand prix at the Lang Lang Show's jumping championships last weekend, riding the lovely bay mare DP Silky Lamb.
Riding against the clock, he finished just ahead of Morris Clarke from Mortlake, who was riding Contagious, to take the title.
Melissa Froesch continued her fine form by taking out the C and D grade championship riding Hedge; the Colin Munns 1.20m championship riding Glenara Bollinger; and the Pakenham Signarama D grade, riding Glenara Moet.
Emily Hill finished first and second in the Jaws Grass junior championship riding Marena Comet and Mystery Gaze, Brook Dobbin won the A and B grade championship riding the grey Belcam Adviser and Adam Johnston won the opening D grade, riding Rodd And Gunn.
Phil Stephens won the 1.25m A2 class riding Unleashed, while his brother, Greg, won the Station Street Vet Clinic 90cm class, riding SC Skipnik.
