Ashley Holzer Beats the Weather at CDI-W Blainville Summer Classic
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In her final competition before the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics, Ashley Holzer proved that she is at the top of her game. With Pop Art, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Ian and Moreen Nicholl and Rusty Holzer, she handily won the FEI Grand Prix test on the first day of competition at the CDI-W Blainville Summer Classic taking place at the Blainville Equestrian Park north of Montreal, QC, from June 20 to 22.
Holzer made an early impression in her mistake-free test with dynamic but harmonious passage and piaffe. A score of 71.833% put her and Pop Art in a league of their own in a strong class of nine that included one of Holzer’s teammates for the upcoming Olympics: Mount Albert, Jacqueline Brooks on Brinc Ltd. and Anne Welch’s Gran Gesto.
With a summer storm brewing on the horizon, Holzer said afterward that she could feel her horse reacting to the weather. “He was nervous because of the storm coming in, but he was unbelievable,” she said. “I loved my performance.”
One of Pop Art’s great strengths as a competitor is his ability to cope with any kind of atmosphere. “Whether he’s relaxed or nervous, he always does his job,” said Holzer. Fortunately for Holzer and everyone else, the rain held off until after the prize giving ceremonies were over.
Second in the Grand Prix was Neil Ishoy of Lynden, ON on his wife’s 2004 Athens Olympic mount, Proton. The 14-year-old Baden Wurttemberg gelding also demonstrated strong piaffe, and with a consistent performance overall, Ishoy was rewarded with a score of 66.917%. Close behind Ishoy was Diane Creech of Caistor Centre, ON, on Doug Leatherdale’s 11-year-old Hannoverian mare, Wiona, with 66.708%. Creech and Wiona were members of Canada’s silver medal Pan Am Games team in 2007. Wiona, in her first year at the Grand Prix level, showed both talent for the passage and the ability to cope with the constant pressure that comes with the highest level of competition.
Brooks had some uneven work early in her test, which cost her and the 13-year-old Gran Gesto some valuable points. She finished in fourth place with 65.083%, ahead of fifth placed Simone Williams of Navan, ON, on Wunder Ein, who received 62.375%. Sixth place went to Chris Von Martels of Ridgetown, ON, on Hesperos with 61.417%.
The FEI Prix St. Georges class was contested earlier in the afternoon by an impressive field of 22. Once again it was Holzer on top, this time with Diana Rose’s 10-year-old Hannoverian gelding Daddy Cool. Holzer’s score of 70.333% left a much smaller margin than she enjoyed in the Grand Prix; just a third of a percentage point separated her from Diane Creech and the Leatherdales’ Devon L, in second with an even 70%.
The Blainville Summer Classic is also a qualifier for the North American Young Riders’ Championship, a fact which brought out many of Canada’s top young dressage riders. Winning the FEI Young Riders’ division was the 2007 North American Junior Champion Jade Deter of Kemptville, ON, on Mastermind. Receiving 63.259% for her performance in the Team test, she maintained a small lead over Jessica Rhinelander of St. John’s, NF, on Allende, with 63.111%.
The FEI Junior team test was won by Alexandra Dvorak of Hillsburgh, ON, with Fling. With 65.333%, she was well ahead of Ariana Chia of Winnipeg, MB, on Marzipan, who was second on 62.083%. Winning the FEI Pony Team Test with 62.632% was Vivian Cornell of Kingston, ON, with Daylight. The second placed ribbon went to Julie Channell of Hillsburgh, ON, who scored 62.368% with Ronja.
The highlight of this week’s competition, organized by Equivents Inc., will come during the Musical Freestyle Gala Brunch beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 22. Competition will continue the following week as Equivents hosts the CDI-W Blainville International Classic from June 24 to 28, marking a historic first in North America; back to back FEI sanctioned dressage competitions have never been held in consecutive weeks.
CDI-W Grand Prix – Final Results
Rider Hometown Horse Score
1. Ashley Holzer New York, NY Pop Art 71.833%
2. Neil Ishoy Lynden, ON Proton 66.917%
3. Diane Creech Caistor Centre, ON Wiona 66.708%
4. Jacqueline Brooks Mount Albert, ON Gran Gesto 65.083%
5. Simone Willams Navan, ON Wunder Ein 62.375%
6. Chris Von Martels Ridgetown, ON Hesperos 61.417%
Scoring for the CDI-W Blainville and Equine Canada National Competitions is being provided by Devonwood Competition Services. Results are available at www.foxvillage.com. Information on the CDI-W Blainville can be found on www.equivents.com.
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