June 24, 2006 – Ottawa, Ontario – Evi Strasser decisively claimed victory in the Grand Prix Freestyle held Saturday afternoon at the CDI3* Ottawa Summer Dressage Classic running until June 25 at the Nepean National Equestrian Park in Ottawa, ON.

With an impressive score of 71.75%, Strasser dominated the competition with Quantum Tyme, her 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding. The pair performed their signature 'Lion King' Freestyle, floating through a variety of technically difficult movements.

"Super!" was all Strasser could say after exiting the ring. For the next ten minutes, Strasser continued to pat her horse, obviously overwhelmed by the effort her horse had given her. When she finally dismounted, she exclaimed, "What a feeling! I think it was our best Freestyle performance ever!"

Strasser was using the CDI Ottawa Summer Dressage Classic and next week's CDI Blainville Dressage International in Quebec, as her final preparatory events before departing for Europe where she will compete at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, in August. Previously, Strasser and Quantum Tyme represented Canada at the 2005 World Cup Final.

The first competitor into the ring, Cheryl Meisner of Halifax, NS, finished second with Paganini, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Lobster Point Farms. The 24-year-old athlete paid homage to her eastern Canadian roots by using fiddle music to highlight her well-executed extended trot and canter, as well as strong flying changes and canter pirouettes.

Tom Dvorak and the elegant black Hannoverian mare, Westside Lady, based their freestyle performance on music from 'West Side Story' to earn a score of 66.05% for third place. Nancy MacLachlan of Terra Cotta, ON, took fourth with her 10-year-old Ukranian-bred gelding, Ariston, while Jessica Costello and Litmanen, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Judy Elliott, rounded out the top five.

Like Strasser, who also won Friday's Grand Prix competition, Diane Creech also enjoyed another trip to the winner's circle, topping the Intermediaire I by being the only rider to break the 70% barrier. With Wiona, a nine-year-old Hannoverian mare owned by Doug and Louise Leatherdale, Creech put in a graceful performance to earn 70.35%.

Evi Strasser of St. Adele, QC, moved into second place with Foto Tyme, her seven-year-old Westphalian gelding, after earning a score of 68.95%. Strasser also enjoyed a top ten finish with the nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding Royal Tyme, placing seventh with 62.40%.

Third place went to local area competitor, Andrea Bresee of Brockville, who earned 68.20% riding Raffles, a 12-year-old Canadian-bred mare owned by Gina Smith and Faith Berghuis.

For the second day in a row, Tom Dvorak of Hillsburgh, ON, and Fortissimo, a 10-year-old Canadian-bred gelding owned by Alyson Carpenter, took fourth place with 66.90% while Cheryl Meisner of Halifax, NS, rounded out the top five with a score of 64.55%. Meisner was riding Lucky Strike, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Lobster Point Farms.

Other big winners on Saturday included Tara Dougans of Toronto, ON, who not only won the FEI Young Riders' Individual test by scoring 64.10% with Nashua, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, but also placed third with Jacardo, a seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion. Squeezing in between for second place with 63.65% was Amanda Kalvoda of Uxbridge, ON, with her nine-year-old black Hannoverian mare, Dance.

It was déjà vu in the FEI Junior Individual test when Newfoundland's Jessica Rhinelander enjoyed a decisive victory with a high score of 67.25% riding Dostoevksy, a Russian Warmblood gelding, and also placed third with Allende, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding. Breanne Willoughby-Brown of Stouffville, ON, was second with Espar.

For the second day in a row, Tatiana Turcotte of Mount Royal, QC, and her 10-year-old bay Connemara pony, Serenity's Dream On, won the FEI Pony division, this time earning a score of 65.417%.

In addition to competition for young riders, the CDI Ottawa Summer Dressage Classic also features competitions specifically for young horses. In the FEI Six-Year-Old Final, Lee Tubman of Smithville, ON, took top honours with Tygo B, a Dutch Warmblood gelding by Wolfgang that is owned by Sunrise Green Houses Ltd. The pair earned a score of 73.20% to edge Tom Dvorak and Corrigan, a bay Westphalian gelding by Cordobes I owned by Karen Thompson-Harry.

Dvorak and Tubman switched positions in the FEI Five-Year-Old Finale. With a score of 78.40%, Dvorak enjoyed another victory with Viva's Salieri, a liver chestnut Hannoverian stallion. Viva's Salieri was bred in Canada by owner Augustin Walch who stands Viva's Salieri's sire, Viva Voltaire, at his W. Charlot Farms in Stratford, ON. Tubman settled for second with De La Rosa, a dark bay Hannoverian mare by De Niro that is owned by Ducat Developments.

The CDI3* Ottawa Summer Classic continues on Sunday, June 25, and admission is free. The day is packed with Freestyle competition, which sees riders choreograph required movements to the music of their choice, a true display of 'ballet on horseback'. The highest level of competition featured will be the Intermediaire Freestyle at 1:30 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.equivents.com. Complete results can also be found at www.foxvillage.com.

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Rider Hometown Horse Score
1. Quantum Tyme St. Adele, QC Quantum Tyme 71.75%
2. Cheryl Meisner Halifax, NS Paganini 66.50%
3. Tom Dvorak Hillsburgh, ON Westside Lady 66.05%
4. Nancy MacLachlan Terra Cotta, ON Ariston 65.25%
5. Jessica Costello King City, ON Litmanen 62.75%

Rider Hometown Horse Score
1. Diane Creech Caistor Centre, ON Wiona 70.35%
2. Evi Strasser St. Adele, QC Foto Tyme 68.95%
3. Andrea Bresee Brockville, ON Raffles 68.20%
4. Tom Dvorak Hillsburgh, ON Fortissimo 66.90%
5. Cheryl Meisner Halifax, NS Lucky Strike 64.55%
6. Gillian Sutherland Unionville, ON Great Tyme 64.20%
7. Evi Strasser St. Adele, QC Royal Tyme 62.40%
8. Ute Busse Breslau, ON Lindor's Finest 62.20%
9. Lynn Joly Fleurimont, QC Flower King D 61.50%
10. Lee Tubman Smithville, ON Marquis 61.00%