History of the Berwick and District Dressage Club
Founded in 1981, the Berwick and District Dressage Club was conceived after a discussion between Rosemary Dalton and Denise Roche who, at the time, shared the same instructor. What followed was a spread of the idea between other riding friends which lead to our foundation members Jane Grant, Beryl Hails. Marg Cant, Shirley Parry, Rosemary Dalton meeting at the home of Brian and Denise Roche and forming the club.
Jane Grant was the only person present who had administrative experience in running a dressage club as she was, at the time, secretary of the Westernport Dressage club. The concept of a club devoted to dressage was still in its infancy, as was the sport itself. The Victorian Dressage Club was the first such organisation, however their focus was on providing competitions rather than training.
Jane resigned from Westernport to become the first president of the BDDC, a position she held for 3 years, and with the committee set about developing a constitution and a programme of monthly rallies and competition days. At the first AGM the current logo of the club was accepted. In the early years the monthly rallies were held at “Kiddlewick” in Hallam one of the first indoor arenas built in Victoria. Word began to spread very quickly of this new Dressage club in an area of Melbourne with a very high equestrian population, so membership grew rapidly. 4 to 6 riders per class was the norm utilising local instructors. The monthly rallies were a social get together as well as educational for horse and rider. Many of the early members came from either a showing or eventing background, keen to learn about the finesse of dressage training. The horses came in all shapes and sizes, riders of varying ability and experience but all came to enjoy the company and the learning journey. As time went on the club moved the monthly rallies to ‘Astral” in Skye which became home to the club for many years. Click Here to Read More
At least one open competition was held each year plus a ‘members only’ event. These were held wherever the club could find enough level ground to set up 2 to 3 arenas. Classes were held from Preliminary to Elementary level. For the first few years they were held at Akoonah Park the Berwick Showgrounds] then as entries grew and more space was required for extra arenas the club moved the events to Oakwood Riding School at Narre Warren. Arenas were made from electric fence posts and rope and all the scoring was done manually. The sport of dressage was growing very rapidly, so too was the Berwick and District Dressage Club.
Educating riders in the progressive training of the dressage horse became a priority of the BDDC so the committee developed the idea of holding a demonstration day, held indoors and open to the public. Using members as demonstration riders initially with Beryl Hails as the instructor, each phase of the development would be explained with riders showing various movements and the required gymnastic exercises that developed these movements. These ‘masterclass’ days proved extremely popular with over 250 attending the initial demonstration day generating a lot of interest in dressage in general and the BDDC in particular.
A new era was about to start for the club when in 1988 the first Berwick Dressage Classic was born. This competition was devised to be big. Two full days of competition from Preliminary to FEI classes all carrying sponsorship and Trophy rugs for championship winners. The first classic was held at Oakwood Riding School with 6 outdoor rings plus the indoor area for the FEI classes and the Freestyles, plus a trade village for the sponsors and local businesses. Each class carried a sponsor’s name, and interstate advertising brought competitors from far and wide. The Narre Warren Pony Club was approached to lend manpower for the army of volunteers required. The task was huge for the committee, with many of them also competing at the event. Little did the club realise that this competition called ‘The Berwick Classic” was to become the model that other major competitions would follow. Dressage was growing very rapidly during this era with many more competitions being conducted all over the state. Reserve lists became the norm rather than the exception.
The Berwick and District Dressage Club often successfully fielded multiple teams at the annual State Championships where awards were presented for team competitions and then the annual Victorian indoor dressage clubs teams challenge became a separate event. The club was successful in many aspects.
By the early 1990’s membership was close to 200 and it became the biggest ‘district’ dressage club in Victoria. Publishing and posting monthly newsletters became a huge undertaking for the committee. At the time the club offered discounted entry fees and priority entry for members at their competitions. This resulted in a large proportion of ‘non active’ members, so the decision was made to increase membership fees to a level that discouraged ‘entry fee only’ members and devised activities that encouraged the active members to participate in club functions. This eventually resulted in membership numbers becoming more manageable for the administration of the club.
Under the presidency of Ed Rodgers the club reached a new level of sophistication, as under his leadership the club started to respond to the new standards that dressage riders required as the sport progressed. Monthly rallies of group lessons were becoming less popular, so were replaced with private or semi-private lessons, plus 2 day specialist clinics featuring interstate instructors offering private lessons. This format proved extremely popular with members. Social evenings were also part of the 2 day clinics, giving participants a chance to get together in a friendly, relaxed environment.
The Berwick Classic was re-named the Peter Horobin (now Skye Park Rugs) Classic, as a single ‘naming rights’ sponsorship arrangement was negotiated, and moved to the NEC at Werribee, which provided all the amenities the club needed. It was eventually changed to one day, as the Victorian dressage calendar was now crammed full of competitions. Local venues are still used for the clubs ‘minor’ competitions and training days. The Berwick and District Dressage Club has evolved along with the growth of dressage.
In the late 1990’s, continuing the spirit of innovation, Berwick and District Dressage Club proposed a competition focussing on the Rider. Elite equestrian outfitter Catago came on board as sponsor and “Catago Judge the Rider” was born. Initially held at Ayr Hill, later at Treehaven, this competition has taken several forms, but Riders love receiving a fine prize from Catago each year.
Instructors are generally at the forefront of member’s thoughts when it comes to Clinics and Training Days. Berwick and District Dressage Club, was again at the vanguard, inviting interstate instructors to Victoria, when that was not common. In the mid 1980’s, at the peak of her success with Crown Law, Erica Taylor was flown over from South Australia to instruct and socialize with members for a long weekend clinic. Carolyn Lieutenant was invited from Sydney in 1990 and Harry Boldt from W.A. Nowadays interstate, and indeed international, instructors are commonplace at local club clinics. Currently, both Ricky MacMillan and Marianne Lichtwark were regular visitors to our clinics. Berwick and District Dressage Club can proudly lay claim to being an innovator in this area too.
Our long standing relationship with Oakwood Riding School continues, as we now hold regular clinics at the new, expanded facilities of “The Meadows”. These safe, spacious and sparkling indoor facilities are a long way from our beginnings at a slightly cramped “Kiddlewick”, but the comparison represents just how far the Berwick and District Dressage Club has come in 30 years.
Picture taken approx 20 years ago. It shows past long time president, Ed Rogers, Sally Stelling, Charlotte Stibbard, Katy Welsh and another past president, Jenny Oglesby.
History of the Berwick and District Dressage Club
Founded in 1981, the Berwick and District Dressage Club was conceived after a discussion between Rosemary Dalton and Denise Roche who, at the time, shared the same instructor. What followed was a spread of the idea between other riding friends which lead to our foundation members Jane Grant, Beryl Hails. Marg Cant, Shirley Parry, Rosemary Dalton meeting at the home of Brian and Denise Roche and forming the club.
Jane Grant was the only person present who had administrative experience in running a dressage club as she was, at the time, secretary of the Westernport Dressage club. The concept of a club devoted to dressage was still in its infancy, as was the sport itself. The Victorian Dressage Club was the first such organisation, however their focus was on providing competitions rather than training.
Jane resigned from Westernport to become the first president of the BDDC, a position she held for 3 years, and with the committee set about developing a constitution and a programme of monthly rallies and competition days. At the first AGM the current logo of the club was accepted. In the early years the monthly rallies were held at “Kiddlewick” in Hallam one of the first indoor arenas built in Victoria. Word began to spread very quickly of this new Dressage club in an area of Melbourne with a very high equestrian population, so membership grew rapidly. 4 to 6 riders per class was the norm utilising local instructors. The monthly rallies were a social get together as well as educational for horse and rider. Many of the early members came from either a showing or eventing background, keen to learn about the finesse of dressage training. The horses came in all shapes and sizes, riders of varying ability and experience but all came to enjoy the company and the learning journey. As time went on the club moved the monthly rallies to ‘Astral” in Skye which became home to the club for many years. Click Here to Read More
At least one open competition was held each year plus a ‘members only’ event. These were held wherever the club could find enough level ground to set up 2 to 3 arenas. Classes were held from Preliminary to Elementary level. For the first few years they were held at Akoonah Park the Berwick Showgrounds] then as entries grew and more space was required for extra arenas the club moved the events to Oakwood Riding School at Narre Warren. Arenas were made from electric fence posts and rope and all the scoring was done manually. The sport of dressage was growing very rapidly, so too was the Berwick and District Dressage Club.
Educating riders in the progressive training of the dressage horse became a priority of the BDDC so the committee developed the idea of holding a demonstration day, held indoors and open to the public. Using members as demonstration riders initially with Beryl Hails as the instructor, each phase of the development would be explained with riders showing various movements and the required gymnastic exercises that developed these movements. These ‘masterclass’ days proved extremely popular with over 250 attending the initial demonstration day generating a lot of interest in dressage in general and the BDDC in particular.
A new era was about to start for the club when in 1988 the first Berwick Dressage Classic was born. This competition was devised to be big. Two full days of competition from Preliminary to FEI classes all carrying sponsorship and Trophy rugs for championship winners. The first classic was held at Oakwood Riding School with 6 outdoor rings plus the indoor area for the FEI classes and the Freestyles, plus a trade village for the sponsors and local businesses. Each class carried a sponsor’s name, and interstate advertising brought competitors from far and wide. The Narre Warren Pony Club was approached to lend manpower for the army of volunteers required. The task was huge for the committee, with many of them also competing at the event. Little did the club realise that this competition called ‘The Berwick Classic” was to become the model that other major competitions would follow. Dressage was growing very rapidly during this era with many more competitions being conducted all over the state. Reserve lists became the norm rather than the exception.
The Berwick and District Dressage Club often successfully fielded multiple teams at the annual State Championships where awards were presented for team competitions and then the annual Victorian indoor dressage clubs teams challenge became a separate event. The club was successful in many aspects.
By the early 1990’s membership was close to 200 and it became the biggest ‘district’ dressage club in Victoria. Publishing and posting monthly newsletters became a huge undertaking for the committee. At the time the club offered discounted entry fees and priority entry for members at their competitions. This resulted in a large proportion of ‘non active’ members, so the decision was made to increase membership fees to a level that discouraged ‘entry fee only’ members and devised activities that encouraged the active members to participate in club functions. This eventually resulted in membership numbers becoming more manageable for the administration of the club.
Under the presidency of Ed Rodgers the club reached a new level of sophistication, as under his leadership the club started to respond to the new standards that dressage riders required as the sport progressed. Monthly rallies of group lessons were becoming less popular, so were replaced with private or semi-private lessons, plus 2 day specialist clinics featuring interstate instructors offering private lessons. This format proved extremely popular with members. Social evenings were also part of the 2 day clinics, giving participants a chance to get together in a friendly, relaxed environment.
The Berwick Classic was re-named the Peter Horobin (now Skye Park Rugs) Classic, as a single ‘naming rights’ sponsorship arrangement was negotiated, and moved to the NEC at Werribee, which provided all the amenities the club needed. It was eventually changed to one day, as the Victorian dressage calendar was now crammed full of competitions. Local venues are still used for the clubs ‘minor’ competitions and training days. The Berwick and District Dressage Club has evolved along with the growth of dressage.
In the late 1990’s, continuing the spirit of innovation, Berwick and District Dressage Club proposed a competition focussing on the Rider. Elite equestrian outfitter Catago came on board as sponsor and “Catago Judge the Rider” was born. Initially held at Ayr Hill, later at Treehaven, this competition has taken several forms, but Riders love receiving a fine prize from Catago each year.
Instructors are generally at the forefront of member’s thoughts when it comes to Clinics and Training Days. Berwick and District Dressage Club, was again at the vanguard, inviting interstate instructors to Victoria, when that was not common. In the mid 1980’s, at the peak of her success with Crown Law, Erica Taylor was flown over from South Australia to instruct and socialize with members for a long weekend clinic. Carolyn Lieutenant was invited from Sydney in 1990 and Harry Boldt from W.A. Nowadays interstate, and indeed international, instructors are commonplace at local club clinics. Currently, both Ricky MacMillan and Marianne Lichtwark were regular visitors to our clinics. Berwick and District Dressage Club can proudly lay claim to being an innovator in this area too.
Our long standing relationship with Oakwood Riding School continues, as we now hold regular clinics at the new, expanded facilities of “The Meadows”. These safe, spacious and sparkling indoor facilities are a long way from our beginnings at a slightly cramped “Kiddlewick”, but the comparison represents just how far the Berwick and District Dressage Club has come in 30 years.
Picture taken approx 20 years ago. It shows past long time president, Ed Rogers, Sally Stelling, Charlotte Stibbard, Katy Welsh and another past president, Jenny Oglesby.