Canadian Riders Victorious in CDI Saugerties Small Tour Classes

Ottawa, ON—Canadian riders won two out of three small tour FEI classes at the Centerline Events at HITS on the Hudson, CDI-W Saugerties, held in Saugerties, NY, August 14–16, 2009.

Cheryl Meisner of Blandford, NS, and Lucky Strike, John Risley’s 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Ferro x Aktion), started the Canadian winning streak with a victory in the Intermediaire I, scoring 67.368%. Lee Tubman of Dunnville, ON, secured second place after scoring 66.754% aboard Ducat Developments Ltd’s eight-year-old Hanoverian mare De La Rosa, sired by De Niro. Julie Watchorn, of Schomberg ON, finished in third with a score of 66.228% riding her 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Quintesse.

In the Intermediaire I Freestyle, Watchorn and Quintesse scored 68.167% for second place, and Tubman and De La Rosa were close behind with 67.250%, earning them third.

Watchorn continued her winning ways in the Prix St. Georges class, scoring 66.491% for top spot with Quintesse. Second went to Tubman and De La Rosa with 66.053%, and Meisner and Lucky Strike rounded out the top four with 65.263%.

“I was absolutely thrilled with Quintesse’s performance despite the extreme heat,” said Watchorn, 23. “I owe a huge thanks to Evi Strasser who helped us prepare for the competition in weather conditions like they were. I could not have done it without her help.”

In the Grand Prix test, Meisner and Paganini, John Risley’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Havidoff x Statuar) finished in fifth place with 64.000% . Olympian Evi Strasser of St. Adele, QC, and her young Grand Prix mount, Action Tyme, a nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Aktuell x Aleksander), finished in sixth. Simone Williams of Navan, ON, riding Wunder Ein, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Wolkenstein II x Maat) owned by Simone, Margaret & Robert Williams, finished in 10th place.

In the Grand Prix Freestyle, Meisner and Paganini moved up two spots to finish in third place, scoring 69.500%. Williams and Wunder Ein finished in fourth with 67.450%.

The international judging panel included Dr. Wojciech Markowski (POL—FEI O), Col. Axel Steiner (USA—FEI O), Gabriel Armando (ARG—FEI I), Janet Foy (USA—FEI I) and Joan Macartney (CAN—FEI I).