Canadian Leah Wilson Wilkins wowed the crowd during the first week of the prestigious CDI-W Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL, earning her highest scores to date at the CDI level.
The Orangeville, ON native kicked off the week with an impressive third place finish in the FEI Grand Prix on Thursday, Jan. 14 aboard Fabian J.S. (Feiner Graf x Denberg), a 17-year-old bay Hanoverian gelding owned by Maria Simpson. The pair’s score of 71.700% was their highest to date in a CDI-level competition, but just two short days later, they bested it. Earning top marks across the board from the panel of international judges, Wilson Wilkins battled less than ideal weather conditions to score 72.863% in the FEI Grand Prix Special on Saturday, Jan. 16. Even more impressive is the fact that Wilson Wilkins is achieving these top results while seven months pregnant.
Wilson Wilkins, a 2007 North American Young Rider Freestyle silver medalist, trains with fellow Canadian and 2012 Olympian David Marcus and his partner, Australian Nicholas Fyffe, who are now permanently based in Wellington. The 29-year-old has declared herself for the Canadian Olympic selection qualifications, with the goal of representing the maple leaf in Rio de Janerio, Brazil later this year with Fabian J.S.
Despite being 17 years of age, Fabian J.S. is relatively new to Grand Prix competition, having persevered through injuries and setbacks. Wilkins introduced him to the Grand Prix level in 2014, and has added just a few starts under his belt to date. The pair will continue to train and compete this winter in Florida.
“I’m really ecstatic with my results,” said Wilson Wilkins who wrapped up the 2015 season on Fabian J.S. with a successful debut at the Royal Invitational Dressage Cup in Toronto, ON. “Although he is an older horse, he doesn’t have many show miles on him so he still feels fresh and loves showing. To have two personal bests really just cements in my mind that we are on the right track and he is getting more fit.”
Wilson Wilkins continued, “Going forward, I hope to have a repeat of my rides (and hopefully scores!) at the next CDI in Wellington. I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to ride him and owe that to Maria Simpson. And, of course, I owe my much improved scores to the consistent coaching of both David Marcus and Nicholas Fyffe.”
Wilson Wilkins wasn’t the only Canuck who enjoyed success during week one of the 10-week Adequan Global Dressage Festival, which features 12 CDI-level competitions and attracts top riders from around the world.
TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games team silver medalist, Megan Lane of Loretto, ON saw success with an up-and-coming mount, San D’Or (Sandro Hit x Cocktail), a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Deer Ridge Equestrian. Lane rode to the win in the FEI Intermediate II 16-25 on a score of 67.767%, then wrapped up with another win on the final day of competition after scoring 67.767% in the FEI Young Rider Grand Prix 16-26.
In addition, Naima Moreira Laliberté of Outremont, QC had great success in the FEI Young Rider division with her 2015 FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) mount, Belafonte (Belissimo x Wendekreis), a 12-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Fiducie Naga Trust. Together, they earned third place in both the Team Test (68.772%) and Individual Test (67.939%) before finishing on a high note, earning 70.575% in the Freestyle for first place.
Junior rider Ava MacCoubrey, 14, of Cobourg, ON entered the spotlight with her partner Pablo, a 19-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Lori Bell, after taking first place in the FEI Junior Rider Team Test (65.721%) and second in the FEI Junior Rider Individual Test (65.553%).
Canadians also picked up awards outside of the ring, with David Marcus being named Best Dressed in the FEI jog, and fellow Olympian Jacqueline Brooks receiving the Ann-Louise Cook Dressage People’s Choice Award, which is decided by spectator vote and presented in honour of great sportsmanship, horsemanship and performance.
Competition continues at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival until mid-march, with the next CDI competition taking place Jan. 27-31. For more information and results click here.
Top Canadian Results – CDI-W Wellington (AGDF 1)
FEI Grand Prix
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
3rd / Leah Wilson Wilkins / Fabian J.S. / Maria Simpson / 71.700%
FEI Grand Prix Special
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Leah Wilson Wilkins / Fabian J.S. / Maria Simpson / 72.863%
5th / Megan Lane / Caravella / Megan and Cathy Lane / 69.000%
FEI Grand Prix Freestyle
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
6th / Jacqueline Brooks / D Niro / Mary Brooks & Brookhaven Dressage Inc. / 69.925%
FEI Prix St. Georges
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
9th / Evi Strasser / Super Tyme / Evi Strasser / 65.614%
FEI Consolation Grand Prix
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / David Marcus / Chrevi’s Capital / Deborah Miculinic / 64.900%
FEI Young Rider Grand Prix 16-25
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Megan Lane / San D’Or / Deer Ridge Equestrian / 67.767%
FEI Intermediate II 16-25
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Megan Lane / San D’Or / Deer Ridge Equestrian / 67.719%
FEI Young Rider Team Test
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
3rd / Naima Moreira Laliberté / Belafonte / Fiducie Naga Trust / 68.772%
FEI Young Rider Individual Test
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
3rd / Naima Moreira Laliberté / Belafonte / Fiducie Naga Trust / 67.939%
FEI Young Rider Freestyle
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Naima Moreira Laliberté / Belafonte / Fiducie Naga Trust / 70.575%
FEI Junior Rider Team Test
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Ava MacCoubrey / Pablo / Lori Bell / 65.721%
FEI Junior Rider Individual Test
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
2nd / Ava MacCoubrey / Pablo / Lori Bell / 65.553%
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