Ready for Rio!

By: Hannah Brooks

GET READY, as a distinguished list of international judges will be making their way to Sydney to officiate at the Sydney CDI 2016. 

Our very own, Susie Hoevenaars (FEI 5* Judge) will be heading up this international contingent as the Chairman of the Sydney CDI Ground Jury. In a recent interview at Clarendon, Susie was enthusiastic about her role “it should be a fantastic event. I’m really looking forward to it and our riders are improving - so it will be really exciting”.

Fellow Australians on the Ground Jury for the Sydney CDI 2016 include, Mary Seefried (FEI 5* Judge), Ricky MacMillan (FEI 4* Judge), Maria Schwennesen (FEI 4* Judge), Jane Ventura (FEI 4* Judge), Joanne Fowler (FEI 3* Judge), Virginia Creed (FEI 3* Judge) and Gisela Nilsson-Harding (FEI 3* Judge).

Maribel Alonso Quinzanos - President of the Ground Jury for the Rio Olympic Games (Photographer:  Franz Venhaus)

Bringing a little bit of Rio to the proceedings will be Olympic Judge, Maribel Alonso-Quinzanos from Mexico (FEI 5* Judge). Maribel will have the honour of chairing the Ground Jury at the Rio Olympics later this year. Joining Maribel, will be fellow Rio Grand Jury member and Olympic Judge, Gary Rockwell from the USA (FEI 5* Judge).

Maribel and Gary, will join other international judges including; Evi Eisenhardt (FEI 5* Judge from Germany), Hans Christian Matthiesen (FEI 5* Judge from Denmark), Raphael Saleh (FEI 4* Judge from France), Charlotte Bredahl (FEI 4* Judge from the USA) and Alison King (FEI 4*Dressage & 5* Para-Dressage Judge from Hong Kong) in Sydney at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre this April.  Alison is also on the Judging Panel for the Rio Olympic Games.

In this Olympic year, these dedicated judges will help our Australian riders get ‘Ready for Rio’, as they provide valuable feedback for those riders hoping to secure a place on the Australian team. As Susie Hoevenaars points out, “We have some great horses, some great combinations and this is the last of the Olympic qualifiers.  The riders who are there will all be vying for a spot on the long-list.”

If you’re keen to listen and learn more from Maribel and Gary, they will be conducting an International Workshop for judges, coaches and riders from the Sydney International Equestrian Centre on Sunday, 10 April 2016.  Secure your spot via Nominate – BOOK NOW

Please join us at the Sydney CDI to watch our elite riders on their journey on the #RoadtoRio.

LISTEN to Susie Hoevenaars’ interview here:  https://youtu.be/a-8RlMXma-E