Ottawa, ON – Canadian Paralympian Eleonore Elstone, of Langley, BC, won the Grade IV Team Test at the Belgium International Para-Dressage CPEDI 3* held April 17–19, 2009, in Moorsele, BEL.
With 12 nations present, the Grade IV classes had some of the largest entries of the competition. Elstone rode two horses that were part-owned by Canadian-born Grand Prix dressage rider Penny Rockx and her husband Johan.
On April 17, Elstone, aboard Maverick, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding sired by Contango and owned by Johan Rockx and T. A. Rockx-Zavitz, won the Grand IV Team Test with a score of 69.286%, edging out Ineke De Groot of the Netherlands riding Indo with a score of 69% for second.
“I had been to Belgium in February to scout a horse at Johan and Penny Rockx’s farm. Thanks to their generosity I was able to lease two of their horses for this competition,” said Elstone, who represented Canada at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Para-Dressage and is also an Equine Canada Level III dressage coach. “Penny and Johan were amazing in their support. Penny coached me for a few days before the competition and came to Moorsele to warm me up for the tests.”
The following day, Elstone and Maverick scored a 71.161% in the Grade IV Individual Test, achieving a second place finish. The top score went the Sophie Wells of Great Britain, with 72.065%, riding Pinocchio. With her second entry, Ofensa, a 14-year-old Spanish bred mare owned by Johan Rockx & Penny Rockx-Zavitz, Elstone scored 66.065% for seventh place.
In the Grade IV Freestyle Test, held on the last day of the competition, Elstone and Maverick earned a score of 73.500% to claim second place. Riding Ofensa, Elstone finished in ninth with 64.136%. Wells won the Freestyle with a score of 74.727%.
Elstone plans to actively compete in 2009 and 2010 aboard Lutke, Elstone’s Paraylmpic mount, and Semke, both owned by Dr. T. Bianco, in preparation for the 2010 World Equestrian Games.
The international judging panel at CPEDI 3* Moorsele included Freddy Leyman (BEL), Eva Bachinger (AUS), Jane Goldsmith (GRB), Anne Prain (FRA), Kjell Myhre (NOR), Nick Rogers (HKG) and Marc Urban (BEL).
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