In The News

Royan II put his heart into a fluid, correct performance to win the Grand Prix Speciale today at the Dressage Internationale de Blainville CDI*** with a score of 69.280%. Belinda Trussell and Royan II were named to the Olympic team after the Grand Prix test yesterday; Trussell chose to ride the Speciale at Blainville this year instead of the freestyle. “Last year was all about the freestyle”, said Trussell. Having qualified for and represented Canada in the World Cup Final in 2004, she then turned her focus to the Speciale. “Two years ago I was happy just to get on the [WEG] team, and now my goal in Athens is to try and get in the Speciale.”

Second in the Grand Prix Speciale was Nancy MacLachlan on Ariston with 63.000%. Ariston is an exciting new partner for MacLachlan, since April of this year.

In the Intermediaire I division, Ashley Holzer continued her winning streak with her Pan Am Games mount, Gambol. The pair led the way with an impressive score of 70.550%, and were also on top in the Prix St. Georges class yesterday with 70.500%. Holzer was fourth with Maximillian (65.950%) in the Prix St. Georges and improved to third today in the Intermediaire I (67.850%). On both days, Tom Dvorak gave Holzer a run for her money, finishing a close second with Westside Lady (70.300%) and third with Beaumarchais (69.000%) in the Prix St. Georges; in the Intermediaire I Beaumarchais was second with 69.900% and Westside Lady was fourth (67.500%).

Still to go in the CDI*** at Blainville are the freestyles, and the culmination of the FEI young horse division Saturday. The final event will be the ever-popular Saturday evening Freestyle Gala, which will feature the Grand Prix and Intermediaire freestyles, as well as a formal presentation of the Canadian Olympic team for Athens.


Results for CDI*** Thursday July 1

Grand Prix
1. Imperioso – Ashley Holzer – 69.125%
2. Royan II – Belinda Trussell – 68.458%
3. Proton – Cindy Ishoy – 67.958%
4. Gran Gesto – Jacqueline Brooks – 65.792%
5. Quantum Tyme – Evi Strasser – 65.333%
6. Syntax – Julia Vysniauskas – 61.000%

Prix St. Georges
1. Gambol – Ashley Holzer – 70.500%
2. Westside Lady – Tom Dvorak – 70.300%
3. Beaumarchais – Tom Dvorak – 69.000%
4. Maximillian – Ashley Holzer – 65.950%
5. Flower King – Lyne Joly – 65.550%
6. Raffles – Andrea Bresee – 64.150%

Young Riders Individual
1. Dostoevsky – Leah Wilson – 65.800%
2. Quintesse – Julie Watchorn – 64.050%
3. Lucky Star – Alexandra Hosein – 63.200%
4. Hansome Iz – Erin Josey - 63.000%
5. Pryme Tyme – Veronique Lavalle – 62.950%
6. Icarius – Laurel Hutton-Adams – 62.200%

FEI Juniors Team
1. Foster – Vanessa Scanlan – 64.000%
2. Marzipan – Amy McIlwham – 63.179%
3. Allende – Jessica Rhinelander – 61.436%
4. Logo II – Brittany Fraser – 61.128%
5. Dunkaschφn – Breanne Willoughby-Brown – 57.744%
6. Orgon – Catherine Goulet – 57.179%

FEI Pony Individual
1. Montego – Jillian Thatcher – 65.355%
2. Blackwood’s Step Aside – Marielle Lehoux – 59.419%
3. Bell Star – Rebecca Ovans – 58.258%

FEI Five Year Olds Preliminary
1. Foto Tyme – Evi Strasser – 87.600%
2. Balmoral – Jacqueline M. Brooks – 74.600%
3. Don Romeo – Suzanne Dutt-Roth – 71.000%