Thursday October 19, 2006

Lily C. Zilo to Represent Hong Kong at the 2006 Asian Games

Wellington based Lily Zilo has been selected to represent her native country Hong Kong at the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, December 1-5, 2006. She will be riding either Windsor's Mira, a 12-year old Dutch warmblood mare, or Windsor's Matinee, a 12-year old Dutch warmblood gelding, at the Games.

Lily Zilo will be the first full-blooded Chinese on the Hong Kong team, as previously foreigners born in Hong Kong have represented the country. Her two other team mates are Jackie Siu, who is training with Anky van Grunsven in The Netherlands, and the U.K. based Aram Gregory, who was born and raised in Hong Kong. Gregory will be riding his trainer Jane Bredin's Grand Prix horse Lucky Star, a Danish warmblood by Lucky Light.

In order to get selected for the 2006 Asian Games, Zilo had to send in all the scores she achieved competing in the United States during the 2005-2006 show season. "The Hong Kong Sports Federation and Hong Kong Olympic Committee had to approve of my selection," Zilo said.

Lily had to go through a difficult administrative mill to be able to properly prepare herself for the Games. The competition classes at the Asian Games will be the Young Riders test. Being an adult, Zilo is not officially allowed to ride these Young Rider test in the United States and had to request for a "precedential modification" from the U.S.E.F.

"I had to send a letter to Hong Kong Equestrian Federation and ask for this modification which will allow me to practice the test at shows. It will help me because I will ride the tests in front of the judges," Zilo stated. Her coach Linda Smith, has also been extremely helpful in preparing Lily for the Games. Smith organized a faux-show in which Zilo was able to ride in front of two O-judges, helping her to meet the requirements needed to qualify. Zilo has been in full training with Linda Smith for three years and will accompany her to the Asian Games.

Photo copyrighted: Alicia Frese