Heath Ryan and Regardez Moi were crowned the 2010 Australian Dressage Grand Prix Champions last Sunday at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Horsley Park.

It has been a tough road back to the top for Ryan who was the Australian champion and Olympic representative in 2008, but suffered a stroke in May 2009.

“It was hard, I was not even placing,” Ryan commented on his performances since his stroke.

"I thought my horses were letting me down, but now I realise I was letting them down. I was not operating at full capacity and at this level everyone is at their best.”

Ryan, 52, won Saturday night’s CDI-W Freestyle on a count-back. His score, 70.300%, was equal with Victorian rider Gitte Donvig on Port Said 10. On a count back of the artistic scores, Ryan and Regardez Moi scrapped in as the winner.

The crowd were thrilled to see the Olympian back in his true form. Mary Hanna, placed third in the Freestyle on her new horse, nine-year-old gelding Sancette (by Sandro Hit) formerly ridden by American Steffen Peters. Hanna scored 67.450%.

Ryan and Regardez Moi also won Friday’s Golden Grand Prix (66.383%) and Sunday’s Australian Sports Commission Grand Prix Special (65.625 %) making it a clean sweep of the Grand Prix classes to earn him the 2010 Australian Grand Prix Championship title.

Ryan, a highly accomplished Eventing rider, is aiming for London Olympic Games in both Eventing and Dressage.

“I thought I was done, but things are coming together in both disciplines and I will be having a good crack at both teams for London,” he said after his Grand Prix win on Saturday.

Ryan was part of the dressage team that finished eighth at the Beijing Olympics. He also contested the individual competition.

Equestrian Federation of Australia