More Medals for Canadian Dressage Riders at NAJYRC

Riding Delfiano, a 12-year-old German-bred gelding sired by Del Piero and owned by Gilles Bergeron, Camille Carier Bergeron of Mascouche, QC earned the silver medal in the Junior Individual test on a score of 70.079%, at the 2015 Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) on July 17th.

“What an exciting day,” said Carier Bergeron, who also medaled in the Junior Division at the 2014 NAJYRC. “I’m really happy and grateful to have won the silver medal. I’m very thankful to my wonderful horse Delfiano for allowing to me do so well at my second NAJYRC. I am really happy that our hard work has paid off. My thanks must go to my parents for their incredible support, my coach Albrecht Heidemann, Equine Canada, the Fédération équestre du Québec, our chef d’équipe Leslie Steele, all the NAJYRC sponsors and my personal sponsor Ogilvy Equestrian.”

Finishing in fourth, with a score of 68.868%, was Alexandra Meghji of Toronto, ON, riding Iliado II (Idilio II x Ibiza), a 10-year-old Andalusian gelding, while Vanessa Creech-Terauds of Caistor Centre, ON rode Denzel BC, Melladee Marvin’s 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding to 10th place with 67.000%.

Earning the bronze medal for her ride in the Young Riders Individual test was Naima Moreira Laliberte of Outremont, QC, and Fiducie Naga Trust’s Belafonte (Belissimo x Wendekreis), an 11-year-old Hanoverian stallion. The duo received a score of 68.447%.

“When it does not totally go your way, you must find a method in the ring to make it work. With challenging horses, that is what you do,” said Moreira Laliberte. “Belafonte has certainly taught me to be a better rider.”

In seventh place with 66.763%, was Hannah Beaulieu of Maple Ridge, BC, and Nancy Olson Beaulieu’s 17-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, Cortison (Cortez x Lane Court xx). Close behind in eighth was Rakeya Moussa of Edmonton, AB, with a score of 66.053% with Merlin Nemorensis (Clintino x Larinero), Mohammed and Susan Moussa’s Oldenburg gelding.

In addition to the top results for Canada’s dressage riders, the chef d’équipe of the teams from British Columbia/Alberta and from British Columbia/Quebec, Leslie Steele of Pitt Meadows, BC, was named the winner of the Albers Award in honor of long-time U.S. Region 1 chef d’équipe, Patsy Albers.

“I’m very happy,” said Steele. “You can’t do it without the help of the organizing committee, as they save us by making sure we do the right things. I also have a great group of kids and two wonderful teams.”

Canadian Junior Jumps to Third in Farewell
Ashlee Steffens of Harriston, ON, rode Double C Stables’ Braveheart de Muze (Shindler de Muze x Toulon), a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, to a third place finished in the Farewell jump competition.

Team Ontario Eventing Riders Sitting in Third After Dressage
Team Ontario, comprised of Ailsa Morrison of Belle River, ON, Alexis Murray of Barrie, ON, Annick Niemuller of Goodwood, ON, and Autumn Smith of Seagrave, ON, are currently third in the CH-J* Team with a score of 146.1 after dressage. In seventh with 161.7 is the combined team from Team British Columbia and Alberta, which includes Tosca Holmes-Smith of Chase, BC. Renee Kalkman of Fort St. John, BC, and Shelby Brost of Red Deer, AB.

The top Canadian score in the CH-J* individual standings after dressage goes to Emily Thompson of East Gwillimbury, ON, riding Paddington, Ali Holmes-Smith’s 20-year-old Welsh gelding, with a score of 45.9, which currently has the pair tied for fifth place heading into cross-country.

Canadian Endurance Rider Savanah Wilson Finishes in Ninth
Riding Cheryl Van Deusen’s 11-year-old Arabian gelding, Hoover the Mover (Ebony Masterpiece x Muslin), Savanah Wilson of Kemptville, ON, finished in ninth place overall in a time of 7:22:20 during the NAJYRC-CH 4* FEI Championship endurance competition on July 16, 2015.

In Store for Day Four of NAJYRC
In addition to the exciting cross country for the CH-J* division, the Individual Test for the para-dressage riders is on the schedule. The Individual Final for jumping and the Freestyle for dressage will also cap off a very busy day four.

For more information and complete results for NAJYRC, please visit www.youngriders.org.