Canadian Para-Equestrian athletes finished their ‘European Tour’ on a high note at the Bishop Burton CPEDI2* held at Bishop Burton College, July 18 – 21, 2013, in Beverley, East Yorkshire, England.
Three-time Canadian Paralympian, Lauren Barwick of Aldergrove, BC and Off to Paris, Equine Canada’s 12-year-old Oldenburg mare, swept their division this past weekend taking first place across the board in all Grade II classes. The hat-trick started with Friday’s FEI Grade II Team Test when the duo finished on a score of 69.02%. The winning continued in Saturday’s FEI Grade II Individual Championship when the pair earned a final score of 69.05%, coming in well ahead of Great Britain’s Emma Douglas and Cartoon Topcat (65.86%). Barwick concluded her triple win by achieving a final score of 75.177% for her performance in Sunday’s FEI Grade II Freestyle Test. “We spent the winter taking our movements apart and are in the process of putting the tests back together. I’m very pleased with the improvements in the isolated pieces from our tests which we aimed to improve upon. Our brand new Freestyle pleasantly surprised me. Bishop Burton, as always, is extremely accommodating. It is always a pleasure to attend,” commented Barwick, who has competed at the Bishop Burton over the past several years.
As a result of her outstanding achievement at Bishop Burton, Barwick was bestowed with two honours at the event, “Top Foreign Rider” as well as “Top Overall Rider” for her performances with Off to Paris.
Two-time Paralympian, Ashley Gowanlock of Surrey, BC, rode Roberta Sheffield’s six-year-old mare, Double Agent, in the Grade 1b division, bringing home two firsts and a third.”I am very thankful to Frances and Roberta Sheffield for giving me the opportunity to compete on their sweet mare, Double Agent. Also to Andrea Taylor for helping me figure out how to get the best out of the horse in the ring” said Gowanlock, who took first place in in her FEI Grade 1b Team Test with a final score of 66.93%, then another in the FEI 1b Individual Championship Test on a score of 67.36%. Gowanlock finished the event taking third place her FEI 1b Freestyle Test on 66.67%.
Roberta Sheffield, a Canadian living in Lincolnshire, GBR, in only her second competition for the Canadian team, rode Wonderboy, her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, to first place in the FEI Grade III Team Test, scoring 67.02%. The pair then went on to take their second class win with a final score of 69.84% in the FEI Grade III Individual Championship Test. Sheffield capped off her weekend taking second place in the FEI Grade III Freestyle test, scoring 71.25%. “The European tour has been the most awesome experience,” commented Sheffield. “I have grown and learned so much, I’m so psyched to take on the world next year.”
“Bishop Burton is a favourite for the Canadian Para-Equestrian Team. We are spoiled by staff and volunteers alike. Riders were able to relax and put together some of their best rides this year,” offered Chef d’Equipe for the team, Elizabeth Quigg. “We are thankful to OTP for supporting our competition endeavours overseas, and look forward to competing in Europe next year.”
“The 3 riders rode well and worked with me to develop strong results. It was well worth the trip,” stated Andrea Taylor, Team Coach.
Canada was also represented at the event by Elizabeth Smith, FEI steward and Sue Foell, Student International Classifier.
The Ground Jury members at the event were, Wendy Barker (AUS), Carlos Lopex (POR) and Sue Petty (GRB).
For complete results visit: http://www.bishopburton.ac.uk/equestrian/equine-events/competitions-diary
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