Top Canadian dressage combinations got the chance to test out the host facilities of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games, while also vying for Pan Am qualifying scores, during the Spring into Dressage CDI 3*, held May 8-10 at the OLG Caledon Pan Am Equestrian Park in Palgrave, Ont.
Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, Ont. emerged as a two-time winner in the Big Tour, earning a score of 71.000% in the FEI Grand Prix and 72.667% in the CDI Grand Prix Special aboard her long-time partner and 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games mount, Anton (Antaeus x Melit), a 15-year-old Sachsen gelding owned by Robyn Eames.
Claiming the final win of the Big Tour in the CDI Grand Prix Freestyle was another duo from the 2014 Games, Megan Lane of Loretto, Ont., and her 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Caravella (Contango x Riverman). Their strong routine earned the leading score of 73.350%. Lane and Caravella also took second place in the CDI Grand Prix with a score of 69.840%.
“This sport has a continuous learning curve, which is one of the things I find so interesting and why I love it so much,” explained Lane. “Though Capri and I have been partners so long and have literally grown up together, the excitement is what new concept we can learn to further improve daily training and international events.”
Lane also thanked her support team, commenting, “I am so grateful to own a horse that has taken me this far and to everyone who has helped me get to where I am today, including Deer Ridge Equestrian, Christilot Boylen, Albion Saddlery, Omega Alpha, and friends and family.”
Jacqueline Brooks of Cedar Valley, Ont. was also highly successful in the Big Tour with her 2012 London Olympics mount, D Niro (D-Day x Napoleon 625), a 16-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Mary Brooks of Brookhaven Dressage Inc. Together, they finished in fourth place in the CDI Grand Prix with a score of 67.580%, before moving on to take second place in the CDI Grand Prix Special (67.824%).
Canadian Dressage veteran, Evi Strasser of Sainte Adele, Que., kept Canada’s success going in the CDI Grand Prix Freestyle after finishing in third place on a score of 67.450% paired with Ranaissance Tyme, her 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding sired by Royal Diamond.
The Small Tour classes were also dominated by Canadians. Back-to-back wins were awarded to Diane Creech of Caistor Centre, Ont. and Robbie W, Doug Leatherdale’s 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding sired by Rubin Royal. The pair started out by earning a score of 70.868% in the CDI Prix St. Georges, followed by an impressive score of 71.368% in the CDI Intermediate I. Ending on a high note, Creech and Robbie W earned their highest score of the competition in the CDI Intermediate I Freestyle with 73.175% for second place.
“Robbie W continues to show very strong and consistent tests,” said Creech who had a successful winter season at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Fla. “Mr. and Mrs. Leatherdale are extremely pleased with the performances of the fondly called ‘Perfect Robbie.’ We are all keeping our focus on trying to become a strong member of the Canadian Team for the Pan American Games.”
The top spot in the CDI Intermediate I Freestyle went to Shannon Dueck, a current resident of Loxahatchee, Fla. and Cantaris (Compliment x Eiger I), Elizabeth Ferber’s 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding. They performed a highly technical routine to earn a score of 73.175%. Plus, they had success earlier in the competition, placing third in the CDI Intermediate I with a score of 70.026%.
Brittany Fraser of New Glasgow, N.S. earned her share of success in the Small Tour aboard All In (Tango x Damiro), her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. They finished in second place in the CDI Intermediate I (70.395%), as well as taking third place in the CDI Prix St. Georges (69.000%).
The CDI Prix St. Georges also saw Chris von Martels, who currently lives in Wellington, Fla., place second on a score of 70.079% with Zilverstar, his 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding sired by Rousseau.
In addition to the stellar Canadian performances, the facilities also earned plenty of praise. Creech stated, “We are so lucky to have access to such a high standard of show grounds. The facility and footing are incredible and will for sure make this one of the best Pan Am Games facilities. Barbara Mitchell, John Taylor, and their team do an amazing job organizing these shows and this beautiful facility will be their legacy.”
Complete results and info on the Spring into Dressage CDI 3* can be found here.
To follow the progress of the Canadian Dressage riders vying for a spot on the TORONTO 2015 Canadian Dressage Team, keep your eye on the Pan Am Leaderboard found here.
Top Canadian Results – Spring into Dressage CDI 3*
CDI Grand Prix
Placing / Rider / Horse / Score
1st / Belinda Trussell / Anton / 71.000%
2nd / Megan Lane / Caravella / 69.840%
4th / Jacqueline Brooks / D Niro / 67.580%
5th / Christilot Boylen / Drentano / 65.500%
6th / Wendy Christoff / Treffer / 64.980%
7th / Evi Strasser / Renaissance Tyme / 63.640%
8th / Stephanie Jensen / Addiction / 59.400%
CDI Grand Prix Special
Placing / Rider / Horse / Score
1st / Belinda Trussell / Anton / 72.667%
2nd / Jacqueline Brooks / D Niro / 67.824%
3rd / Christilot Boylen / Drentano / 66.765%
CDI Grand Prix Freestyle
Placing / Rider / Horse / Score
1st / Megan Lane / Caravella / 73.350%
3rd / Evi Strasser / Renaissance Tyme / 67.450%
4th / Wendy Christoff / Treffer / 64.225%
CDI Prix St. Georges
Placing / Rider / Horse / Score
1st / Diane Creech / Robbie W / 70.868%
2nd / Chris von Martels / Zilverstar / 70.079%
3rd / Brittany Fraser / All In / 69.000%
4th (t) / Shannon Dueck / Cantaris / 68.974%
4th (t) / Leslie Reid / Fine and Smart / 68.974%
7th / Diane Creech / Hallmark / 67.921%
9th / Evi Strasser / Rigaudon Tyme / 65.079%
CDI Intermediate I
Placing / Rider / Horse / Score
1st / Diane Creech / Robbie W / 71.368%
2nd / Brittany Fraser / All In / 70.395%
3rd / Shannon Dueck / Cantaris / 70.026%
4th / Leslie Reid / Fine and Smart / 67.737%
7th / Maya Markowski / Lumiere / 66.605%
9th / Chris von Martels / Zilverstar / 65.447%
10th / Evi Strasser / Rigaudon Tyme / 65.316%
CDI Intermediate I Freestyle
Placing / Rider / Horse / Score
1st / Shannon Dueck / Cantaris / 73.175%
2nd / Diane Creech / Robbie W / 73.150%
3rd / Brittany Fraser / All In / 72.350%
4th / Leslie Reid / Fine and Smart / 69.325%
9th / Evi Strasser / Rigaudon Tyme / 66.400%
CDI Junior Team
Placing / Rider / Horse / Score
1st / Hannah Van Koughnett / Balthasar / 62.703%
CDI Junior Individual
Placing / Rider / Horse / Score
1st / Hannah Van Koughnett / Balthasar / 62.368%
CDI Junior Freestyle
Placing / Rider / Horse / Score
1st / Hannah Van Koughnett / Balthasar / 63.600%
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