Canada’s dressage riders wrapped up another successful showing during week five of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), which took place Feb. 10-14, 2016 in Wellington, FL and featured international calibre competition up to the CDI 5* level.
The top Canadian at the CDI 5* Grand Prix level was Canadian Olympian Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON and her veteran partner, Anton (Antaeus x Shirley), a 16-year-old Sachsen-Anhaltiner gelding owned by her mother, Robyn Eames, and husband, Mark Trussell.
They began week five with a seventh place finish in the CDI 5* FEI Grand Prix, scoring 70.740%, before moving on to the CDI 5* FEI Grand Prix Special, where they earned 71.431% for third place.
“This last show was more challenging with Anton,” explained Trussell, who won two of the three Grand Prix classes during week three, capturing both the CDI-W FEI Grand Prix and Freestyle. “He became very tense in the ring during the Grand Prix. He was much better in the Special, but was still a little worried. His piaffe and passage were excellent, he listened to me and tried very hard to stay with me.”
Also earning a top-five finish at the CDI 5* level was Karen Pavicic of Surrey, BC and her 2014 World Equestrian Games partner, Don Daiquiri (Don Cardinale x Rubinstein I), a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding she co-owns with Jayne Essig. Contesting the CDI 5* FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, Pavicic rode Don Daiquiri to a score of 73.075% for fifth place.
In addition, up-and-coming senior Canadian Dressage Team riders, Megan Lane of Loretto, ON and Brittany Fraser of New Glasgow, NS made their mark at the CDI 5* level with their 2015 Pan American Games partners. Fraser scored 72.575% for seventh place in the Freestyle aboard All In (Tango x Damiro), an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Craig Fraser, while Lane rode Caravella (Contango x Riverman), a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare she owns with her mother, Cathy Lane, to a ninth place finish in the Grand Prix (69.780%).
In the Small Tour, Tina Irwin of Stouffville, ON saw success aboard Fancy That (Donnerschweg x Freiherr), a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by her husband, Jaimey Irwin, and Rocket One LLC. After earning 68.711% for sixth place in the FEI Prix St. Georges, Irwin and Fancy That continued to raise both their scores and their placings throughout the week, taking fifth in the FEI Intermediate I (68.921%) and third in the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle (70.275%).
“Fancy really felt amazing, with so much energy and willingness,” said Irwin, who has been partnered with her for four years, having brought her along from Second Level. “Fancy was very eager at this past show and was offering piaffe in the ring. Therefore, we don’t want to discourage her eagerness by continuing to show at the small tour level. We will continue to train throughout the Florida season and will plan to debut at the grand prix level this summer in Canada.”
“I feel very lucky to be riding such an amazing mare,” continued Irwin. “We just recently purchased Fancy in partnership, with help from a friend, Susan Jones, so that I could keep the ride on her. I am forever grateful.”
International dressage will continue at the AGDF until mid-March, with the next CDI competition taking place Feb. 25-28. For more information and results click here.
Top Canadian Results – CDI 5* Wellington (AGDF V)
CDI 5*FEI Grand Prix
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
7th / Belinda Trussell / Anton / Robyn Eames & Marc Trussell / 70.740%
9th / Megan Lane / Caravella / Megan Lane & Cathy Lane / 69.780%
CDI 5*FEI Grand Prix Special
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
3rd / Belinda Trussell / Anton / Robyn Eames & Marc Trussell / 71.431%
CDI 5*FEI Grand Prix Freestyle
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
5th / Karen Pavicic / Don Daiquiri / Jayne Essig & Karen Pavicic / 73.075%
7th / Brittany Fraser / All In / Brittany Fraser & Marc-Andre Beaulieu / 72.575%
FEI Prix St. Georges
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
6th / Tina Irwin / Fancy That / Jaimey Irwin & Rocket One, LLC / 68.711%
FEI Intermediate I
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
5th / Tina Irwin / Fancy That / Jaimey Irwin & Rocket One, LLC / 68.921%
FEI Intermediate I Freestyle
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
3rd / Tina Irwin / Fancy That / Jaimey Irwin & Rocket One, LLC / 70.275%
FEI Young Rider Grand Prix 16-25
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Megan Lane / San D’Or / Deer Ridge Equestrian / 71.186%
FEI Young Rider Team
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
5th / Naima Moreira Laliberte / Belafonte / Fiducie Naga Trust / 66.079%
FEI Young Rider Individual
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
3rd / Naima Moreira Laliberte / Belafonte / Fiducie Naga Trust / 68.789%
FEI Young Rider Freestyle
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Naima Moreira Laliberte / Belafonte / Fiducie Naga Trust / 70.600%
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