|
2011 News
Another successful Royal 2011!
Shara had an incredibly busy Royal, starting with the Hunter Ponies where many ribbons were won. Cydney Pavan, Shara's daughter was invited to compete in the International Invitational Jumper Relay. This is where a child on a pony (Cydney) is paired with one of the International Jumper riders. Cydney drew to ride with Jill Henselwood which was both exciting & nerve racking to live up to that level! They were the last pair to go, with no clears so far, Jill jumped her fences first & Cydney had her pony revved & shot onto her course just as Jill cleared her last fence. The crowd went wild screaming & cheering as Cydney rode a clear also within time to give them the win!
Breed class successes: 3rd & 8th in the Lieutenant Governors Cup, 3rd in Governor General Cup, 1st & Sr Thoroughbred Champion & Reserve Grand Champion. 1st 2 yr old gelding Sport Horse, 1st Welsh Section B mare (Hillen Eira), 1st & Champion Section B Gelding (Gayford's Shoot the Moon), 2nd Half Welsh Geldings, 2nd Star Pony Search, 4th under saddle in both suitable for Dressage & Hunter.
Canadian Eastern Regional Dressage Championships, Presented by Ogilvy
Burlington, Ontario - September 27, 2011 - The 2011 Canadian Eastern Regional Dressage Championships were a resounding success, thanks in part to sponsor Ogilvy Equestrian. Competitors flocked from as far away as New Brunswick to attend the event, held September 16 to 18 at Iron Horse Equestrian Complex in Burlington, ON.
Ogilvy Equestrian, owned by Jack and Jackie Ogilvy, provided an enormous number of their world famous Comfort, Anti-Slip, Friction Free, and Memory Foam saddle pads and half pads, overwhelming competitors with the quality and number of prizes. Division champions were also awarded stunning championship coolers, again supplied by the equestrian accessories manufacturer.
High Point Awards from first to sixth were awarded in each of the following divisions: Juniors, Adult Amateurs and Open riders in the Equine Canada Technical tests, and FEI riders in the Technical tests.
“To have the opportunity to participate in such a professionally-run, well-organized and respected event like this is really a dream come true for an amateur like me,” said Anna Di Rezze of Toronto, ON, a first-time competitor at the Iron Horse Complex and Champion in the Adult Amateur FEI Prix St Georges aboard her mare, Italia. “Winning the division will always be a highlight in my life.”
Canadian and provincial flags adorned the entrance and around the competition rings, giving the venue a truly international feel. Competitors were delighted by the beauty of the facility, owned by Ken Niles, which features rolling terrain, seven sand competition rings, formal grass Grand Prix jumping ring and two very large indoor arenas. Competition was held in a newly finished sand jumping ring which easily accommodated two 20m x 60m dressage arenas.
The footing in the competition ring was recently updated, and now that the show season has slowed down, all the other rings will also see upgrades, with all-weather footing to be ready for the start of the 2012 season.
“I could not have found a better venue in the Greater Toronto area to host dressage shows, both at the national and CDI-W levels,” said Cara Whitham, President of Equivents Inc. “Ken Niles is wonderful to work with, and works tirelessly to ensure that the competition environment is outstanding. The grounds are beautiful, there are plenty of rings, and the permanent stabling is a favourite with all competitors. The RV parking is also becoming very popular. Plus, hotels, restaurants and shops are really close. I am also very fortunate to have built a fantastic team of volunteers, who help to make the competitions run smoothly in a relaxed, friendly and positive atmosphere.”
Equivents has held all of its dressage shows at Iron Horse Equestrian Complex since relocating from the Ottawa area in 2009. A number of competitions, including two at the CDI-W level, are already planned in May, June and September for the 2012 season. For more information on Equivents and its competitions, please visit www.equivents.com.
Canadian Eastern Regional Dressage Champions
Training Open:
Champion - Maya Markowski (St. Clements, ON) on Hyacinthe H, owned by Pamela Maki (New Hamburg, ON)
Reserve Champion - Ashley Wright (Cedar Valley, ON) on Royal Rubinero, owned by Wendi Cutts (Uxbridge, ON)
Training Adult Amateur/Junior (AA/JR):
Champion - Grace Gallow (Keswick, NB) on Mocha Chocolata, owned by Michelle Degarie (McLeod Hill, NB)
Reserve Champion - Nancy Thompson (Warsaw, ON) on Waldemar, owned by William Motruk (Kingston, ON)
First Level Open:
Champion - Ashley Wright (Cedar Valley, ON) on R.P. Ruby, owned by Renee Huyge (Cedar Valley, ON)
Reserve Champion - Ron King (Carleton Place, ON) on Calais, owned by Tania Prevost (Curran, ON)
First Level Adult Amateur/Junior (AA/JR):
Champion - Mia Perrin (Sudbury, ON) on Lotta, owned by Marc Perrin (Sudbury, ON)
Reserve Champion - Kerry Houlahan (Smith Falls, ON) on Pandora K, owned by Maple Lane Equestrian Trailers (Smith Falls, ON)
Second Level Open:
Champion - Maya Markowski (St, Clements, ON) on Diego, owned by Peter Trainor (Listowel, ON)
Reserve Champion - Aletia Townsend (Guelph ON) on Kjeld fan Great Beckum, owned by Susan O'Meara (Guelph, ON)
Second Level Adult Amateur:
Champion - Karyn Pope (Mississauga, ON) on Nikolai Nicov
Third Level Open:
Champion - Ashley Wright (Cedar Valley, ON) on Vivaldi, owned by Gail Kilgour (Toronto, ON)
Reserve Champion - Lisa Middlebrook (Southampton, ON) on Limited Edition
Third Level Adult Amateur:
Champion - Carly Telfer (St. Mary's, ON) on Peter Parker
Fourth Level Open:
Ron King (Carleton Place, ON) on Drago, owned by Kris Sherry (Kanata, ON)
Reserve Champion - Vincent Carovillano (London, ON) on Westerntanz, owned by Jan Goodwin (London, ON)
FEI Pony:
Ingmara Wheeler (Upper Kingston, NB) on Poster Boy
FEI Junior:
Ally Dunlop (Burlington, ON) on Danero
Reserve Champion - Jonah Freedman (Toronto, ON) on Ulex
FEI Prix St Georges (AA):
Champion - Anna Di Rezze (Toronto, ON) on Italia
Reserve Champion - Sherri Doornekamp (Odessa, ON) on Libero
FEI Advanced Open:
Ashley Wright (Cedar Valley, ON) on Rock Brasiliano, owned by Grandview Equestrian Farms (Cedar Valley, ON)
Reserve Champion - Angela Cook on Fragonard
FEI Grand Prix:
Champion - Nancy MacLachlan (Terra Cotta, ON) on Deniro’s Tyme, owned by Julia Fogel (Toronto, ON)
Reserve Champion - Dr. Alan Young (Terra Cotta, ON) on Stella, owned by Nancy MacLachlan (Terra Cotta, ON)
FEI 4 Year Old Young Horse, sponsored by Eastern Canadian Hanoverian Breeders Association:
Champion - Maya Markowski (St. Clements, ON) on Haley’s Honour, owned by Dianne Kerr (Gowanstown, ON)
Reserve Champion - Adriana Zerafa (Orangeville, ON) on Calanda E.E.
FEI 5 Year Old Young Horse:
Champion - Louise Palmer on Felicia, owned by Southlane Farm (Vankleek Hill, ON)
Reserve Champion - Ron King (Carleton Place, ON) on Freelance
FEI 6 Year Old Young Horse:
Champion - Belinda Trussell (Newmarket, ON) on Biasini, owned by Robyn Eames (Newmarket, ON)
Reserve Champion - Aletia Townsend on Laguna, owned by Susan O’Meara (Guelph, ON)
EC Second Level Freestyle:
Champion - Karyn Pope (Mississauga, ON) on Nikolia Nicov
EC Fourth Level Freestyle:
Champion - Ron King (Carleton Place, ON) on Drago, owned by Kris Sherry (Kanata, ON)
FEI Pony Freestyle:
Champion - Ingmara Wheeler (Upper Kingston, NB) on Poster Boy
FEI Junior Freestyle:
Champion - Ally Dunlop (Burlington ON) on Danero
Reserve Champion - Jonah Freedman (Toronto, ON) on Ulex
FEI Intermediate 1 Freestyle:
Champion - Angela Cook (Fergus, ON) on Fragonard, owned by Stephen Williamson (Oakville, ON)
Nancy MacLachlan and Deniro’s Tyme were the FEI Grand Prix Special Champions at the 2011 Canadian Eastern Regional Dressage Championships, held September 16 to 18 at Iron Horse Equestrian Complex in Burlington, ON.
Photo by Mary White, www.loneoakequinephoto.com
Ingmara Wheeler and Poster Boy claimed the FEI Pony Champion title at the 2011 Canadian Eastern Regional Dressage Championships, held at Iron Horse Equestrian Complex in Burlington, ON.
Photo by Mary White, www.loneoakequinephoto.com
Anna Di Rezze and Italia were the FEI Prix St. Georges Champions (AA) at the 2011 Canadian Eastern Regional Dressage Championships, held in Burlington, ON.
Photo by Mary White, www.loneoakequinephoto.com
Maya Markowski riding Haley’s Honour claimed the FEI Young Horse Four-Year-Old Championship title at the 2011 Canadian Eastern Regional Dressage Championships.
Photo by Mary White, www.loneoakequinephoto.com
Victory for Poland's Michal Rapcewicz in Grand Prix Special at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach
Wellington, FL - March 11, 2011 - In the second day of competition at the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, history was made in the Grand Prix Special as Michal Rapcewicz of Poland claimed the first victory ever for his country at a CDI5* event. Riding Randon, the same horse with which he competed at the Olympics, World Equestrian Games and World Cup Dressage Finals, Rapcewicz improved significantly on his Grand Prix result of the previous day. His score of 69.771% in the Grand Prix Special put him on top of the international field of European, American and Canadian competitors.
"This is an amazing feeling, to be breaking a record for Poland," said Rapcewicz after the prize giving ceremony. "Today I am really proud of my horse. He really enjoyed all the exercises. The weather is great and not too hot, which kept him fresh." Randon showed particular highlights in the most difficult movements of the Grand Prix: the passage, piaffe and one tempi flying changes.
Rapcewicz is no stranger to the World Dressage Masters presented by Axel Johnson Group, which is the world's most prestigious and richest dressage series, and the only five star dressage competition in North America. Following the 2010 WDM season, Rapcewicz sits second on the Nürnberger WDM Rider Ranking list, but this is his first visit to the WDM Palm Beach. "Palm Beach is like a small paradise for horses,"he said. "I have had a holiday here and won a big competition too. It's like a big dream, and I don't want to wake up."
Following closely on Rapcewicz's heels in the Grand Prix Special was Pierre St. Jacques of Anthony, Florida, who earned 69.417% with his 16 year old Danish Warmblood gelding Lucky Tiger. This was St. Jacques' second WDM Palm Beach appearance, having competed at the 2010 event. "I'm so ecstatic with my horse," he said. "It's wonderful to ride with this electricity and crowd. My horse showed up for his job today, and he was very fun to ride." Fellow American Shawna Harding of Aiken, South Carolina placed third on her 12 year old Danish Warmblood gelding Come On III, with a score of 68.958%. She was pleased not only with her horse's performance, but also with her first WDM Palm Beach experience. "The organizers have been fantastic with everything we need," said Harding, "and the footing is spectacular. I am excited to be part of the Masters for the first time."
The WDM Palm Beach was nearly cancelled in 2011, but thanks to the immediate commitment of presenting sponsor International Polo Club Palm Beach and show producer Wellington Classic Dressage, the show has not only gone on - it's done so in great style. "It was an incredible roller coaster ride from the end of November until now," says WDM Managing Director John Van de Laar. "We have to thank the dressage community in South Florida and the rest of the United States, the presenting sponsor and organizer, as well as Akiko Yamazaki and Steffen Peters," he said. "For such a wonderful competition to have been produced in such a short window of time is incredible. It's a wonder we have this show."
A total of 100,000 Euros will be given out at the 2011 WDM Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, 60,000 of which will be awarded at tonight's Grand Prix Freestyle. Eight of the world's top riders and their horses will perform uniquely choreographed programs set to music while a sold out audience of 1,200 enjoys the culture, cuisine and wine of France at ringside. The last pair to enter the arena this evening will be yesterday's Grand Prix winners, Olympian Steffen Peters of San Diego, California and Ravel, whose score of 80.872% represented a personal best in the pair's FEI career.
Eurosport Events is the official broadcaster of the World Dressage Masters series, and will show highlights from the Grand Prix Freestyle as part of "Wednesday Selection", a weekly prime-time program that features equestrian among other sports, such as sailing and golf. The USEF provided a live webcast of Friday's Grand Prix Special and will have live coverage of the Grand Prix Freestyle beginning at 7:30 pm EST this evening. Following the completion of the WDM Palm Beach, the USEF coverage will be available on demand at http://www.usefnetwork.com/WDM2011.
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5*
Grand Prix Special Results
1. Michal Rapcewicz (POL) - Randon 69.771%
2. Pierre St Jacques (USA) - Lucky Tiger 69.417%
3. Shawna Harding (USA) - Come On III 68.958%
4. Elisabeth Austin (USA) - Olivier 66.854%
5. Gary Vander Ploeg (CAN) - Cezanne 64.563%
6. Jacqueline Brooks (CAN) - Gran Gesto 63.750%
7. Yvonne Losos de Muñiz (DOM) - Dondolo Las Marismas 62.313%
8. Valentina Truppa (ITA) - Chablis 62.125%
9. Shannon Dueck (CAN) - Ayscha 61.125%
Steffen Peters Soars to Record Score at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach
Wellington, FL - March 11, 2011 - The 2011 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Palm Beach will be remembered for breaking records, and the results of Friday night's Grand Prix Freestyle finale are no exception. Olympic and World Equestrian Games medalist and 2009 World Cup Final Champion Steffen Peters danced his way to the highest score ever awarded at the WDM Palm Beach. Riding to a collection of rock songs including Sympathy For the Devil and Viva La Vida, Peters and Akiko Yamazaki's 13 year old Dutch Warmblood gelding Ravel captivated the sold out audience and received a winning score of 84.550% from the FEI ground jury.
Having won the Grand Prix at both the 2009 and 2010 WDM Palm Beach but having then settled for third and then second place, Peters was thrilled to have finally achieved a WDM freestyle victory. "Maybe there is some truth to 'three is a charm'," he said. "Last year was very close between Salinero and Ravel. Certainly it was one of my goals to win World Dressage Masters and I'm happy that it happened tonight."
If Peters' victory was a decisive one, such was not the case between second and third places, where there was a close contest between Tina Konyot of the US and Sweden's Tinne Vilhelmsson Silfven. Konyot had finished second in Thursday's Grand Prix and Vilhelmsson Silfven third, but after two strong performances with exciting music and choreography, the two riders switched places in the Freestyle. Vilhelmsson Silfven and Antonia Ax:son Johnson's 12 year old Danish gelding Favourit performed an elegant program to a collection of Eurthymics tunes, receiving a score of 77.975%. Konyot's powerful black Danish stallion Calecto V was shown off to a contemporary score that included, appropriately, the song Black Horse in a Cherry Tree. A score of 76.775% was not quite enough to put Konyot into second place for a second time, but she wasn't disappointed with the outcome.
"I don't mind trading places with Tinne," said the Palm City, Florida based member of the 2010 US World Equestrian Games Team. "I was very happy with Calecto. I believe that was my highest score in the freestyle." Vilhelmsson Silfven was delighted with her result, but was already casting her gaze toward the next prize. "I ride for the best feeling I can get from the horse, but part of you always wants to be the best," she said with a smile.
There was one moment of misfortune in an otherwise spectacular evening, when Germany's Anja Ploenzke was pulled up by President of the ground jury Wim Ernes of the Netherlands. Le Mont d'Or showed a slight pink tinge around his bits, due to the horse having bitten his tongue or lip. The injury was extremely slight, but the FEI is unequivocal in its rulings that maintain welfare of the horse as the highest priority. Ploenzke graciously waved to the sympathetically applauding crowd as she left the arena. "Anja is a very nice rider and is good to her horses," said Ernes. "It was a pity that the horse had some blood in the mouth. It was otherwise a very exciting evening and a great show. On behalf of the ground jury we would like to thank the sponsors and organizers."
The 2011 WDM Palm Beach came together because of the quick moving commitment of the sponsors and show organizers who stepped in to save the WDM Palm Beach just one month ago, when it was nearly cancelled. WDM presenting sponsor Antonia Ax:son Johnson of the Axel Johnson Group acknowledged the Herculean efforts of the Goodman family, International Polo Club Palm Beach and show producer Wellington Classic Dressage. "I think this was a miracle in a way. Last year we put a WDM show together in six weeks in Sweden. I thought six weeks won first prize but now I think this is first prize. It was a superb competition, but there was also a great party and enthusiasm."
International Polo Club Palm Beach and International Polo Club Catering put on an evening spectacle to be remembered, with extensive decorations to create the atmosphere of Southern France which perfectly complemented a five course French dinner and wine pairings from France's most renowned wine regions. The evening didn't end with the awards ceremony, either. An after-party kept spectators dancing well past midnight at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center.
Eurosport Events is the official broadcaster of the World Dressage Masters series, and will show highlights from the Grand Prix Freestyle on a weekly prime-time program that features equestrian sports, as well as golf and sailing. The USEF provided a live webcast of Friday's Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle. Archived footage of the WDM Palm Beach can be found by going to http://www.usefnetwork.com/WDM2011.
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5*
Grand Prix Freestyle Results
1. Steffen Peters (USA) - Ravel 84.550%
2. Tinne Vilhelmsson Silfven (SWE) - Favourit 77.975%
3. Tina Konyot (USA) - Calecto V 76.775%
4. Ashley Holzer (CAN) - Pop Art 74.550%
5. Anne Van Olst (DEN) - Exquis Clearwater 73.150%
6. Christa Laarakkers (NED) - Ovation 72.600%
7. Todd Fletrich (USA) - Otto 70.225%
Eliminated: Anja Ploenzke (GER) - Le Mont d'Or
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Fast Facts:
What: North America's only CDI5*, and part of the richest dressage series in the world. Up to twenty of the world's top dressage stars will compete for 100,000 Euros in prize money at the WDM Palm Beach.
When: March 9 - 11, 2011
Where: Jim Brandon Equestrian Center - Okeeheelee Park South, 7500 Forest Hill Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33413
Producer: Wellington Classic Dressage - www.wellingtonclassicdressage.com - Noreen O'Sullivan 561-227-1570 or John Flanagan 561-714-9058.
WDM Palm Beach Presenting Sponsor: International Polo Club Palm Beach
Additional WDM Palm Beach Sponsor: Akiko Yamazaki
WDM Presenting Partner: Axel Johnson Group
WDM Official partners: team EXQUIS, Moorland Investments and Moorland Stables, Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe
WDM Official supplier: Jerich International
WDM series 2011: 425,000 Euros in prize money awarded at four individual events: Palm Beach (USA), Munich (Germany), Falsterbo (Sweden) and Hickstead (England).
Media Contacts: Mason Phelps 561-371-0118 or Karen Robinson 561-383-1425
|
