Selena O’Hanlon Leads Canadian Eventing Team at 2008 Olympic Games

Hong Kong, China – Selena O’Hanlon, 27, of Elgin, ON, is the top-ranked member of the Canadian Eventing Team following the opening phase of dressage at the 2008 Olympic Games. Equestrian events are being held at the Sha Tin venue in Hong Kong.

Dressage, the first of three phases comprising the sport of eventing, was held on Saturday and Sunday. At the conclusion, O’Hanlon was the highest placed Canadian, sitting in 20th position with a score of 44.10 penalty points riding Colombo, a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Elaine and Michael Davies. O’Hanlon competed on Saturday, as did Sandra Donnelly, 38, of Calgary, AB, who is currently ranked 58th with a score of 60.20 riding Buenos Aires, an 11-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding, and Kyle Carter, 39, also of Calgary, AB, who is currently in 61st place with a score of 63.50 riding Madison Park, a 10-year-old thoroughbred gelding owned by Carter and Nicole Shinton.

The remaining two members of the Canadian Eventing Team, Samantha Taylor of Richmond, BC, and Michael Winter of Toronto, ON, competed on Sunday morning. Taylor, 25, was the second competitor in the stadium. Riding Livewire, a 10-year-old thoroughbred gelding bred in British Columbia, Taylor received a score of 70.70 penalty points to place 66th overall.

“This is definitely the earliest dressage test I have ever ridden,” smiled Taylor, who entered the stadium at 6:37 a.m. “The trot work was very good, but Livewire got a bit ‘buzzy’ in the canter. This is by far the biggest atmosphere he’s ever been in.”

Winter, 33, was the final member of the Canadian Eventing Team to appear before the panel of three international judges. Riding Kingpin, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by The Kingpin Syndicate, Winter produced a solid dressage test to earn a score of 48.90 penalty points and tie for 28th position.

Looking forward to Monday’s cross-country phase, Winter will be riding in the anchor position for Canada. Before he sets out on course with Kingpin, Winter will have walked the cross-country course, featuring 39 jumping efforts placed over a total distance of 4,560 meters, a total of five times. It is anticipated that competitors will have difficulty crossing the finish line within the optimum time of eight minutes.

“It is an interesting course,” said Winter of the track designed by Michael Etherington-Smith of Great Britain. “I feel prepared. Anything can happen on the day. The options are very time consuming. If you want to come close to the clock, you might be able to take one option, but I really think you are going to have to lay it on the line in order to make the time.”

Having competed at the 2004 Olympic Games as well at the 2003 and 2007 Pan American Games where he was a member of Canada’s Silver Medal Team on both occasions, Winter is the most experienced member of the Canadian Eventing Team.

“I am comfortable competing wherever they want to put me,” said Winter of riding in the anchor position. “I realize that the plan may change and I have to be adaptable. Plan A has to be as solid in my mind as plan b, and plan b has to be as solid in my mind as plan c.”

Eventing is comprised of three phases of competition held consecutively – dressage, cross-country and show jumping. At the 2008 Olympic Games, 70 horses representing 24 nations are competing. Cross-country will take place on Monday at the Beas River equestrian venue while the final phase, show jumping, will be held on Tuesday back at Sha Tin, the main Olympic equestrian venue. Team and Individual Medals will be awarded following the conclusion of Tuesday’s competition.

Following dressage, Canada’s combined team score of 153.20 places it ninth overall among the 11 nations fielding teams. Teams are comprised of five horse-rider combinations and the best three scores are counted towards the team result. Australia currently leads the way with a score of 102.80 penalty points followed by Germany in second with 110.50. The United States sits third with 115.60.

In the Individual standings, Lucinda Fredericks of Australia is at the top of the leader board with 30.40 penalty points following her dressage test with Headley Britannia. Belgium’s Karin Donckers is second with 31.70 riding Gazelle de la Brasserie while Germany’s Ingrid Klimke is third with a score of 33.50 earned riding Abraxxas.

For more information, including live results, please visit www.fei.org/olympics.

2008 Olympic Games – Provisional Individual Eventing Standings Following Dressage

Rider Country Horse Score

1. Lucinda Fredericks Australia Headley Britannia 30.40

2. Karin Donckers Belgium Gazelle de la Brasserie 31.70

3. Ingrid Klimke Germany Abraxxas 33.50

4. Megan Jones Australia Irish Jester 35.40

5. Rebecca Holder United States Courageous Comet 35.70

6. Clayton Fredericks Australia Ben Along Time 37.00

Canadians

20. Selena O’Hanlon Elgin, ON Colombo 44.10

28. (tie) Michael Winter Toronto, ON Kingpin 48.90

58. Sandra Donnelly Calgary, AB Buenos Aires 60.20

61. Kyle Carter Calgary, AB Madison Park 63.50

66. Samantha Taylor Richmond, BC Livewire 70.70

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