Ottawa, Ontario – The Ottawa Fall Dressage Classic opened on Thursday with a win for local area competitor Susanne Dutt-Roth of Merrickville, ON. The international equestrian competition is taking place from August 24-27 at the Nepean National Equestrian Park in Ottawa, ON.

Dutt-Roth won the Prix St. Georges with a score of 62.917% riding AJA, owned by Gail Worgan of Kanata, ON. Dutt-Roth has steadily been forming a partnership with the 12-year-old bay Hannoverian mare at her Rideauwood Farm and the win marks the culmination of several years of training. In addition, Dutt-Roth took fifth place with a score of 60.167% riding her own Opus IV, an eight-year-old German-bred Trakehner gelding.

Finishing runner-up in the Prix St. Georges was Chris Sanders of Port Stanley, ON, with a score of 61.917%. Sanders was riding Van Gogh, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Gary and Jean Vander Ploeg.

Although two competitors earned a score of 61.417%, the tie was broken in favour of Lee Tubman of Smithville, ON. The third-placed finisher was aboard Marquis, a 10-year-old black Baden Wurttemberger gelding owned by Laurie Stokouski. Fourth place went to Quebec competitor Ariane Gauthier. A resident of St. Lazare, Gauthier was riding her own Deimos, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding.

Another local competitor, Simone Williams, celebrated victory on opening day. Williams, who operates Queenswood Stables in Navan, ON, earned a score of 66.984% to win the Third Level riding Passionelle, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare. Recently imported from Europe, the Ottawa Fall Dressage Classic is only Passionelle's second competition.

The CDI3* Ottawa Fall Dressage Classic is one of only five World Cup Qualifying competitions held in Canada. Canadian competitors are vying for valuable World Cup points in the hopes of being Canada's sole representative at the 2007 World Cup Final to be held next April in Las Vegas. In addition, the competition acts as the Dressage Canada National FEI Youth Championship for the divisions of Young Riders', Pony Riders, Children's, and Junior Riders. Among the numerous local entries is Ottawa's own rising star, Amy McIlwham, 20, a double gold medallist at the Championship of the Americas.

"For the second year in a row, we have competitors from right across Canada, from Newfoundland to British Columbia," said competition organizer Cara Whitham, who is flying back and forth between Ottawa and Toronto where she is providing commentary of the 2006 World Equestrian Games for CBC Country Canada. "We have an exceptional team of people helping to organize the Ottawa Fall Classic, and we are very happy to be hosting our international event at the Nepean National Equestrian Park, which is a world-class facility."

The second annual CDI3* Ottawa Fall Classic runs until Sunday, August 27, and admission is free. Highlights include Friday's CDI Prix St. Georges and Grand Prix competitions beginning at 1 p.m. On Saturday, the Grand Prix Freestyle begins at 1 p.m. followed by the Intermediaire I at 2:45 p.m. Sunday will feature Freestyle competition, which sees riders choreograph required movements to the music of their choice, including the Intermediaire Freestyle at 2:30 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.equivents.com. Complete results can also be found at www.foxvillage.com.