Ottawa, Ontario—Karen Pavicic of Richmond, BC, and Pia Fortmuller of DeWinton, AB, won the team gold medal at the Sydney CDI3*/CDI–Y International Dressage Derby held in Sydney, Australia, May 1– 3, 2008. The event, hosted at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park, site of the 2000 Olympic Games, is the only CDI3* held in Australia each year.

Due to Australian’s strict quarantine requirements and the high cost of air transportation, the organizing committee invited owners to loan their Prix St Georges/Intermediaire I level horses to the visiting international riders. At the competition, all riders started on equal terms, drawing the name of the horse they competed on out of a hat.

In the first class, the Gow Gates International Prix St Geroges, Pavicic rode Rachel Hunter’s 11-year-old Australian Warmblood gelding, Jaybee Archer, to a 12th place. Fortmuller rode Merlin’s Masterpiece, a 14-year-old Percheron cross gelding owned by Vicky Quarterman, to 21st place overall.

“It was a great learning experience for me because I had to adapt to whatever horse I was riding,” said Fortmuller, who was attending her second invitational CDI competition—the first one being in Mexico City. “For the first class, the open Prix St Georges, the horse I drew to ride was a Percheron cross, and I could only warm him up 10 minutes or he would not have any energy left for the show ring.”

Both riders then moved on the NSW Sport and Recreation Prix St Georges Derby. Fortmuller rode CP Perolus, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owner by Elise Ball, to second place. Pavicic was close behind in fourth place with Robyn Targa’s 14-year-old gelding, Northern Rinaldo.

The combined scores of Fortmuller and Pavicic totaled 121.350 earning them the overall team gold medal. The silver medal went to the team from Japan, with a score of 116.200, and bronze was awarded to the team from New Zealand (115.300). Fourth place went to the host country Australia with a score of 109.200.

“I had a great time at the Sydney CDI 3* and it was an extremely well run competition,” remarked Pavicic, who was the reserve member of the Silver Medal winning Canadian Dressage Team at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “The show organizers, horse owners and host families were incredibly generous and hospitable towards all of the International riders. It was a great experience and I felt proud to once again represent Canada.”

Due to her score in the open Prix St Georges class, Pavicic, who is also a Level 3 dressage coach, also qualified to compete in the Zilco Intermediate Freestyle class with her first mount, Jaybee Archer. Their result made it the second year in a row that a Canadian rider was awarded the designation of the foreign rider of the competition.

“Often a big challenge in shows is making the best out of the situation you are currently in, and catch riding is a great way of getting out of your comfort zone and still having to perform to the best of your ability,” stated Fortmuller. “I would most certainly recommend the invitational experience to other riders. Overall, the whole experience was wonderful because we could interact with athletes from all over the world, and all share our passion for the sport of dressage.”

The international judging panel at the Sydney CDI 3* included President of the Ground Jury, Gotthilf Riexinger (FEI O—GER) and members Axel Steiner (FEI O—USA), Victoire Mandl (FEI I—AUT), Peter Holler (FEI I—GER), Alison King FEI I—HKG), Midori Furukawa (FEI C—JPN), Mary Seefried (FEI O—AUS), Susan Hoevenaars (FEI I—AUS), Jill Cobcroft (FEI I—AUS), Gisela Nilsson-Harding (FEI C—AUS), and Maria Schwennesen (FEI C—AUS).

Complete results for CDI3* Sydney Invitational are found at http://www.dressagensw.com.au/?Page=14599.

Canada has had great results in the past at the Derby where many up-and-coming elite athletes can get a taste of international competition abroad while showing their versatility riding unfamiliar horses. In 2007, Canadian Dressage riders Denielle Gallagher of Lakeside, NB, and Wendy Christoff of Delta, BC, claimed the Team Silver Medal in the Derby, and Christoff won the title of best foreign rider.

 

More from Horse Sport: