Canadian Dressage Talent to Represent Canada at 2009 NAJYRC

Ottawa, ON—The Dressage Selection Committee for the 2009 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships is pleased to announce the selected athletes who will represent Canada at the Championships, which will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY July 21-26, 2009.

The Junior riders will be represented by a total of nine athletes and their horses. This represents all the junior riders who achieved or exceeded the qualifying technical average score of 64%.

Team Ontario will include the following riders:

Rider / Home Town / Horse / Owner

Zachary Ball / Mountain, ON / Karajan / Sarah McIlwham

Alexandra Dvorak / Hillsburgh, ON / Fling / Alexandra Dvorak

Megan Lane / Collingwood, ON / Caravella / Megan Lane

Maura O’Sullivan / Toronto, ON / Pik Czar / Terrence O’Sullivan

Team Canada West will include the following riders:

Rider / Home Town / Horse / Owner

Ariana Chia / Winnipeg, MB / Odilon / Jennifer Kirschman

Sylvie Fraser / Armstrong, BC / Magic / Chelsea Balcaen

Monica Houweling / Delta, BC / Stentano / Monica Houweling

Devon Luca / Pitt Meadows / Jyl Sander / Devon Luca

One additional rider and horse from Quebec, Anne Mylaine Messier riding Marzipan, exceeded the qualifying technical average score and will therefore compete at the Junior Championships as an individual.

Showing the strength of young rider development in dressage in Canada, a total of seven Young Riders and their horses achieved or exceeded the qualifying technical average of 64%, and all seven have been named to represent Canada at the Championships at the Young Rider level.

Team Ontario will include the following riders:

Rider / Home Town / Horse / Owner

Jade Deter / Kemptville, ON / Mastermind / Jade Deter

Jaimie Holland / Caledon, ON / Fleurina / Jaimie Holland

Amy Jager / Puslinch, ON / Jive / Amy Jager

Daisy Kosa / Toronto, ON / Robic / Katharine Renison

Amy Jager achieved a qualifying technical average with a second horse, Key West, and in the event it becomes necessary, she will be entitled to substitute Key West as her Team horse.

The following two Young Riders also achieved the qualifying technical average and will be entitled to participate in the Championships as individuals:

Rider / Home Town / Horse / Owner

Annie-Pier Venne / L’Assomption, QC / Step Up / Annie-Pier Venne

Lindsay Seidel-Wassenaar / Bluffton, AB / Oslo / Lindsay Seidel-Wassenaar

“It was such a pleasure to preside over a selection process that ultimately allows all riders and horses who achieved the qualifying technical average to participate in the Championships,” said Claire Milton, chair of the Selection Committee. “The event is such an important milestone in the development of our future international athletes, and we are confident that we are sending a very strong contingent to the 2009 Championships. We wish them all the very best.”

For further information, please contact Christine Peters, Manager Dressage Canada, Telephone: (613) 248-3433 ext 138 or cpeters@equinecanada.ca.