The audience can again put themselves in the judges' seat at the 2018 OTTO SPORT AUSTRALIA Sydney CDI, with the return of the SAP/Black Horse Spectator Judging app for the event from May 2 to 5.

Following its highly successful debut in 2017, spectators can again download the free app and experience judging first hand as they unofficially “score” each competitor as if they were in the judge's box at Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC).

Over 250 horses will be put through their paces in nearly 500 tests across four days of competition in what is Australia's most prestigious international dressage event, and spectators can use the app in most tests.

While spectator scores don’t influence the official results, the focus of the app is stronger fan involvement and a more intense engagement with the sport of dressage.

Participants can compare their scores to the official result as well as the average spectator score.

Commentary during the event will update the audience with spectator judging results. Spectator judges, at the event whose scores are closest to the official results, will receive a prize.

Spectator Judging will be available for most of the competitions held in the Indoor Arena.

This year's OTTO SPORT AUSTRALIA Sydney CDI will feature competitions spanning levels from Advanced to Grand Prix and Para Equestrian, as well as young horse classes, attracting top riders from around Australia.

The event will also introduce the Degree of Difficulty (DoD) Freestyle Judging System for the first time in Australia.

The app is available for free from the App-Store (Apple) or the Google-Play-Store.

We recommend that users download the app before the event and start judging! There are test events to start people off and they can join in judging on overseas events, including the World Cup Dressage Final in Omaha in the USA which will be live streamed.

The Sydney CDI would like to thank Daniel Goehlin and SAP for making it possible for us to bring this exciting concept to dressage fans in Australia.

Free for Android and iOS: Just type “Spectator Judging” in the AppStore / Google Play and install the app.

Download the app from:

◦ iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spectator-judging/id991175124?ls=1&mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blackhorse88.livejudging

Tickets for the event are now on sale, and seats for the ever-popular Saturday evening Grand Prix Freestyle to Music event are selling out fast.

For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, visit the event website at www.sydneycdi.com

sydneycdi18 #ridewithus

Information on OTTO SPORT AUSTRALIA: http://www.bsmsportequestrian.com.au/ottosport/

ENDS

FOR MORE INFORMATION (NFP): Toni Venhaus – toni.venhaus@bigpond.com: Krystyna Pollard – krystyna@pollard.net