Despite challenging conditions with heavy rains, Thunderbird Show Park hosted the CDI Touch of Class Dressage Show this past weekend, June 14-16, alongside a large national show with over 100 entries. Judges included head of the jury Janet Foy and her panel Cesar Torrente, Frederico Pinteus, and Christina Pripp.
Alison Martin with Jaguar-Utopia. (Cara Grimshaw photo)
The CDI featured five BC riders in CDI 1* and CDI 2* events: FEI Junior Alison Campbell-Wright and her horse Slapstick earned qualifying scores for the NAYC and will be returning to the North American Youth Championships in Traverse City, MI, again this summer, July 30 – August 4. Shelley Lawder achieved a hat trick of wins with her mare Epona in the small tour classes. Behind Shelley placed Amy Wellburn on Dinamico (owned by Andrea Stowe) and Alison Martin on Jaguar-Utopia finishing second and third in both PSG and Intermediate I, with placings reversed for the Freestyle. In the CDI 2*, Erin Silo and Jett completed the Intermediate A and Intermediate B classes.
“Thank you Thunderbird Show Park for hosting a Western Canadian CDI,” said Shelley Lawder. “It is the only chance local dressage riders have to access top international judging. There is much talent and quality both in horses and riders (not to mention grit, determination, resilience, etc.) here on the West Coast!”