ROCHER & GEORGE WILLIAMS, GP SPL, U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS 2008

Rocher and George Williams scored 65.04 and took 11th place in the Grand Prix Special at the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions held at the Oaks Blenheim in San Juan Capistrano, California on Sunday June 22nd 2008.

George Williams
Born: September 12, 1955
Hometown: Delaware, OH

Horse: Rocher (17-year-old Westphalian mare; Owned by Joann and Charles Smith)

George Williams began seriously pursuing dressage at age 18 when he traveled to Germany to train under Egon Won Neindorf. While there he earned his German Bronze Rider Medal. Williams became the director of the Temple Lipizzans and Tempel Dressage Training Center in 1987 until he relocated to Chuck and Joann Smith's Gypsy Woods Farm in 2000.

Willimas spent 2006 and 2007 producing young horses while continuing a successful run at the Grand Prix level with the classy veteran, Marnix. Rocher returned to the ring after being on hiatus in 2006. Her success and form from 2005 made an impressive return at the 2007 Saugerties CDI-W where they were third.

Williams and Rocher have continued to make winner circle apprearances in the early 2008 season in Flordia. They were Grand Prix Champions at Wellington Dressage, and also at the CDI3 Batavia.

Williams continued his impressive streak from 2004, a year in which he won 11 Grand Prix, in 2005 with Marnix and Rocher. Willimas spent the summer of 2005 in Germany after wins at the USEF Festival of Champions with Rocher. Top 10 finishes at the CDI3 in Hagen and the CDI3 in Aachen and wins at Dressage at Devon closed out a very successful competition season.

He started 2003 with impressive wins on the Winter Circuit. He and his mount Rocher won the USET Grand Prix "A" with a score of 73.889% during the Wellington Dressage Classic at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Later in the weekend, Williams and Rocher found themselves back in the winner's circle, this time winning the USET Grand Prix Special with the high score of 73.400%. At the Flordia Dressage Classic a week later, Williams and Rocher won the FEI Freestyle with a score of 73.042%. Williams and Rocher earned a spot to represent the U.S. at the 2003 Dressage World Cup Final by winning the Grand Prix at the U.S. Grand Prix Freestyle Championship/U.S. League Final with a score of 70.640% at the Tropical Equestrian Center in Miami, FL.

In 2002, a Grand Prix victory at the CDI3 Port Jervis, in April continued the improved performances that Williams and Rocher have exhibited since they began their partnership in 2001. Rocher also impressed American judges with her record high score wins at the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle at Dressage at Devon CDI, Williams purchased the 17.1 hand mare in Germany in the winter of 2000 for Chuck and Johann Smith. In 2001, Williams qualified Rocher for the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions where he placed fourth in the Grand Prix and fifth overall. Following the Festival, the pair went to Germany on a grant from the USET to train with Klaus Balkenhol and compete on the European circuit.

When not in the saddle, Williams gives back to his beloved sport. He is currently active as Vice President of USDF, Co-Vice Chair of the USEF Dressage Committee, a member of the USEF Board of Directors, and is the Chair of the USEF High Performance Committee.

Websites:

Gypsy Woods Farm:
http://www.gypsywoodsfarm.com/

USEF:
http://www.usef.org/

USDF:
http://www.usdf.org/

USET:
http://www.uset.com/

Category:

Sports

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