Canadian Riders Score Top Finishes at CDI Saugerties

Ottawa, ON—Canadian riders finished with great scores and results at NEDA Fall Festival CDI-W Y/J Saugerties, held in Saugerties, NY, September 8–13, 2009.

Continuing their very successful season, Tina Irwin of Stouffville, ON, and Amicelli, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding sired by Amigo xx and owned by Wendy Beresford and Ute Busse, scored 69.700%, earning them second place in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

“This was the first time that we rode our new Freestyle in competition,” said Irwin, who decided to increase the level of difficulty of her music and movements now that her horse is confirmed at the Grand Prix level. “We performed a clean, obedient and expressive test, and there is room for improvement once we get to know the test and the music even better.”

Members of the 2007 Silver medal winning Pan American Games Dressage Team, Diane Creech of Caistor Centre, ON, and Wiona (Weltmeyer x Frühlingsball), a 12-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Doug and Louise Leatherdale, finished sixth in the class with a score of 67.100%. Canadian Olympian Jaqueline Brooks of Cedar Valley, ON, and Balmoral (Belle Canto x Consul), a 10-year-old Canadian-bred Hanoverian owned by John & Anne Welch and Mary & Eric Brooks, earned a score of 66.150% for seventh place, while Simone Williams of Navan, ON, riding Wunder Ein, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Wolkenstein II x Maat) owned by Simone, Margaret and Robert Williams, finished in ninth place with 65.800%.

With 26 entries in the Grand Prix test, Brooks and her 2008 Olympic partner Gran Gesto (Grannox x Goldstern), a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Brinc Ltd. and Anne Welch, were the top Canadian entry and received a score of 66.809% for fourth place. Olympian Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON, and Robyn Eames’ nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding Anton (Antaeus x Melit), finished in fifth, with 66.681%. Creech and Wiona scored 65.830% for seventh place, while Cheryl Meisner of Blandford, NS, and Paganini, John Risley’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Havidoff x Statuar) finished in ninth, with 65.234%. Rounding out the top ten was Creech with Devon L (De Niro x Walkenstein II), Douglas Leatherdale’s nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding, with a score of 64.596%.

Brooks and Gran Gesto scored 66.917% in the Grand Prix Special for third place. Close behind in fourth was Creech and Devon L with 66.917%. Trussell and Anton earned 65.833% for sixth spot. Trussell and Anton then went on to win the Intermediaire II with 66.211%.

The impressive scores earned by Canadian riders continued in the Intermediaire I Freestyle. Julie Watchorn, of Schomberg ON, finished in second with a score of 71.583% riding her 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Quintesse. Lee Tubman of Dunnville, ON, secured third place after scoring 70.833% aboard Ducat Developments Ltd’s eight-year-old Hanoverian mare De La Rosa, sired by De Niro. Meisner and Lucky Strike, John Risley’s 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Ferro x Aktion), rounded out the top four spots scoring 70.333%.

In the Intermediaire I, Meisner and Lucky Strike finished in second with 67.737%. Tom Dvorak of Hillsburgh, ON, and Kelly Murray’s Raconteur, an 11-year-old Westphalian gelding sired by Rockwell, finished in fourth with 66.421%. Fifth place went to Tubman and De La Rosa with a score of 66.000%, while Watchorn and Quintesse finished in sixth with 65.526%.

In the Prix St. Georges test, Dvorak and Viva’s Salieri finished a very close second behind the leader, scoring 68.368%. Meisner and Lucky Strike placed third with 67.053%, and Watchorn and Quintesse were fifth with a score of 66.526%. In sixth place were Tubman and De La Rosa with 66.000%.

The international judging panel included Stephen Clarke (GBR—FEI O), Wim Ernes (HOL—FEI O), Anne Gribbons (USA—FEI O), Elizabeth McMullen (CAN—FEI O), Brenda Minor (CAN—FEI C), Hanne Valentin (DEN—FEI O) and Lois Yukins (USA—FEI I).

For complete results, visit www.neda.org/FallFestival-Results.html.