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Photo Credit: Susan J. Stickle Photography
Week five of the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), held Feb. 4-8, 2015 in Wellington, Fla., saw great results for Canadian dressage riders in the highly anticipated CDI 5* division, presented by Diamante Farms.
Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, Ont. and her two-time FEI World Equestrian Games mount, Robyn Eames’ 15-year-old Sachsen gelding, Anton (Aneaus X Melit), had a successful start on Feb. 5 scoring 71.24% for sixth place in the FEI Grand Prix CDI 5*.
“Anton feels the best he has felt in his life,” commented Trussell. “The 5* was a great start to the season.”
Trussell’s teammate from the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Karen Pavicic of Surrey, B.C., also stepped up to the plate in the Grand Prix, riding Don Daiquiri (Don Cardinale X Rubinstein I), a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding she co-owns with Jayne Essig, witha score of 68.86% for 11th place.
Following in 12th place was 2012 Olympian, Jacqueline Brooks, of Cedar Valley, Ont. Brooksscored 68.44% riding D Niro (D-Day X Napoleon 625), a 16-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Mary Brooks of Brookhaven Dressage Inc.
The following night, incredible energy filled the ring for the “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 5*. Under the lights, Trussell and Anton’s fluid routine scored 73.25% to earn sixth place. Not far behind in eighth place (72.48%) was Pavicic aboard Don Daiquiri, while Brooks and D Niro took ninth place with a score of 71.88%.
The CDI 5* division wrapped up on Feb. 7 with the FEI Grand Prix Special. Jill Irving of Moncton, N.B. proved to be the top Canadian of the day, riding Degas 12 (De Niro X Regazzoni), a 13-year-old Hannoverian gelding she co-owns with Windhaven Farm, to a score of 69.08% for third place.
“The atmosphere and the fans were so wonderful. The level of competition is very high with top combinations from all over the world,” said Trussell of her overall experience at the 2015 AGDF. “I feel very fortunate to be competing here in Wellington this winter, and I am looking forward to enjoying my horses in top sport over the next couple of months along the road to the Pan American Games.”
For complete results from week five of the AGDF, please click here.
