Toronto, Ontario – Jacqueline Brooks claimed the inaugural Canadian National Dressage Freestyle Championship on Thursday, November 8, at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.
Held over two nights, Wednesday and Thursday, Canada’s top dressage athletes performed two Grand Prix Freestyles featuring required movements choreographed to the music of their choice. Having won on Wednesday evening with a score of 69.25%, Jacqueline Brooks of Mount Albert, ON, returned to the Ricoh Coliseum on Thursday night to mesmerize the crowd with a rousing performance set to music from the Disney blockbuster, Pirates of the Caribbean. Riding Gran Gesto, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Brinc Ltd. and Anne Welch, Brooks danced to the music and ultimately to victory, earning a score of 69.997% from the panel of international judges.
“Gran Gesto was awesome. He was settled in the ring and was very rideable,” said Brooks, a crowd favourite who has competed at the Royal Horse Show on multiple occasions. “The freestyle is the future of our sport, and having this event at the Royal could be the jump-start the riders need to develop better freestyles and attract the crowds.”
Placing second was Cindy Ishoy of Binbrook, ON, riding Proton, her 13-year-old German-bred gelding. Ishoy, who is well-known in dressage circles for her partnership with the legendary Dynasty which produced an Olympic Bronze Medal, choose to perform two different Freestyles on the two nights of competition. On Wednesday, her score was 66.917% while Thursday’s performance resulted in a score of 66.167%.
“I am really happy to have this event at The Royal,” noted Ishoy who, on opening weekend of the Royal Horse Show, had performed a pas de deux with her husband, Neil, to live music from Canadian recording artist Alannah Myles. “The Royal is the closest venue we have to the European venues, and I am very grateful. I love the sport, and think we need to do everything we can to promote it.”
Neil Ishoy rode a demonstration Freestyle with his eight-year-old horse, Lone Star, while Gillian Sutherland of Uxbridge, ON, did the same with the veteran campaigner, Justin Tyme.
Earlier in the day, Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, claimed the $15,000 International Show Jumping competition riding Hidden Creek’s Calippo. Canada’s Mario Deslauriers of Bromont, QC, placed second with Avaliable Action, a seven-year-old Hannoverian mare.
The Royal Horse Show continues on Friday with $50,000 Weston Canadian Open as well as the ever-popular Carriage Racing-Jumper Relay, presented by Milestones Grill and Bar. In total, $745,000 in prize money is offered during the 10-day Royal Horse Show, making it one of the richest equestrian events in the world. For more information on The Royal Horse Show and The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit www.royalfair.org.
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