August 27, 2006 – Ottawa, Ontario – Although the rain fell, Gillian Sutherland and Great Tyme shined in the CDI3* Ottawa Fall Dressage Classic that took place at the Nepean National Equestrian Park in Ottawa, ON, from August 24-27.

Sutherland of Unionville, ON, performed her Intermediaire Freestyle to earn a score of 69.05% from the panel of five international judges. The win marked Sutherland's third victory in a row as she had also won Friday's Prix St. Georges and the Intermediaire I on Saturday to make a clean sweep of the division. Although Sunday's wet weather conditions were less than ideal for some competitors, Sutherland's nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Great Tyme, didn't seem to mind.

"I am happy that it is raining!" laughed Sutherland. "It has become a joke that he performs better in the mud. He just gets bouncier and feels bigger and looser. I don't know if he likes to splash through it like a little boy in his rubber boots, but this horse definitely loves the mud!"

As for her muscial selection - the Freestyle sees riders to choreograph required technical movements to the music of their choice, Sutherland said, "It is music that I have had for a long time, and brought it out of the cupboard for Great Tyme last year. The canter music is Celtic-inspired, and the rest has a real 'pomp and circumstance' feel to it. After this show, I am going to change up the choreography."

It was a great day for Ottawa-area competitors, taking both second and third positions. Runner-up was Susanne Dutt-Roth of Merrickville, ON, who earned a score of 68.150%. Her performance riding Rheirattack, her 10-year-old Canadian Sport Horse stallion, was fun for the crowd, right from the moment that she entered the ring to the Tom Jones classic, 'You Sexy Thing'. Finishing third was Joan Johnston of Kars, ON, who took third place with a score of 66.350%. Johnston was aboard KRS Wessel, a 10-year-old Hannoverian gelding owned by Kars Riding School.

The only competitor to contest the Grand Prix Special was Jon Costin of Freelton, ON. After winning the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle, Costin rode Wholio, his 10-year-old Hannoverian gelding, to the win with a score of 63.80%.

The CDI3* Ottawa Fall Dressage Classic hosted the Dressage Canada National FEI Youth Championship. Amy McIlwham, 20, of Ottawa, ON, was crowned the National FEI Young Riders' Freestyle Champion after scoring 66.30% riding Marzipan, a nine-year-old Hannoverian gelding owned by Mike and Susan Nash. McIlwham trains in Oxford Mills, ON, with Ruth Koch. Whitney Fairty, 19, of Markham, ON, was named the Reserve Freestyle Champion riding Rocky Rudyard, her eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding.

Another one of Koch's students, Jessica Rhinelander of St. John's, NF, was named the FEI Junior Freestyle Champion with an impressive score of 69.45% riding Allende, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding. Rhinelander travels from her hometown of St. John's, NF, to Ottawa on a regular basis in order to train. The Reserve Champion was Lindsay Seidel Wassena of Bluffton, AB, who earned 67.70% riding Oslo, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Lucie Zillinger.

Tatianna Turcotte of Mont Royale, QC, was named the FEI Pony Freestyle Champion after scoring 66.95% riding Serenity's Dream On while Jade Deter of Kemptville, ON, was named the Reserve Champion with Columbo 25 after earning a score of 65.70%.

The Canadian FEI Young Horse Finals were also held at the CDI3* Ottawa Fall Dressage Classic. Lee Tubman of Smithville, ON, claimed top honours in both the Five-Year-Old and Six-Year-Old Divisions. In the Five-Year-Old Division, Tubman was the winner riding De La Rosa, a dark bay Hannoverian mare by De Niro that is owned by Ducat Developments. Placing second was Caroline Pepin of St. Hilaire, QC, riding HG San Classic, her dark bay Oldenburg gelding by Sandro Hit. In the Six-Year-Old Division, Tubman rode away with the win riding Tygo B, a bay Dutch Warmblood gelding by Wolfgang that is owned by Sunrise Greenhouse Ltd.

The second annual CDI3* Ottawa Fall Classic was organized by Ottawa's own Cara Whitham and her Equivents, Inc. 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. Gillian Sutherland Unionville, ON Great Tyme 69.050%
2. Susanne Dutt-Roth Merrickville, ON Rheirattack 68.150%
3. Joan Johnston Kars, ON KRS Wessel 66.350%
4. Lee Tubman Smithville, ON Marquis 65.400%
5. Chris Sanders Port Stanley, ON Van Gogh 64.800%
6. Liz Steacie Brockville, ON Mikayla 63.650%
7. Ariane Gauthier St. Lazare, QC Deimos 63.400%
8. Armand Valkenborg Hudson, QC Seigneur 61.500%
9. Alexandra Hosein Wellington, NS Lucky Star 61.150%


Rider Hometown Horse Score
1. Jon Costin Freelton, ON Wholio 63.80%