Ottawa, Ontario — The Canadian Para-Eqeustrian team kept the Silver Medal at home during the Pacific Rim CPDI 4* Para-Equestrian competition, held at Milner Downs, in Langley, BC, September 1-3.
The team, consisting of hometown girl Lauren Barwick, Karen Brain of Saanichton, BC, Eleonore Elstone, also of Langley and Maple Ridge, BC native Jennifer McKenzie, had a very close finish requiring several re-checks of the scores. Ultimately the US team won the Gold Medal by four points.
The Canadians were delighted with Elstone’s high scores of 73.5% and 70.774%, which nailed down the Silver, along with Brain’s 65.643% and 67.161% and Barwick’s 70.095% and 68.45%. The Bronze was taken home by the Australians.
Individually Canadians also fared very well. In the Grade IV Individual Championship test Elstone led the field with 70.774%, followed by Brain, who scored 67.161% and Philip Wright of Salmon Arm, BC, who finished in fifth place with 58.194%. This result gave Elstone the individual Gold Medal and Karen the Silver. Bronze went to American Kathryn Groves.
In the Grade III Individual Championship test Greg Honour of Maple Ridge, BC finished in fourth place with 58.56%. The Grade II Individual test resulted in Barwick taking home the Silver after earning a score of 68.45%. Jennifer McKenzie received Bronze after receiving 64.818% for her performance.
The final day of competition was a musical delight, with riders showcasing their horses in patterns developed themselves and ridden to music of their choice. The clear winner in Grade IV was again Elstone after a lovely ride that scored 80.41% from the panel of five international judges. She was followed by Brain who scored 75.4%. Wright finished fourth with 71.36%. In the Grade III, Honour claimed third with 64.83%, while the Grade II saw McKenzie finish second with a score of 68.33%.
As the only North American qualifying competition for the Beijing Paralympics, Canadian riders Elstone, Brain, Barwick, Honour, McKenzie, Wright, as well as Ashley Gowanlock of Surrey, BC, were all pleased to receive their ‘certificate of capability’, which qualifies them to ride in Beijing (Hong Kong) in 2008 if they are selected for the Canadian team.
Para-Equestrian Canada ran the National Championships alongside the International competition. Riders who had not qualified to compete at the International level were given a lower qualifying requirement for the Intermediate Division of the National Championships.
The following are the National results:
Advanced Grade IV
1st - Eleonore Elstone & Olivier
2nd - Karen Brain & Checkmate
3rd -Philip Wright & Frostfire
Advanced Grade III
1st - Greg Honour & Freelance
Advanced Grade II
1st - Lauren Barwick & Dior
2nd - Jennifer McKenzie & Valentine II
Intermediate Grade III
1st - Winona Hartvikson & Verono
Intermediate Grade Ib
1st - Ashley Gowanlock & Alex
Intermediate Grade Ia
1st - Nicole Whitford & Galaxy
2nd - Tara Kowalski & Marquis
For more information check the Para Equestrian Canada website at www.paraequestrian.ca
About the Para-Equestrian Discipline
In Para-Equestrian, each rider is classified according to his or her functional ability. They are assessed by trained physiotherapists and doctors who evaluate either muscle strength, coordination, or a combination thereof throughout the athlete’s body. The rider is then given a functional profile that indicates the grade in which they would compete. There are four Grades of competitions, with Grade I representing the more severely impaired riders, and Grade IV representing the least severely impaired riders. The competition within each Grade is judged on the functional skill of the rider, and not the level of disability.
About Para-Equestrian Canada
Para-Equestrian Canada is the discipline committee of Equine Canada which is responsible for developing and implementing programs on behalf of the Para-Equestrian community, and administrating the high performance program for dressage riders with a disability.
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