Blainville, Quebec — In the opening day’s competition at the CDI-W Blainville International Classic taking place June 26 to 28 north of Montreal, QC, Tina Busse-Irwin of Lakefield, ON, and Amicelli bested a field of six to win the Grand Prix with a score of 64.542%.

Busse-Irwin, 27, was pleased with the performance she received from the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Ute Busse and Wendy Beresford.

“I had great energy in the ring,” she said. “I was very happy with the piaffe and the passage, and the transitions between.”

Simone Williams from Navan, ON, and her 10-year-old Hannoverian gelding Wunder Ein were second with 62.917%. A mistake in the one tempi changes was the only hiccup in an otherwise harmonious test. Cindy Ishoy of Lynden, ON, was a close third with 62.583%. Placing fourth, Armand Valkenborg of Ste. Marthe, QC, and Seigneur scored 60.167%. Fifth and sixth went to Jessica Costello on Litmanen (59.583%) and Alexandra Hossein on Lucky Star (57.625%).

Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON, topped the FEI Prix St. Georges class with Anton, owned by Trussell’s mother, Robyn Eames. Trussell was the unanimous choice for first place among the three FEI judges, earning a score of 67.667%.

“I have hopes for him,” said Trussell, a Canadian Olympian, of her eight-year-old Saxon-bred gelding. “I hope he’ll be my next Grand Prix horse.”

Julie Watchorn of Schomberg, ON, and Quintesse were second with 65.583%. Making the long journey from Calgary, AB, was worthwhile for Bonny Bonnello and Pikardi; the pair was third with 64.750%.

The CDI-W Blainville International Classic is a qualifying event for the 2008 North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championship, and a number of riders between the ages of 14 and 21 were on the hunt for ribbons and scores. Winning the FEI Young Riders’ team test with an impressive 67.037% was Amy Jager of Breslau, ON, riding Jive. First place in the FEI Junior team test went to Megan Lane from Collingwood, ON, who earned 63.083% with Dolany. The top pony in the FEI Pony team test was Miss Honey Church, ridden by Mathilde Blaise-Tetrault of Montreal, QC, for a score of 63.246%.

Some of Canada’s top young horse talent also showed their paces to the FEI judges in Blainville. Harma Germs of Montague, PEI, started her second week at Blainville where she left off – at the top of the FEI Five-Year-Old division. A score of 7.6. put Germs and the Dutch Warmblood mare Whiscalina (Redford x Gribaldi) easily at the top of the field of four horses. Tom Dvorak of Hillsburgh, ON, rode Marilyn Dietrich’s Freixenet, a Westfalen gelding by Florestan I, to the top of the FEI Six-Year-Old preliminary test with a score of 7.18.

The highlight and grand finale of these historic back-to-back CDI-W World Cup qualifying competitions will be the Freestyle Gala which commences at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 28. Spectators will enjoy the FEI Intermediaire Freestyle and Grand Prix Freestyle performances. Tickets for the event, which has been a sell-out since it was first introduced, can be purchased by contacting Karin Ouellette at 450-434-5261 or info@parcequestreblainville.com.

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