Canada’s eventing, show jumping, and dressage teams are on their way to Pan American Games
Eventing
Following a successful spring training and competition program, the Canadian Eventing Team who will represent Canada in the 2007 Pan American Games (PAG), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 14 to 29 has been chosen.
Five rider/horse combinations are named to the team and nominated to the Canadian Olympic Committee. Named to the team (in alphabetical order) are:
• Kyle Carter of Calgary, AB, aboard Madison Park.
• Sandra Donnelly of Calgary, AB, aboard Buenos Aires.
• Jessica Phoenix of Uxbridge ON, aboard Exploring.
• Waylon Roberts of Port Perry, ON, aboard Paleface.
• Michael Winter of Toronto, ON, aboard King Pin.
In addition, the Canadian Eventing Selectors announce an accompanying list of horse/rider combinations, which were chosen at the discretion of the Selectors to serve as alternate/substitutes for the PAG Eventing Team.
If for any reason one of selected horse/rider combinations is unable to travel to the PAG, 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:
• Hawley Bennett of Langley, BC, aboard Livingstone.
• Selena O’Hanlon of Elgin, ON, aboard Colombo.
• Penny Rowland of Orangeville, ON, aboard Windswept.
• Samantha Taylor of Richmond, BC, aboard Livewire.
The team and alternates will move to Ocala, Florida, for the 10-day Pre-Pan Am Training Camp and quarantine period, prior to their July 12 departure for Brazil.
The team trains under the leadership of David O’Connor, international technical advisor. Eventing chef d’equipe Graeme Thom, team manager Janette Leask, team veterinarian Dr. Christiana Ober, and team farrier Christopher Volk will accompany and provide support to the team throughout the 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 2007 Pan American Games, the team and individual competition will run concurrently. The team competition consists of a minimum of three and a maximum of four competitors with the best three scores to count for the team classification.
Show Jumping
The five riders named to the Canadian Show Jumping Team for the 2007 Pan American Games are (in alphabetical order): Mac Cone of King City, ON; Karen Cudmore of Omaha, Nebraska; Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON; Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON; and Ian Millar of Perth, ON.
The three non-travelling alternates (who have no order of ranking) are Mario Deslauriers of Bromont, QC, and Paradigm; Millar and Redefin; and John Pearce of Stouffville, ON, aboard Archie Bunker.
The five team members will travel to the 2007 Pan American Games to be held July 14 to 29 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Of the five horse-rider combinations that travel to Rio, the four members that comprise the Canadian team will be decided on-site by Terrance Millar. Canada must finish in the top three, not including the United States, in order to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games, the equestrian portion of which will be held in Hong Kong.
Dressage
Following five days of intense competition, the 2007 Pan American Games Dressage Team has been selected. The following horse/rider combinations will be travelling to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:
• Andrea Bresee of Brockville, ON, aboard Raffles.
• Diane Creech of Caistor Centre, ON, aboard Wiona.
• Tom Dvorak of Hillsburgh, ON, aboard Beaumarchais.
Reserve:
• Karen Pavicic of Richmond, BC, aboard Lionheart.
The selected team will enjoy a well-deserved rest before preparing for the trip to Miami, Florida, where they will meet up with senior national team coach Norbert van Laak before heading to Brazil at the beginning of July.
There will be approximately 7,500 athletes and officials from 42 different nations participating in these Games. Competing dressage nations will include Canada, USA, Columbia, Brazil, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
Canadian dressage has a long and illustrious history with the Pan American Games, achieving over 16 medals in the past 30 years including the team silver and individual gold at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
