Canadian Para-Equestrian athletes enjoyed success on the first stop of their European tour at the Hartpury Festival of Dressage CPEDI3* held July 3 – 5, 2013 in Gloucester, England.
Three-time Canadian Paralympian, Lauren Barwick of Aldergrove, BC secured the “Top Foreign Rider” award at Hartpury for her achievements with Equine Canada’s nine-year-old Oldenburg mare, Off to Paris. The pair placed second, in Wednesday’s FEI Grade II Para Team Test scoring 71.382%. They took third place in the FEI Grade II Individual Championship Test on a score of 66.857% Thursday and closed out the event Friday with another third place ribbon for their FEI Grade II Freestyle Test performance with a final score of 72.500%. “Hartpury College as always exceeds our expectations, with professional and friendly staff and accessible facilities,” commented Barwick, who has competed at the Hartpury Festival of Dressage regularly over the past several years.
Two-time Paralympian, Ashley Gowanlock of Surrey, BC, competed aboard Roberta Sheffield’s six-year-old mare, Double Agent. “We are regrouping after London, with new partnerships and new plans in the works,” said Gowanlock of her first competition riding Double Agent. Gowanlock took fourth in the FEI Grade 1b Team Test with a final score of 66.640%, followed by fourth in the FEI 1b Individual Championship Test scoring 63.379%. The duo scored 68.450% in their FEI 1b Freestyle Test, for another fourth place finish among the world’s best Para-Equestrian Dressage riders.
Roberta Sheffield, a Canadian living in Lincolnshire, GBR, made her Canadian team debut, riding Wonderboy, her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, to second place in the FEI Grade III Team Test -, scoring 65.474%. The pair went on to take fourth in the FEI Grade III Individual Championship Test on Thursday, earning a final score of 64.244%, and another fourth place scoring 69.100% in the FEI Grade III Freestyle test. Of her experience at Hartpury Sheffield commented that, “It has been a fantastic opportunity to be part of Team Canada.”
Chef d’Equipe for the team, Elizabeth Quigg stated, “It is always a great opportunity for the Canadian Para-Equestrian Team to compete at the Hartpury Festival of Dressage. The athletes showed their determination and skills throughout the competition and we are very happy that new partnerships are being developed.”
“We are truly appreciative for the support of our performance partners, Own the Podium and Sport Canada, which has made it possible for the team to compete in England against the best athletes in the world” said Amie O’Shaughnessy, Director of Para-Equestrian at Equine Canada, ‘We will continue to build on this international experience as the team prepares for the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France next year”
Canada was also represented at the event by Elizabeth Smith, FEI steward at the Hartpury Festival of Dressage CPEDI3*.
The judges for the event included Wendy Barker (AUS), Henneke Gerritsen (NED), Chris Porterfield (GBR), Sarah Leitch (GBR) and Kjell Myhre (NOR)
For complete results, click here.
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