Sue Hearn wins showcase event at 2016 Sydney CDI***

By: Kristina Pollard

At the presentation of the Grand Prix Freestyle event were, from left to right, Suzanne Doyle from Equestrian NSW, president of the Sydney CDI ground jury Susie Hoevenaars, Sue Hearn and her horse Remmington, Equestrian Australia board member Mark Arthur, andCEO of Equestrian NSW Bruce Farrer. PICTURE: Franz Venhaus.

A delighted Sue Hearn does a lap of honour on Remmington. PICTURE: Franz Venhaus.

NSW Southern Highlands rider Sue Hearn and her horse Remmington have won the showcase event, the Equestrian NSW FEI Grand Prix Freestyle competition at the 2016 Sydney CDI***. 

Riding last in the class in front of a packed indoor arena at Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC), Sue and Remmington ended a highly successful Sydney CDI by putting in a stunning performance to score 71.275 per cent.

It was the second big win for the pair following their success in the Prydes EasiFeeds Grand Prix on Thursday, April 7, which was the final qualifier on home soil for Australian riders looking to book a berth in the European show-down to decide the four combinations travelling to the Rio Olympics.

“This is really a dream come true for me,” she told the crowd during the award ceremony. “My beautiful horse is just getting a little bit better all the time.”

It was an exciting finale to the four-day Sydney CDI, with the substantial crowd having been warmed up for the freestyle by the fiercely competitive Accumulator Stakes showjumping competition.

Seventeen riders lined up to compete against the clock in SIEC's indoor area, including last year's winner and former Olympian Vicki Roycroft.

But it was Andrew Inglis who set the pace first off the mark on Licaviv, posting a clear round to end on 65 points in a time of 63.18 seconds.

Jessica Spence on Fiorella 104 came in second, with a mistake at the joker fence proving costly to relegate Roycroft to third place.

Earlier, crowd favourite Brett Parbery took out the Zilco FEI Intermediate Freestyle (CDI3*) on Jane Farrell's gelding, Larenso, and was named 2016 Sydney CDI Small Tour Champion.

Accepting his award, Brett told the story behind Larenso, saying he found the horse on YouTube.

“We found him on the top of a mountain in the south of France,” Brett told the crowd. “We tested him and I said … we've wasted our time.

“By the fourth day we just couldn't get him on the plane quick enough. He is just the most delightful horse, I absolutely adore him, and I really hope … that he goes all the way.”

Brett's Olympic hopeful, DP Weltmeister, missed the Sydney CDI due to an injury, and Brett said a final decision is yet to be made on whether he will travel overseas to take part in the Olympic selection process.

“My horse that I'm hopefully trying to go to the Olympics on unfortunately is not here, he bruised the sole of his foot so he's not at this show,” he said.

“But I've filled out all the paperwork and we're going to make a decision in the next few weeks if we'll go to Europe and be a part of the selection process.”

Brett also took out the 2016 John Lieutenant Memorial Trophy for the individual horse and rider combination obtaining the best three official scores in the Prix St Georges, Intermediate I, and Intermediate Freestyle, or Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle.

Earlier in the day it had been Western Australia's Deon Stokes, now based in the NSW Southern Highlands, who was shining on the SIEC stage, taking out two events on two different horses.

Deon clinched the Wade Equine Coaches Intermediate II Competition (CDN) on Kate Barton's Oldenburg stallion Royal Oak 11, as well as the International Racehorse Transport Advanced Tournament Freestyle to Music on Kate's stunning Dancier stallion, Don Dancier.

Dressage NSW president Helen Lawson said the 2016 Sydney CDI had been a “fantastic event”.

“We have had some really excellent horses that are vying for spots in Rio, both Para Equestrian and open Olympic competition,” she said. “So there's a vibe of excitement based on Rio, and we've also had a wonderful selection of young horses.

“We've had a very international flavour this year with John Thompson, our Kiwi from across the ditch, who's also trying for a Rio spot. We also had Linda Schmerglatt from Germany riding the young horses for us.

“By all reports from the traders in the shopping village, it's been excellent business, there have been lots of people out there shopping, which is wonderful.

“Of course, the showcase event – the Grand Prix Freestyle – was wonderful, and congratulations to Sue Hearn and Remmington on their performance.”

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