Rochelle Kilberg and Simone Williams Win Team Bronze at the 2009 Sydney CDI 3* Invitational in Australia

Ottawa, Ontario—Rochelle Kilberg of Surrey, BC, and Simone Williams of Navan, ON, won the team bronze medal at the Sydney CDI 3*/CDI–Y International Dressage Derby being held in Sydney, Australia, May 7–9, 2009. 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 Georges, Kilberg rode Rachel Hunter’s 12-year-old Australian Warmblood gelding, Jaybee Archer, to an 18th place finish. Williams rode Colonial Hot and Handsome, a 12-year-old Appaloosa gelding owned by Diane Stanley, to 26th place overall.

“The competition was fantastic. What a great experience,” said Kilberg. “The show was superbly organized. All the foreign riders were well taken care of throughout our stay. The Australian riders and people were all very friendly and treated us very well.”

Both riders then moved on to the Need for Steeds Intermediaire I class where Kilberg and Jaybee Archer finished in 15th place. Williams and Colonial Hot and Handsome were 28th overall.

Kilberg and Williams then drew new mounts to compete in the NSW Sport & Recreation International Prix St Georges Derby. Kilberg, riding Pinnamurra Ricardo, Maxine Cummings’ 14-year-old Palomino gelding, finished in fifth place. Williams was close behind in seventh place riding Argentille Shamada, an 18-year-old Australian Warmblood gelding owned by Marina and Sylvia Douglas.

“As one of the tallest riders of in the Derby, I drew a 15.2hh palomino named Pinnamurra Ricardo to ride,” said Kilberg. “He was wonderful as he did a perfect Prix St Georges test. Due to his size he didn’t have warmblood movement which made it difficult to be competitive among the bigger horses and we placed an honorable fifth.”

The combined scores of Kilberg and Williams totaled 121.000, earning them the team bronze medal. The gold medal went to the host country, Australia, with a score of 128.526, and silver was awarded to Japan (124.105). Fourth place went to Great Britain with a score of 120.316.

“I had a fantastic time competing at the Sydney CDI. The organization was top notch, every detail was taken care of, and I would like to acknowledge and thank all the volunteers that made this competition possible,” said Williams. “Rochelle Kilberg and I had good rides on our horses and finished third over all. The greatest thing about the competition was the wonderful people we met who made the experience so richly rewarding.”

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

The international judging panel at the Sydney CDI 3* included President of the Ground Jury, Maribel Alonso Quinzanos (MEX) and Members Andrew Gardner (GBR), Janine Rohr-Cicurel (ARG), Chang-Kyoo Yang (KOR), Alison King (HKG), Helen Hughes-Keen (NZL), Mary Seefried (AUS), Susan Hoevenaars (AUS), Jill Cobcroft (AUS), Virginia Creed (AUS), Maria Schwennesen (AUS), Ricky McMillan (AUS)

Canada has had great results in the past at this event. It allows many up-and-coming elite athletes to get a taste of international competition abroad while showing their versatility riding unfamiliar horses.