Canadian Eventing Names Eventing Team for the 2008 Olympic Games

Following a successful spring training and competition program, the Canadian Eventing High Performance Committee is pleased to announce the names of the Canadian Eventing Team who will compete in the Olympic Games Beijing, China, August 9–12, 2008. Selected according to the qualification thresholds and selection procedure, five rider/horse combinations are named to the Team and nominated to the Canadian Olympic Committee. The equestrian events for the 2008 Olympic Games are being held in Hong Kong, China.

Canada is one of only five nations in the world sending teams to compete in all three Olympic and the one Paralympic equestrian disciplines.

Named to the Team (in alphabetical order) are:

Rider		Hometown		Horse		Owner
Kyle Carter		Calgary, AB		Madison Park, 1998 bay American Thoroughbred		Rider & Nicole Shinton
Sandra Donnelly		Calgary, AB		Buenos Aires, 1997 bay Canadian Warmblood		Rider
Selena O’Hanlon		Elgin, ON		Colombo, 1994 bay Swedish Warmblood		Elaine & Michael Davies
Jessica Phoenix		Uxbridge ON		Exploring, 1997 bay Canadian Thoroughbred		Rider
Michael Winter		Toronto, ON		King Pin, 1996 chestnut Irish Sport Horse		King Pin Syndicate

The Team entries will be nominated by Equine Canada to the Canadian Olympic Committee by the deadline for final definite entries by noon (ET) Monday July 14, 2008.

In addition to selecting the Canadian Eventing Team members, at the discretion of the selectors the committee announces an accompanying list of horse/rider combinations to serve as alternate/substitutes for the Eventing Team for the 2008 Olympic Games. If for any reason one of selected horse/rider combinations is unable to travel to the Olympic Games, then it may be possible, although subject to strict regulations to replace a named substitute to the team.

Named as Alternates (in alphabetical order) are:

Rider		Hometown		Horse		Owner
Hawley Bennett		Langley, BC		Livingstone, 1990 bay Canadian Thoroughbred		Rider & Gerry Bennett
Diana Burnett		Blackstock, ON		Manny, 2000 bay Canadian Thoroughbred cross		Rider & John Lennox
Lesley Grant-Law		Mount Albert, ON		Timber Spirit, 1995 chestnut English Thoroughbred		Rider & Anthony Grant
Samantha Taylor		Richmond, BC		Livewire, 1998 grey Canadian Thoroughbred		Rider
* Michael Winter		Toronto, ON		Wonderful Will, 1997 bay American Thoroughbred		Rider & Sher & Elliott Schwartz

*Michael Winter and Wonderful Will is the named alternate to Michael Winter and King Pin.

For rider biographies, visit web site www.equinecanada.ca.

Following a preparatory outing at the Florida Horse Park, in Ocala, Florida July 12–13, the Team and alternates will participate in a Training Camp and Pre-Export Quarantine in Ocala, Florida, USA, prior to the July 25th departure for Hong Kong.

The team trains under the leadership of David O’Connor, International Technical Advisor. Eventing chef d’équipe, Graeme Thom; team manager, Janette Leask; stable manager, Debbie Furnas; team veterinarian, Dr. Christiana Ober; and team farrier, Christopher Volk, will accompany and provide support to the team throughout the Games.

The Canadian Eventing Committee is grateful to Sport Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee and all of its supporters, sponsors and friends for their continued support of the Canadian Eventing Team in its quest for excellence at the 2008 Olympic Games.

The Olympic sport of eventing encompasses three separate tests: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping held consecutively. Each test ridden by the rider and horse in combination is scored individually but added together for the final results. The rider/horse combination with the fewest number of penalty points over the three days wins the competition.

At the 2008 Olympic Games, the team competition consists of a minimum of three and a maximum of five competitors with the best three scores to count for the team classification. Following the first round of show jumping, which determines the team medal winners, the top 25 competitors will jump a second round to determine the individual medalists.