August 27, 2005 – Ottawa, Ontario – For the second day in a row, it was Andrea Bresee of Brockville, ON, who was the winner at the CDI3* Ottawa Fall Dressage Classic running August 25-28 at the Nepean National Equestrian Park in Ottawa, ON.

After winning the Prix St. Georges on Friday, Bresee returned to the ring on Saturday to claim the Intermediaire I competition riding Raffles, an 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare owned in partnership by Faith Berghuis and 1988 Olympic Team Bronze Medalist, Gina Smith. Bresee earned a score of 69.750% to top the 21-horse field.

There was a tie for second place between Diane Creech and Tom Dvorak, who both earned a score of 67.667% from the panel of international judges. Creech of Caistor Center, ON, was riding Wiona, an eight-year-old chestnut Hannoverian mare that she has been riding for the past four years. Originally imported from Germany by Ferdinand Haupt of Haegersville, ON, Wiona is now owned by Doug and Louise Leatherdale.

“It is our first year competing at this level, and my goal is to take her up to the Grand Prix level,” said Creech, who has never before competed at the Olympic-level of Grand Prix. “Wiona is such a workaholic, she really loves her job. She is energetic, and is as bold as they come.”

Creech tied with Canadian Olympian Tom Dvorak of Hillsburgh, ON. Dvorak was aboard Beaumarchais, Susan Holden’s 10-year-old Hannoverian gelding.

There was yet another tie for fourth place between Susanne Dutt-Roth and Dominique Culham who both earned 67.333%. Hometown favourite Dutt-Roth of Merrickville, ON, was showing her nine-year-old Canadian Sport Horse stallion, Rheirattack. Culham of Caledon East, ON, was riding her 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Matisse.


Evi Strasser Remains Undefeated in Grand Prix

The Grand Prix then took centre stage at the CDI3* Ottawa Fall Dressage Classic. Canada has hosted four International Equestrian Federation (FEI)-sanctioned competitions this year, and Evi Strasser of Ste-Adele, QC, and Quantum Tyme have won all four! Her unbelievable winning streak was continued in Ottawa with a score of 69.50%.

“We have an incredible partnership,” said Strasser of her 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding. “I have taught him everything, and we have formed a strong bond through that process. Now that he is at the Grand Prix level, it is really exciting and the future is very bright.”

Strasser will earn valuable World Cup points for her victory at the CDI Ottawa Fall Dressage Classic. The top five riders in the Canadian League World Cup standings will be invited to Toronto’s Royal Horse Show in November. The winner at the Royal is then invited to be Canada’s sole representative at the 2006 World Cup Final next April in The Netherlands. Strasser, who represented Canada earlier this year at the 2005 World Cup Final in Las Vegas, is aiming for her second consecutive World Cup appearance.

Placing second was Jacqueline Brooks of Mount Albert, ON, with a score of 66.000%. Brooks, who won a Team Silver Medal at the 2003 Pan American Games, was riding Gran Gesto, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Anne Welch and Brinc Ltd.

In third place with 63.750% was Nancy MacLachlan of Terra Cotta, ON. The World Championship veteran was aboard Ariston, a dark bay Ukrainian Warmblood gelding that she purchased in February of 2004.

Australian competitor Karin Davies placed fourth riding Mighty Heights, an Australian thoroughbred gelding who is still going strong at 20 years of age. A former three day eventing competitor, Mighty Heights is enjoying a new career as a Grand Prix horse.


Dressage Canada National Champions Come from Coast to Coast

The Ottawa Fall Dressage Classic also hosted three divisions of the Dressage Canada Championships and the entire country was well-represented with champions coming from both coasts. In the Dressage Canada Young Riders’ National Championship, Pia Fortmuller, 20, of Dewinton, AB, took the title with her Hannoverian mare, Donagna. Ottawa’s own Amy McIlwham, 19, was named the Reserve Young Riders’ Champion with Marzipan, an eight-year-old Hannoverian stallion owned by Michael and Susan Nash.

Vancouver’s Alexandra Duncan, 15, rode Elektra, a 10-year-old Holsteiner mare, to the Dressage Canada Junior National Championship title. The Reserve Championship title went to Newfoundland’s Jessica Rhinelander riding Allende, a 10-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding.

16-year-old Merielle Lehoux of Guelph, ON, riding Blackwood Step-A-Side, a 14-year-old Welsh gelding, was named the Dressage Canada Pony Rider National Champion while Toronto’s Angela Wong, 15, and Cover Girl, a nine-year-old Welsh-cross mare, took the Reserve Champion title.


Sunday features a day of Musical Freestyles at the CDI3* Ottawa Fall Dressage Classic. The Freestyles see riders choreograph required movements to the music of their choice, making for great entertainment. Admission and parking is free.

Over 200 of Canada’s top dressage athletes have traveled to the Nation’s Capital to compete in the CDI3* Ottawa Fall Dressage Classic. Sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the competition is also hosting the Dressage Canada National Championships for Pony, Junior and Young Riders’, the Canadian FEI Young Horse Finals, and a national show sanctioned by Equine Canada and the United States Equestrian Federation.

The CDI3*/Y/J/P Ottawa Fall Dressage Classic is the third and final FEI-sanctioned competition to be hosted in Canada this year by Ottawa’s own Cara Whitham and her company, Equivents, Inc. For more information, including full results, please visit www.equivents.com.

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