Hearn wins final Australian Rio qualifier at Sydney CDI***

NSW rider Sue Hearn will see how the European qualifiers pan out before making any decision to travel overseas to try and clinch a berth on the Australian Olympic dressage squad 

Sue and her warmblood gelding, Remmington, have won the final qualifying event on home soil for dressage riders hoping to make it to the Olympcs at the 2016 Sydney CDI***, held from April 6 to 9 at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC).

Competing at the Sydney CDI*** yesterday (Thursday, April 7), the combination took out the Prydes EasiFeed FEI Grand Prix (CDI3*) on 68.42 per cent, just ahead of fellow NSW rider Judy Dierks on Vicki Newham's Hannovarian gelding, Diamond Star.

The class was the final event Rio hopefuls had to qualify on Australian soil for Olympic nomination events in Europe, where eight Aussie riders will go head-to-head for four spots on the Olympic dressage team.

Sue placed second in the Equestrian Australia FEI Grand Prix Special (CDI3*) with 67.627 per cent today (Friday, April 8), just behind New Zealand competitor John Thompson on the Anamour gelding JHT Antonella on 67.902 per cent.

Sue admitted to a “couple of little” mistakes in the Grand Prix, but said it was good to come out on top.

“I was really thrilled [winning the Grand Prix],” she said. “We were a bit early on in the draw so it was a long time to wait. He was winning for a long time and I thought, 'somebody's going to come and do it'.

“It was great he finally won because he does often come second.”

The Grand Prix Special saw Remmington put in another good performance, however Sue said he felt a little tired and a mistake in the changes made the difference.

“He's been here for a little while now and that test takes a lot out of them,” she said. “I made a mistake in the ones, not him. I adjusted my weight a little bit halfway through.

“But the rest of it was pretty good.”

Sue will wait and see how the rest of the European qualifiers pan out before making the decision to travel overseas to try and secure one of four spots on the Australian Rio Olympic squad.

“The selectors have got to pick their top eight, and then the top eight compete against each other in Europe, so when they do that I'll make a decision of what I'm going to do, whether I'm going to go,” she said.

“There's quite a few really good riders in Europe who are doing super well, so we'll see what happens there.”

Sue and Remmington will compete at the Sydney CDI tomorrow night in the showcase event, the Grand Prix Freestyle competition (CDI).

The Sydney CDI*** is Australia's most prestigious international dressage competition, and offers not only spectacular competition but a very popular shopping village, tours and VIP dining experience in the Top Spot Marquee.

Tickets for the event are still available. For more information, log onto www.sydneycdi.com.