Ottawa, Ontario — The Canadian Para-Equestrian Team placed 11 out of 34 nations competing at the 2007 Para-Equestrian Dressage World Championships, held July 18-22 at Hartpury College, UK. 

The Canadian Team, comprised of British Columbia natives Lauren Barwick of Langley on Fabiola, 2004 Paralympian Karen Brain of Saanichton on Monaco, Eleonore Elstone, also of Langley on Rapido Ridge and Jennifer McKenzie of maple Ridge on Riva Dee, put forth a solid effort despite the intense rainfall that flooded the countryside during the competition.  Ashley Gowanlock of Surrey BC, Dax Adam of Scarborough, ON, and Philip Wright of Salmon Arm, BC also represented Canada as individuals.

The rain began to fall as the first day of competition at Hartpury College got underway. Barwick and Fabiola were the first to go in the Team Test Grade II class and received a score of 68.571%.  McKenzie and Riva Dee followed, scoring 63.905%.  They placed eighth and 18th respectively in a class of 34.  Dax Adam was withdrawn from the day’s competition as his horse was receiving veterinary treatment for an infected eye.

The rain continued to fall as Canada’s three Grade IV riders warmed up in deep mud.  Elstone rode Rapido Ridge to a score of 63.571% for 21st place, Brain and Monaco received a score of 62.214% for 22nd, while Wright scored 61% aboard Sheepcote’s Diorissima for 24th.  It was a long, wet day with an interim Team placing of 13th out of 24 nations.  Fortunately the Organizing Committee decided to move the Grade Ib class to an indoor arena.  The day ended on a positive note with Gowanlock’s ride on Quentchen Gluck receiving a score of 66.000% to place eighth out of 18 competitors. 

Competition Organizers scrambled to revise the schedule for the second day of competition.  The new schedule meant an extremely long day, but it enabled everyone to compete indoors.  All Canadian riders fared better.  Adam scored 62.909% with Donnymaskell to place 17th out of 34 riders in the Grade II Individual Test.  McKenzie achieved a personal best with 66.818% to place 10th, with Barwick just behind in 12th on a score of 66.364%.  In the Grade IV Individual Test, Elstone put in a terrific effort, scoring 65.161%, to place eighth. Brain received 62.129%, while Wright finished on a score of 57.161%.  In the Grade Ib class, Gowanlock once again rode a lovely test, scoring 66.190% to place seventh. 

The team placings were awarded at the end of the second day, with scores from the Team Test and the Individual Test for the three top scoring team riders being totaled.  Gold went to Great Britain, Germany earned Silver and Norway took Bronze.  Canada’s total score of 394.390 was barely out of the top 10, just 1.014% behind France’s total score of 395.304.

Freestyles were ridden on the third and final day of competition.  With only light rain in the forecast for later in the day, the organizers put the Grade II & Grade IV classes in the outdoor arenas, where the footing had been well repaired.  Grade IV results had Brain in ninth position on a score of 69.950%. Elstone finished just out of the top 10, in 12th position with a score of 68.816%, with Wright not far behind in 17th, having scored 67.268%.  In the Grade II Freestyle, Barwick was back in the ribbons, earning sixth place with a score of 67.494%. McKenzie finished 11th, scoring 64.329%, while Adam placed 18th, earning a score of 61.996%. Gowanlock had another good ride in the Grade Ib Freestyle, placing eighth with a score of 68.605%.

The Prize Giving Ceremony was an extra special event, with Princess Haya, President of the FEI, presenting to all winners.  In addition to her ribbon for eighth place in the Freestyle, Gowanlock was received both the ‘Under 21’ and ‘Under 25’ awards, which earned her the special prizes of a beautiful saddle donated by The Worshipful Company of Saddlers and a silver candlestick. Receiving the awards, along with meeting a princess, will be lasting, special memories for Gowanlock, who was competing at her first World Championships.

Chef d’Equipe Elizabeth Robinson, said the Canadian riders performed to the best of their ability, with all but one of the riders paired with borrowed horses. “We were very happy with so many individual top ten placings, and the 11th place for the team.  Our goal was to qualify a team for next year’s 2008 Beijing Paralympics and this puts us in a very good position.”  

For more information, and full results visit http://www.hartpury.ac.uk/wpdc.

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