Ottawa, Ontario — Dressage Canada is pleased to announce the following eight combinations who will be vying for one of only three positions on the Canadian Pan American Games Dressage Team:

 

Rider                           Hometown                Horse              Owner

Karen Pavicic               Richmond, BC              Lionheart          Karen Pavicic

Diane Creech               Caistor Centre, ON        Wiona               Doug & Louise Leatherdale

Gillian Sutherland        Unionville, ON              Great Tyme       Gillian Sutherland

Dominique Culham       Langley, BC                  Matisse             Dominique Culham

Evi Strasser                  Sainte-Adele, QC          Foto Tyme         Evi Strasser

Andrea Bresee             Brockville, ON               Raffles              Gina Smith & Faith Berghuis

Jacqueline Brooks        Mount Albert, ON         Balmoral           Brinc Ltd, Anne & John Welch, Nick & Jean Vinios

Tom Dvorak                   Hillsburgh, ON             Beaumarchais   Susan Holden

“The High Performance Committee congratulates all competitors on their success to date and extends best wishes to each for continued success in achieving their goals,” said Gwynne Rooke, Chair of Dressage Canada’s High Performance Committee. “We are confident that the final PAG team of three riders plus one Reserve will do Canada proud.”

These eight combinations will now compete in two head-to-head final selection trials. In the event any of these top eight (8) rider/horse combinations are unable to participate, those qualified in descending order will be invited.  The first trial will take place May 30-31 at Saddlewood Equestrian Centre in Bethany, ON. The second trial will follow on June 1-3 at the CornerStone Spring into Dressage show being held in Palgrave, ON. 

International Judging Panel

Both trials will boast an impressive international judging panel comprised of:

Trial # 1 – Saddlewood Equestrian Centre – May 30-31, 2007

Lorraine MacDonald (FEI ‘I’ – CAN) – President of Ground Jury

Marian Cunningham (FEI ‘I’ – PER)

Lorraine Stubbs (FEI ‘I’ – CAN)

Jeanne McDonald (FEI ‘C’ – USA)

Gabriel Armando (FEI ‘C’ – ARG)

Trial # 2 – CornerStone Farms Spring Into Dressage – June 1-3, 2007

Gary Rockwell (FEI ‘O’ – USA)

Marian Cunningham (FEI ‘I’ – PER)

Lorraine MacDonald (FEI ‘I’ – CAN)

Joan McCartney (FEI ‘I’ – CAN)

Jane Weatherwax (FEI ‘I’ – USA)

Gabriel Armando (FEI ‘C’ – ARG)

Jeanne McDonald (FEI ‘C’ – USA)

How will the Final Selection Trials Work?

Each rider/horse combination will compete in the Prix St. Georges, Intermediaire I and Intermediaire Freestyle classes at both final selection trials. 

 Total scores from the final selection trials will be tabulated as follows:   

– Two Prix St.Georges classes  –  30% each (total of 60%)  

– Two Intermediate 1 classes – 15% each (total 30%)

– Intermediate 1 Freestyle score –  10% 

How are the Final Standings Calculated?

The final members of the 2007 PAG Dressage Team will be selected in descending order of total scores as calculated above.  The highest three scoring rider/horse combinations will be selected to the 2007 PAG Team, and the next rider/horse combination will be named as reserve.   

After the final selection trials in Ontario, the team horses will then prepare for the trip to Miami, Florida for quarantine before flying out to Brazil at the beginning of July.

Help Support Our Pan American Games Team Athletes!

A fundraiser luncheon will be held during the second trial on Sunday June 3, 2007. The luncheon, sponsored by CornerStone Farms, Schleese Saddlery Service and Dressage Canada, will be held during the Freestyle competition June 3. Tickets are $25 with all proceeds going directly to the 2007 Pan American Dressage Team. For more information, contact Lisa Kostandoff at [email protected]. Donations can also be made directly to Dressage Canada. Visit http://www.dressagecanada.org/dcp.asp?pageid=94 for more information.