Eurodressage F.O.C.U.S.

Junior Rider Lia Koudouni Aiming for a European Break Through in Austria

March 31, 2007

Greek junior rider Lia Koudouni is aiming for an international break through on the European junior riders' scene at the CDI-JYR in Stadl Paura, Austria, April 5-9 2007. Aboard her steady mount Donnergroll, Koudouni will be competing with three more Greek junior riders team in Austria against Europe's junior riders' elite. Furthermore, she will be premiering her new kur to music, created by Anky van Grunsven's in-house kur composer, Cees Slings.

In 2006, Lia Koudouni and Donnergroll became the Greek National Dressage Champion as well as Northern Greece Regional Champion, claiming a first place in all her classes. Lia set a new national record by taking the Children’s Championship of Greece four times in a row with the same horse.

Lia Koudouni is based in Thessaloniki, Greece. She is trained by Nicola Dimitrov and Krasimira Dimitrova, who helped her form an extraordinary partnership with her horse Donnergroll. The liver chestnut Oldenburg stallion is born in 1993 and is a Donnerhall x Debüt offspring.

For her new freestyle, Koudouni picked Miami Vice music together with Cees Slings of Slings Music Cast. All the old vintage synthesizers ran hot in Slings' Shepherd Studio for her new freestyle re-creating the famous Jan Hammer Miami-Vice sounds and Crocket's theme. Lia's choreography was (re)designed by Slings, who consulted international judge Eddy de Wolff van Westerrode to make the final test. The test has very clear lines, original and still easy to follow.

"The locomotion and the steadiness of Lia and Donnergroll surprised me, it reminded me of the stern-waves from fast speedboats and condensation trails of jets, high in the sky. Translated into music they become sequences, and the sequences brought me to the Miami Vice theme. I needed Eddy's consultancy for specific details in this level, because I was not sure of all the movements I wanted were allowed. Eddy is an International judge and knows of course all the rules and regulations of the junior levels; he's also very supportive to me in thinking of the music. Eddy was again a great help to me. Lia is a 'smart' cookie, a very nice and elegant young girl who really plays with Donnergroll, she can 'steer' him wherever she wants him and it looks very easy the way she rides, it's a joy to watch and it was fun to work with her and her team," Cees Slings explained.

According to Slings, the new kur has an original choreography, an original music score, both full of action, power and energy, drama and joy, fitting the energetic movements of Lia & Donnergroll in a harmony for eye and ear.

Koudouni and her Greek team mates can be seen action at the international show in Stadl Paura on April 5-9, 2007.

Photos copyrighted: Mirjam Madiol

Related Links
Official Website Lia Koudouni
Official Website Slings Music Cast
Official Website: CDI-JYR Stadl Paura