Equine Canada Junior Equestrian of the Year Award for 2008

EC_Jr._Equestrian_of_the_Year_08_copy.jpg Ottawa, Ontario—Equine Canada has named David Arcand the 2008 Junior Equestrian of the Year.

The Gillian Wilson Award is given annually to the Junior Equestrian of the Year in recognition of a junior competitor who has made outstanding contributions to equestrian competition and who has exemplified exceptional talent, sportsmanship, and dedication to the sport. Arcand of Mont-Royal, Quebec, demonstrates excellent examples of each of these qualities.

Arcand starting riding at the age of eight and rapidly moved in the competition ring where he easily qualified for the 2003 Royal Winter Fair in the Children’s hunter division. By 2007 Arcand had become a serious competitor in the jumper ring. He was a member of the 2007 silver medal winning Junior Team at the 2007 North American Junior and Young Riders Championships.

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In his last year as a junior rider, Arcand qualified for the 2008 National Talent Squad Final held at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto by only competing in three Talent Squad qualifying classes during the season.

At the Final, Arcand and his horse Santos Utopia, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, finished in ninth place in Phase I of the Final. The next day, he handily won Phase II of the competition with the fastest double clear with a thrilling jump-off time of 41.10. When the points for the win were added to his ninth place finish in Phase I, Arcand was tied with two-day total of seven points with Margie Gayford of King City, ON, but Arcand was named as the National Talent Squad Final Champion as the points for the Phase II class were weighted more.

“The constant progression that David has demonstrated is a result of his talent, hard work and winning attitude. We are very proud of his accomplishments and of the recognition on behalf of the Canadian equestrian community,” said Richard Mongeau, Executive Director of the Fédération équestre du Québec, who nominated Arcand for the award. “With continued support, David can realistically aim to become a team member and represent Canada at major international events.”

“I am very honoured to received the Gillian Wilson Award for the second time,” said Arcand. “I would really like to thank my parents and my sister who always supported me. I would also like to thank Marie-Claire Savard, John Pearce and Francois Lamontagne who have all helped me get me where I am today with my riding.”

At the Equine Canada Annual Awards Gala, on Saturday February 7, 2009, in Ottawa, ON, Arcand was awarded with the Gillian Wilson Trophy, created in honor of Gillian Wilson, who was the Technical Director of Canadian Equestrian Federation (now Equine Canada) from 1977 until her retirement on December 31, 1992. Each winner holds the Trophy for one year, retains a plaque and receives $1,000.