Hong Kong, China – Leslie Reid of Langley, BC, was the first competitor for the Canadian Team on the opening day of Dressage competition on Wednesday, August 13, at the 2008 Olympic Games.
Reid, 52, performed the Grand Prix test riding Orion, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by George and Patricia Hatch. She earned a provisional placing of 22nd with a score of 59.75% from the panel of five international judges.
“It was just too much atmosphere out there for him,†said Reid after her ride.
The Grand Prix competition is held over two days, Wednesday and Thursday, and is used to determine the Team Medals. Teams are comprised of three horse-rider combinations, with all three scores counting towards the final results.
On Thursday evening, Reid’s two team members will contest the Grand Prix. In her Olympic debut, Jacqueline Brooks, 40, of Mount Albert, ON, will ride Gran Gesto, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Brinc Ltd. and Anne Welch, while 1988 Olympic Team Bronze Medalist Ashley Nicoll-Holzer, 44, of Toronto, ON, will compete with Pop Art, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Ian and Moreen Nicoll and Rusty Holzer.
2008 Olympic Games – Provisional Individual Dressage Standings Following Grand Prix, Day 1
Rider Country Horse Score
1. Heike Kemmer Germany Bonaparte 72.250%
2. Emma Hindle Great Britain Lancet 71.125%
3. Imke Schellekens-Bartels Netherlands Sunrise 70.875%
4. Courtney King United States Mythilus 70.458%
5. Hans Peter Minderhoud Netherlands Nadine 69.625%
22. Leslie Reid Langley, BC Orion 59.750%
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