Diane Creech Wins Grand Prix Freestyle at CDI3* Allentown

Ottawa, ON – Diane Creech of Caistor Centre, ON, handily won the Grand Prix Freestyle at CDI3* Allentown in Allentown, NJ, held May 28–30, 2010. Riding Devon L (De Niro x Wolkenstein II), Douglas Leatherdale’s 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Creech scored 70.000% for the win.

“I could not be happier with Devon L. He was a little tense in the Grand Prix test the day before, but he was so relaxed in the Freestyle. He listened to me for every step,” said Creech. “Karen Robinson helped with the chorography and designed the music for my new Freestyle. She did such a super job, and everyone loved the test.”

Second place in the class went to Chris Von Martels riding Naomi, a 15-year old Dutch Warmblood mare (Zeoliet x Bold Indian) owned by Sonia Zugel, with a score of 68.800%. Denielle Gallagher-Legriffon, originally from Lakeside, NB, and currently residing in Suffern, NY, and Abrikos, her 19-year-old Russian Warmblood stallion, posted a fifth place finish in the Freestyle with 67.050%.

Gallagher-Legriffon and Abrikos were the top Canadian entries in the Grand Prix test, scoring 65.617%, for second place. Von Martels and Naomi rounded out the top five in the class.

In the FEI Young Horse Test of Choice, Creech rode Hallmark, Douglas Leatherdale’s six-year-old Hanoverian gelding (sired by His Highness), to second place with a score of 81.200%.

The international judging panel for the CDI3* Allentown included Cara Whitham (FEI O—CAN), Natalie Lamping (FEI I—USA), Charlotte Bredahl (FEI C—USA), Reinhard Seim (FEI I—GER), Lisette Purcell (FEI I—DOM) and Lorraine MacDonald (FEI I—CAN).

Complete results from CDI 3* Allentown may be found at www.centerlineevents.com.