Three Years in a Row for Canada’s Shannon Dueck at CDI-W Blainville Dressage

Jennifer Ward Website

Source :  CDI-W Blainville Dressage International

Shannon Dueck & Korona ©Cealy Tetley

Blainville, Quebec --- For the third year in a row, Shannon Dueck rode away with top honours in the CDI-W Blainville Dressage International annual Musical Freestyle Extravaganza showcased at the Blainville Equestrian Park located just north of Montreal, QC.

For her efforts aboard Korona, her 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Dueck was rewarded with a high score of 72.82% from the five-member panel of international judges.

“It was the best my horse has ever been in the ring!” exclaimed Dueck, a native of Langley, BC, who is now based in Whitman, MA. “He felt so good, he is stronger than ever, and I was able to push him and increase my degree of difficulty.”

The individual silver medallists at the 1999 Pan American Games, Dueck and Korona recently represented Canada at the 2002 World Equestrian Games and the 2003 World Cup Final and will be members of the Canadian Team at the Open European Dressage Championships in Hickstead, GBR, from August 13-17.

With a strong performance that garnered her a score of 70.550%, 21-year-old Julia Vysniauskas of Cochrane, AB, took third position with Syntax, an 11-year-old gelding bred in Slovenia.
Placing third was 1988 Olympic bronze medallist Cindy Ishoy of Jerseyville, ON, who earned a score of 70.375% riding Proton, her nine-year-old German-bred gelding.

Gina Smith of Brockville, ON, was fourth riding her long-time partner Faust, a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by the Dressage Collection Inc., while Louise Miechowsky of Hudson, QC, was fifth with her 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Palafox.

Leslie Reid & Mark©Cealy Tetley

In the hotly contested Intermediare Freestyle competition, Leslie Reid of Langley, BC, was unbeatable, riding to Mark to a score of 73.37%. Performing to tango music compiled by Applause Dressage, Reid and Mark, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Marie Andrews, displayed breathtaking power and suspension to top the 12-horse field.

Last year’s winner, Jacqueline Brooks of Mount Albert, AB, settled for second with a score of 71.35% riding Gran Gesto, an eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Grannox who is owned by Brinc Ltd. and Anne Welch.

Jessica Costello and Evi Strasser both received scores of 68.90% from the judges, but Costello’s higher artistic marks put her in third position with Litmanen, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Judy Elliott, while crowd favourite Strasser of Ste-Adele, QC, finished fourth aboard Quantum Tyme, her an eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Quattro.

Very close behind was Tom Dvorak with a score of 68.87% for his performance riding Lenz, a 12-year-old Bavarian Warmblood owned by Equine Canada. Next in line, sixth placed Vysniauskas earned 68.82% with her 13-year-old German-bred gelding Freuden Tanzer while Ashley Holzer, a Toronto native now living in New York City, was awarded 68.67% for her performance with Diane Fellows’ Gambol, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion.

The Intermediare Freestyle acted as the final Selection Trial for the Canadian Dressage Team heading to the 2003 Pan American Games to be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. At the conclusion of the Musical Freestyle Extravaganza, the Canadian Dressage Team comprised of Reid, Brooks, Strasser and Holzer with Dvorak as alternate were presented to over 2,000 cheering fans.

The CDI-W Blainville Dressage International, the only dressage competition in Canada sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) featured $20,000 in prize money in addition to sought-after World Cup points.

For more information, please contact Blainville International at tel: (450) 434-8202, fax: (450) 434-8209, or e-mail: info@classiqueblainville.com.



Grand Prix Freestyle – Final Results
Rider Hometown Horse Score
1. Shannon Dueck Langley, BC Korona 72.82%
2. Julia Vysniauskas Cochrane, AB Syntax 70.55%
3. Cindy Ishoy Jerseyville, ON Proton 70.37%
4. Gina Smith Brockville, ON Faust 68.05%
5. Louise Miechowsky Hudson, QC Palafox 62.85%



Intermediare Freestyle – Final Results
Rider Hometown Horse Score
1. Leslie Reid Langley, BC Mark 73.37%
2. Jacqueline Brooks Mount Albert, ON Gran Gesto 71.35%
3. Jessica Costello Mount Albert, ON Litmanen 68.90%
4. Evi Strasser Ste-Adele, QC Quantum Tyme 68.90%
5. Tom Dvorak Hillsburgh, ON Lenz 68.87%
6. Julia Vysniauskas Cochrane, AB Freuden Tanzer 68.82%
7. Ashley Holzer Toronto, ON Gambol 68.67%
8. Rochelle Kilberg New Westminster, BC West-Bay 66.85%