Canadians Dominate CPEDI 3* in Langley

Hat tricks and red ribbons abounded for the Canadian para-equestrian athletes who competed on home soil at the CPEDI 3* Touch of Class, held June 9-12 in Langley, BC.

The event marked the first time a CPEDI 3*-level competition had been held in Canada since 2010. Equine Canada thanks Thunderbird Show Park for hosting and Sport Canada for providing funding.

“For the first time in six years, Canada hosted a CPEDI 3* level international para-dressage competition,” explained Elizabeth Quigg, Chef d’Équipe for the Canadian Para-Equestrian Team. “It was the final competition for para-dressage riders to gain qualifying scores for the 2016 Rio Paralympics. It was also the first international competition for a number of riders who travelled from across the country, either to ride their own horse or one generously loaned them. It was a golden opportunity for riders to test their skills before an international judging panel.”

Canadian athletes rose to the challenge of the event, racking up wins across nearly all divisions. Eleonore Elstone, a veteran to the sport of para-dressage, achieved a “hat trick” by winning all three classes in the Grade IV division in front of her hometown crowd. Riding Silas, her eight-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding, Elstone kicked things off in the Team class, where she earned a final score of 66.032%. She followed up with a score of 65.198% in the Individual Championship, before finishing on a high note, scoring 68.750% in the Freestyle.

“It was exciting to have so many competitors in the CPEDI 3*,” said Elstone. “It was the first CPEDI with my new horse Silas, a Canadian Warmblood gelding born and raised right here in Langley, BC. I am happy with how my horse coped with the environment and the demands put on him. Silas felt the most settled and relaxed in the Freestyle, and I am very happy with our performance.”

Robyn Andrews of St. Johns, NL, who has been representing Canada internationally for the past four years, also earned a hat trick by winning all three classes in the Grade 1a division. With her long-time partner, Fancianna, a 15-year-old Friesian/Andalusian mare, Andrews scored 66.812% in the Team Test, 69.420% in the Individual Championship Test, and 70.333% in the Freestyle.

The competition marked a special occasion for Canadian Paralympian, Ashley Gowanlock from Surrey, BC, who was competing for the first time with her new equine partner, Di Scansano (De Niro x Rubenstein), a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned and previously ridden up to the Intermediate I level by Canadian dressage rider, Wendy Christoff. The duo had a successful first weekend together, sweeping the Grade 1b division after winning the Team Test (67.867%), Individual Championship Test (67.126%) and Freestyle (70.167%).

Up-and-coming para-dressage rider, Sarah Cummings from Cranbrook, BC stole the show in the Grade II division with R Abba (R. Amadeus x Urymate de Ste Hermelle), a seven-year-old warmblood mare owned by Monika Currier. The duo won all three classes, scoring 65.490% in the Team Test followed by 66.286% in the Individual Championship, and ending on a score of 69.167% in the Freestyle.

The athletes who are declared for Rio were supported on the ground by a full management team, including Quigg as Chef d’Équipe, Para-Equestrian Dressage Team Manager, David Hunter, as well as numerous athlete support team members. In addition, recently appointed Para-Dressage Athlete Development Coach, Mary Longden was on hand to provide support to up-and-coming athletes.

The competition marked Hunter’s first time attending a para-dressage competition in Canada and he came away impressed, stating, “The event was very well managed, highly professional, and great fun. It gave all the competitors, many of whom were competing at their first FEI Para-Dressage competition, a great introduction to para-dressage at that level.”

Quigg added, “Thank you to Ali Buchanan for organizing a great competition and Jane Tidball, President of Thunderbird Show Park, for giving us this opportunity.”

For more information and complete results from the CPEDI 3* Touch of Class, please visit www.tbird.ca.

Top Canadian Results – CPEDI 3* Langley, BC

FEI Para Team Test – Grade 1a
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Robyn Andrews / Fancianna / Robyn Andrews / 66.812%

FEI Para Individual Championship Test – Grade 1a
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Robyn Andrews / Fancianna / Robyn Andrews / 69.420%

FEI Para Team Test – Grade 1b
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Ashley Gowanlock / Di Scansano / Wendy Christoff / 67.867%
2nd / Jason Surnoski / Daytrader / Michelle Meacher / 66.133%

FEI Para Individual Championship Test – Grade 1b
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Ashley Gowanlock / Di Scansano / Wendy Christoff / 67.126%
2nd / Jason Surnoski / Daytrader / Michelle Meacher / 63.908%

FEI Para Team Test – Grade II
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Sarah Cummings / R Abba / / 65.490%
2nd / Jennifer McKenzie / Lexington Star / Tammy Van Samang / 61.618%

FEI Para Individual Championship Test – Grade II
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Sarah Cummings / R Abba / / 66.286%
2nd / Jennifer McKenzie / Lexington Star / Tammy Van Samang / 60.524%

FEI Para Team Test – Grade III
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
2nd / Tristiana Allwood / Ben D’oro / Tristiana Allwood / 62.237%
3rd / Catherine Bridges / Santiago / Julia Ross / 48.904%

FEI Para Individual Championship Test – Grade III
2nd / Tristiana Allwood / Ben D’oro / Tristiana Allwood / 67.114%
3rd / Catherine Bridges / Santiago / Julia Ross / 53.130%

FEI Para Freestyle Test – Grade III
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
2nd / Tristiana Allwood / Ben D’oro / Tristiana Allwood / 69.667%

FEI Para Team Test – Grade IV
1st / Eleonore Elstone / Silas / Eleonore Elstone / 66.032%
2nd / Kourteney Lappan / Beckham / Kourteney Lappan / 56.667%

FEI Para Individual Championship Test – Grade IV
1st / Eleonore Elstone / Silas / Eleonore Elstone / 65.198%
2nd / Kourteney Lappan / Beckham / Kourteney Lappan / 58.294%

FEI Para Freestyle Test – Grade IV
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Eleonore Elstone / Silas / Eleonore Elstone / 68.750%