Canadian Dressage Riders Win Team Silver at the Pan American Games

Team Medal Presentation ©Cealy Tetley

The Canadian Equestrian Team finished a very close second to the United States and received a silver medal for their team performance today in the discipline of dressage at the at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Canada, with a final team score of 206.300, finished just behind their American counterparts who had a gold medal score of 206.550. Earning a team bronze was Mexico with a score of 195.350, and the host nation, Dominican Republic, placed fourth with 194.850.

Leslie Reid of Langley, BC, aboard Mark, a nine-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding owned by Marie and Lana Andrews, received the highest score of the day of 72.15%.

Leslie Reid & Mark ©Cealy Tetley

“Mark was fantastic. Our test was probably the best Prix St. Georges test that he has ever done,” remarked Reid. “It was a really great team effort. We did our best and came very close to gold.”

Currently holding down second place is Yvonne Losos de Muñiz of the Dominican Republic with a score of 71.80%, and in third is Jan Ebeling of the Untied States with a score of 70.40%.

The rest of the Canadian team also finished with excellent scores: Ashley Holzer originally of Toronto, ON earned 67.65%, Evi Strasser of Ste. Adele, QC received 66.50% and Jacqueline Brooks of Mount Albert, ON was awarded a score of 65.00%.

Jacqueline Brooks & Gran Gesto ©Cealy Tetley

All four of the Canadian riders move on the next leg of the games, the individual medal portion of the competition, as all of the riders placed in the top twenty-five after the completion of the Prix St. Georges test.

“Canada should be very proud of these riders. They were all superb,” noted Dressage Chef d’Equipe, Victoria Winter. “It will be very exciting to see what happens with all four riders moving on to the individual competition.”

The two remaining tests, the Intermediare I on Aug. 8th and the Intermediare Freestyle on Aug 10th, will determine individual medals.

“This is a fabulous achievement by the Canadian riders and all the volunteers that made it possible,” said the Chair of Dressage Canada, John Harris. “It is a great step forward for dressage in Canada.”

Canada has won four individual gold medals and three team gold medals during the history of Pan American Games in dressage. The Canadian Dressage Team, with its mix of Olympic veterans and promising recruits, has high hopes for solid tests and great individual results.

Final Team Standings
1. USA
Pierre St. Jacques Lucky Tiger 69.34%
Carol Lavell Much Ado 66.80%
Jan Ebling Feliciano 70.40%
Kristina Harrison Kantour (64.80%)
TOTAL 206.55

2. Canada
Evi Strasser Quantum Tyme 66.50%
Ashley Holzer Gambol 67.65%
Leslie Reid Mark 72.15%
Jacqueline Brooks Gran Gesto (65.00%)
TOTAL 206.30

3. Mexico
Omar Zayrik MEX Hayko 62.10%
Antonio Rivera MEX Bruno 63.40%
Bernadette Pujals MEX Vincent 69.85%
Joaquin Orth MEX Bellagio (60.25%)
TOTAL 195.35

4. Dominican Republic
George Fernandez DR Joris Las Marismas 66.45%
Yvonne Losos de Muniz DR Inatana Las Marismas 71.80%
Diana Ramos DR Nienke 56.60%
Martin Hache DR Nitram Blanco (45.80%)
TOTAL 194.85

Canadian Team Press Conference ©CealyTetley