The Caledon Dressage CDI got underway July 21st at Angelstone in Erin, Ontario with over 240 horses entered in the CDI/National dressage competition.
With hot July weather, the CDI began Friday afternoon with the Junior Team, U25 and 2* Prix St. Georges and Intermediate II competitions getting underway with the Ground Jury of president Brenda Minor, CAN 4*, foreign judge Sarah Geike, USA 4* and Birgit Valkenborg, CAN 3*.
Canadian Lori Bell with her long-time partner Flirt, a 14-year-old Oldenburg, moved up to the Big Tour for the first time and won the Intermediate II class, sponsored by Paramount Saddlery, with a solid score of 70.147%, setting the scene for a competitive weekend for the upcoming Small Tour.
In the Prix St. Georges, sponsored by Post Structures, Beatrice Boucher of Quebec riding Summerwood’s Limei, a 9-year-old Canadian-bred Hanoverian mare owned by Monica Von Glahn, took the class with 71.324%, edging out Vanessa Creech-Terauds with Daniel L, a 10-year-old black Hanoverian gelding co-owned by her mother, Diane Creech and Louise Leatherdale, who scored 70.392% in the duo’s first CDI.
Saturday was a day of celebration, recognition and also included the return of the famed Strawberry Social, a favourite tradition of the late Barbara Mitchell, who passed away in May. As we waited for the final classes of the afternoon, we were delighted to have Para-Dressage team member Jody Schloss on hand to help cheer our Canadian Dressage riders as they set to compete at the 2022 World Championships in Herning. Jody, riding Lieutenant Lobin, will be joined by teammates Roberta Sheffield (Fairuza) and Winona Hartvikson (Onyx). Canada is also sending individuals Naima Moreira Laliberte (Statesman) and Ryan Torkelli (Sternenwanderer).
The afternoon brought fierce competition in both the Grand Prix and the Intermediate 1. At the end of the Grand Prix, it was the flag of Guatemala that flew high with Esther Mortimer partnered with Hernando, the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood chestnut owned by Sue Schramayr, receiving a personal best with a score of 69.384%.
The Individual Intermediate 1, sponsored by Leveza Equestrian, was the tightest battle of the CDI, with the top three placings less than 1.18 points between them. This time, Yanina Woywitka and Hulk Hogan, the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by Susanne Dutt-Roth, joined her PSG competitors for third place with 69.559. Vanessa Creech-Terauds continued her run of second place with 69.706, but it was the lovely chestnut mare Summerwood’s Limei ridden by Beatrice Boucher who claimed the class for the second day in a row with 70.735.
Sunday morning brought new and exciting wins and personal bests. Kiara Williams-Brown finishing her CDI in the JR Freestyle competition with 69.850 riding her 11-year-old Lusitano, Herdeiro Santana, owned by Simone Williams. In the Intermediate 1 Freestyle, which was sponsored by Katerina Blanco Consulting, two-time Olympian Jacqueline Brooks riding Quel Filou, the 9-year-old Quatergold Oldenburg gelding owned by Mary Brooks, had the crowd cheering with a winning score of 70.508 and a personal best.
Thank you to our CDI sponsors: Anna Di Rezze and Peter Babishuk; Paramount Saddlery; Post Structures; Fabrik Architects, Katerina Blanco Consulting and Supporters of Caledon Dressage.
Thanks to Jane Holbrook, a respected longtime steward and FEI Dressage steward who was recognized on her retirement from FEI stewarding in a Facebook Live presentation on Saturday.
Organizer Caledon Dressage, with Andrew Woodley at the helm, appreciated the considerable happy help from some of the best volunteers dressage is so lucky to have.
Plans for a pair of CDI 3* competitions are in the works for 2023, so the excitement is just beginning!
Full results here.
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