The Canadian Para-Equestrian team kept the silver medal at home during the Pacific Rim CPDI 4* Para-Equestrian competition, held at Milner Downs, in Langley, BC, September 1 to 3, 2006.
The team, consisting of hometown girl Lauren Barwick; Karen Brain of Saanichton, BC; Eleonore Elstone, also of Langley; and Maple Ridge, BC, native Jennifer McKenzie, had a very close finish requiring several re-checks of the scores.
Ultimately, the US team won the gold medal by four points. The bronze was taken home by the Australians.
Individually, Canadians also fared very well. In the Grade IV Individual Championship test Elstone led the field, followed by Brain, and Philip Wright of Salmon Arm, BC, who finished in fifth place. This result gave Elstone the individual gold medal and Karen the silver. Bronze went to American Kathryn Groves.
In the Grade III Individual Championship test Greg Honour of Maple Ridge, BC, finished in fourth place. The Grade II Individual test resulted in Barwick taking home the silver. Jennifer McKenzie received bronze.
The clear winner in Grade IV was again Elstone after a lovely ride that scored 80.41% from the panel of five international judges.
As the only North American qualifying competition for the Beijing Paralympics, Canadian riders Elstone, Brain, Barwick, Honour, McKenzie, Wright, as well as Ashley Gowanlock of Surrey, BC, were all pleased to receive their Certificate of Capability, which qualifies them to ride in Beijing (Hong Kong) in 2008 if they are selected for the Canadian team.
For more information check the Para Equestrian Canada website at www.paraequestrian.ca.
About Para-Equestrian
In Para-Equestrian, each rider is classified according to his or her functional ability. They are assessed by trained physiotherapists and doctors who evaluate either muscle strength, coordination, or a combination thereof throughout the athlete’s body.
The rider is then given a functional profile that indicates the grade in which they would compete.
There are four Grades of competitions, with Grade I representing the more severely impaired riders, and Grade IV representing the least severely impaired riders.
The competition within each Grade is judged on the functional skill of the rider, and not the level of disability.
